Golf Exclusives E-Newsletter - May 1, 2002

On the Road Again

For this newsletter, we are staying home in Chicago.  We are describing the other four courses in the Chicagoland Golf Package. We hop you enjoy the Newsletter and will contact us soon to book a golf trip.

Golfing in the Chicago area is superb in the summer and fall. There are many outstanding courses in the area. Marriott's Hickory Ridge Conference Hotel located in Lisle, Illinois is conveniently located for your stay. Nearby activities for the entire family include exploring the world-class Morton Arboretum, shopping at the famous Oakbrook Center mall, enjoying Chicago's famous museums, the Brookfield Zoo, or taking in a game at one of Chicago's great sports teams. Amenities at the hotel include The Arbor Sports Bar & Grill (which includes satellite sports, karaoke, electronic sports games and billiards), an indoor pool, and exercise room. In the August 1, 2001 edition of this newsletter, we discussed several courses -- the following courses are also "top notch" courses to play in Chicagoland.

Designed by Pete Dye, Ruffled Feathers Golf Club in Lemont is a well-maintained course that can be very demanding. The fairways are generous, and the greens are large and undulating. The course has over 100 sand bunkers. Also in Lemont is the well-known Dubsdread Course at Cog Hill Golf Club. Dubsdread was built from the natural terrain and is known for its many oak trees lining the fairways and its large, undulating greens. The signature hole on Dubsdread is #16, a 397-yard, par 4, with a dogleg left fairway and great views of the countryside. Its green if four -tiered and surrounded by trees. "GOLF Magazine" chose this 16^th among the "Top 100 Courses You Can Play in the U.S." for 1998.

The Scottish links-style course of Prairie Landing Golf Club in West Chicago only has trees in play on four holes. Designer Robert Trent Jones Jr's philosophy enables golfers of all skill levels to have an enjoyable test of golf. The course's character is unique in the Chicago area, derived from the skillful blending of earthwork contours, innovative bunkering, waterways and wetlands, and dramatic sweeps of native grasses. The signature hole is #5, a 406-yard, par 4, with a lake that bisects the hole, which creates two alternative fairways to choose between when approaching the green. "Golf Digest" rated Prairie Landing as the 25^th "Best in State' course for 1997-98.

The spacious layout of White Deer Run Golf Course in Vernon Hills is favored by locals for its long tees and fast greens. Water hazards come into play on nine holes. The signature hole is #4, a 172-yeard, par 3, which is nestled in the middle of the course with a steep drop off from the tee to the pin.

Finally, I would include in this listing the Port Course at Harborside International Golf Center. This course consists of two eighteen-hole courses that are a miracle of enlightened politics, environmental engineering and the imagination of Dick Nugent. The story behind the course involves capping a fourteen-year-old landfill with two feet of solid clay. Add two public courses to the 450-acre space, a clubhouse, a golf academy, a first-class practice facility, and landmarks from Chicago history to play beside, and let her rip. The two courses located at the club are the Port and the Starboard. Both courses are links-style. There is water that comes into play and many very deep sand bunkers in keeping with the links tradition. "GOLFWEEK" selected the Port Course 100^th among "America's 100 Best Modern Courses" for 1999. The signature hole is #15 on the Port Course, a 216-yard, par 3, which is in the shape of an anchor.

"On The Road Again" is looking for contributors. We like to travel to new destinations and tell you about them, but like you, we have a budget. So….if you have a destination you want to share with us, send us an email. If we use your article, we will give you a gift certificate towards your next golf trip with us.

Thanks for participating.