EAGLE RIDGE Resort & Spa 800-892-2269
THE GENERAL
Chicago Golf Course Review 8/17/03
Introduction (scroll down for a review of the General 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 on 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 GENERAL
With a 4 1/2 star rating and mention from Golf Magazine as the 52nd best public course in the country in 2002,
The General provides a dramatic setting, with incredible elevation changes and spectacular vistas. Tee boxes
located on the sides of hills, rolling fairways defined by natural areas and high grasses, and beautiful water
hazards are some of the features that sets this course apart. It is also the most finely conditioned course at the resort.
The 6820 yards play to a 140 slope rating from the 4 star tees, while the 3 stars measure 6434/136, the 2 star
6008/131, and the 1 star or forward tees 5337/126. For women golfers, the 2 star tees are sloped at 135 and
the forwards at 128. With the elevation changes and tree lined fairways defined by tall fescue/heather rough,
golfers should choose their tee areas wisely - this golf course packs some punch. Keep it on the fairways and
hit the greens - and one and two putts are a reasonable expectation. Score well on the par fives and threes, and manage the par fours cautiously - a good formula for success here.
The opening hole is a picturesque par four, playing from an elevated tee area to a rolling fairway bordered by
tall fescue left and trees right. Land it on the fairway and this is a fairly easy par. Play from the rough and bogie
or higher is possible. Number two is tree lined with more heather on the left, and narrows considerably as you
approach a tight green complex. The beautiful par three 3rd has bunkers protecting either side of the green and
a water hazard surrounding the putting surface like a horseshoe, but as the 18th handicap should yield a good
score.The fourth plays uphill with moguls and pot bunkers all along the right side - a lay up past the 150 will set
up nicely here. Five is long dogleg left four par that invites a shot to the right center of the fairway- anything left
will be blocked by trees. This hole turns past the 150 yard stake, demanding accuracy and length off the tee.
Number six is a gorgeous par five that bends in the opposite direction - actually bananas to the right along a
water hazard. The fairway narrows to an L-shaped putting complex, which slopes left to right. A simple uphill
par three on seven is followed by a short risk/reward par four. Long hitters will be attempted to cut this hole and
play for the green - others should lay up with a mid to long iron for an easy approach - lots of birdies here. The
finishing hole on the front demands a carry over a deep ravine, with the right center of the fairway the best location from which to approach the elevated, well bunkered putting complex.
The back side continues where the initial nine left off, as this number 5 handicapped par four plays over water to
a raised fairway with trees on both sides making this one of the day's tightest approaches. The left center is the
place to be here. Eleven is a beautiful par three that is all carry over a natural ravine, with not much room for
error. The two back tees are elevated and the middle and front tees are quite level. The finely sculpted fairway
on 12 is about 25 yards wide and is flanked by fescue mounds left and trees right. Land it on the fairway
however and this short par five is a good scoring hole. A tee shot over a natural area should be aimed over the
150 yard stake to leave the best approach to a tight green complex on the dogleg left par four13th. This is the
course's number one handicap - and a tough par. Fourteen follows with what we found to be the most score
-able hole of the layout - or as Tigger says - "eagable". Long hitters may be able to reach the green off the tee,
as this short par four plays extremely downhill. Land it anywhere on the fairway, and this hole can be had. Be
forewarned that a water hazard rests about 100 out on the right side past the tree line, and is not visible from
the tee boxes (and also is not in the yardage guide booklet). The view for the elevated tee area is outstanding! If
you can avoid the green-side traps on 15, this par three should also turn out some good scores. It is easy
however to drive through the green, as it is quite narrow. Aim just left of the 150 to cut off some distance on 16,
which bends left and presents a fairly simple approach. The par four 17th is a tricky hole. It plays uphill to a wide
landing area, but the uphill second shot will demand 1 1/2 to 2 clubs extra. Anything hit left center or short on the
green will run all the way down into a grass swale that fronts the putting complex. The par five closing hole is
very tight off the tee, with trees on either side protecting an undulating fairway that splits about 185 out. The top
shelf on the right side is the place to be for an approach to a green that slopes considerable from right to left.
The general is top dog at Eagle Ridge - a fine golf course at a fine golf resort. The drive from downtown
Chicago is about 2 1/2 to 3 hours depending on traffic. For a one day trip - we recommend you play a couple of
rounds, with the General and the North Course being our first two choices. You can't go wrong on the South or
East courses either. Better yet - spend a long weekend or at least overnight in one of the fine accommodations available, and play them all. Four Troon golf courses on one property - need we say more?
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.
|
