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 300 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.
