EAGLE RIDGE Resort & Spa (800-892-2269)
EAST COURSE
Chiago Golf Course Review - 8/15/03
Introduction (scroll down for a review of the East Golf Course)
Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa offers four finely manicured golf courses (three 18-hole layouts and one 9-hole
course) are the highlights of a 6,800 acre development that features the 80-room Eagle Ridge Inn plus 400
resort homes. Accommodations in standard hotel rooms and in 3 to 6 bedroom homes are available, and
recreational opportunities abound, including tennis, swimming in an indoor pool with retractable windows,
Jacuzzi, sauna, boating and fishing, hot air balloon rides, children's activities, fitness activities, horseback
riding and more. For more information on what many feel is the top golf resort in the Midwest - visit our Eagle Ridge Inn page by clicking here.
Each of the four designs - The General, the North Course, the South Course and the nine-hole East Course, are
rated 4 to 4 1/2 stars by Golf Digest Places to Play - with The General considered to be the top layout - annually
ranked with the very best courses in the country. To play here - you must stay here, on one of the many
packages that are available in a great variety of accommodations. There are four separate clubhouses, each
with a pro shop, restaurant/lounge and practice putting green. The North, South and General clubhouses feature
locker rooms with showers, and a spacious grass driving range is centrally located at the North Course - easily accessible from anywhere at the resort.
Golf at Eagle Ridge provides outstanding facilities and top notch conditioning and service. Golfers on any of the
four courses will find finely sculpted tees, fairways and bunkers - and immaculate putting surfaces that roll true.
The terrain is unique for the region, as ice age glaciers left behind steep hills, limestone cliffs and breathtaking
views. Though each course is unique, one will find that all 4 maintain the same course marking systems, with
measurements on tee boxes and sprinkler heads, and with 150 yard stakes visible in the fairways. Daily pin
placement sheets for the three rotating hole locations are posted on each golf cart. On The General, cart paths also have measurements at 100, 150 and 200 yards.
REVIEW - THE EAST COURSE
The East Course at Eagle Ridge is a beautiful nine-hole layout that plays to a par 34, 2648 yards. There are 3
par threes, 1 par five and 5 par fours that measure between 402 and 282 yards in length. While not long - the
East Course is fun to play and will kick your butt if you take it too lightly. There are some extremely pretty holes
on this course, which obviously requires accuracy over distance. The same upscale conditioning and amenities that are provided on the 3 championship courses are also available here.
We played the East Course on the evening of our arrival, which turned out to be the perfect plan - a great way to
stretch out after our 7 1/2 hour ride from Detroit, and a nice tune up for the weekend. The East is also a great
place for a second round of the day, or for a quick nine on the day of departure. We highly recommend a round here.
It is easy to drive through the fairway on the 357 yard opening hole, so a shot aimed right of the 150 stake is the
correct play here. Number two is a pretty par three from an elevated tee with a drop of over 100 feet. Long is
gone so it is better to be short here. The par four 3rd plays just 282 yards but is extremely tight, with a shot over
the 150 leaving the best approach to a putting surface guarded by a lone bunker in front. Number four doglegs
to the left and demands an accurate tee shot. Anything more than 130 away on the approach will result in a blind
downhill approach. A tee shot landing in the right center about 100 yards away will work best. After a simple par
three on 6, golfers will find the number one handicap - a beautiful 402 yard par four that plays from an elevated
tee. The eighth is also gorgeous -another elevated tee shot to a small green defined by an inlaid rock wall. The final hole is a short, wide open par four - and a good scoring hole.
The small clubhouse features a snack bar and pro shop, and a putting green is situated near the opening tee.
Our round with 4 players took less than 2 hours on an August weekend evening - 2 hours well spent!
For more information on this course and a link to its website (if available) visit our detailed listing page in the Two Guys Who Golf Chicago Section: click here.
|
