Pros:
- high quality Dynamic Patriot baskets
- some forested area incorporated on holes 6 and 10
- course is generally well mown and maintained
Cons:
- no tees or signs yet
- hole 1 fairly hazardous due to throwing right alongside church driveway
- course end is very far from start
- very limited challenge here, almost entirely flat with few obstacles
- some risk of hitting building played around on holes 4-6
- hole 9 is fairly close to busy street
- no navigation aids which would help make navigation clear
- no amenities such as garbage cans, benches, etc.
Other Thoughts:
This is a new course and as such, may improve with time - I think tees and tee signs are planned eventually which will be a big help. This course is not going to challenge anyone but a beginner; there are limited obstacles and most of the course is wide open and flat.
Honestly, as much as I like having nearby courses for everyone in the Chicago area, and generally enjoy variety of courses to choose from, this one seems like a course that just didn't need to be put in to me. There are quality courses all around and this one just doesn't have anything special about it. There are plenty of flat, open courses in the area, and this one wasn't particularly well thought out. Between the road hazards, ending quite a ways from the start, and the lack of challenge, there's just not much reason to pay a visit to this course.
It would have been nice to see the course incorporate more of the wooded area that is present near holes 6, 9, and 10. This comes in to play just a bit on 6 and 10, but it could have added a lot more intrigue to the course.
Beyond the baskets being brand new and nice, I'm not sure what else to say about this course. It just doesn't have anything unique to it at all. Unless you're just bagging everything in the area, I'd skip this one. Randall Oaks is just a little ways south and is a much nicer 10 hole if you're looking for something shorter. With tee signs put in at a minimum, I'd probably up this review to a 1.5.