Old Orchard Country Club, Mount Prospect, IL

If you only read one thing - this is a short course. As of July 2013, Blue Tees are gone (part of "Move up and Speed up" campaign). So playing from white 'tips', this is less than 6000 yards. Example of shortness: 480 par 5, 245 par 4, etc. I only recall only 1 part 4 that was over 385 yards. Total par is 70 with only 3 par 5's. This is also a narrow course with mature trees. Lots of trees. Lining every fairway. Every narrow fairway. I agree with previous review, some trees are even in the way of direct line off tee box. Also, the 18 holes are designed on top of each other (except literally only the 17th). Many tee boxes are adjacent to another tee box. I did find the course to be in good shape, well maintained - from sand to greens to fairway. My biggest disappointment was that I wouldn't say there were any memorable holes. Just a lot of short, tight, dogleg holes. I finished my round 4 hours ago, and can't remember 1 hole where I thought 'wow, that was a great hole design'. To be fair to the course, I'm sure playing here often would make me a much better golfer. You have to be disciplined to hit a 5-wood off box and punch out of trouble. I paid $55 for Saturday round. Didn't love it, didn't hate it. I'm a low 90s golfer and shot in the low 90s here. Hit enough trees to shoot 110, but the shortness gave me a couple birdies when i hit straight.

The good news is that Old Orchard is for the most part well maintained from the greens to its flowerbeds. The bad news is that it is a tree-infested mess. This is a course where a perfect drive into the fairway is stymied because huge, overgrown, misplaced trees block potential shots to the greens. Miss the fairway in a bunker, sorry because even bunkers are guarded with a growth of tress. The course surely needs its trees to toughen the 6000 yard track but a good shot in a fairway should be rewarded not penalized. Removing certain trees that were planted 30+ years ago would also show off some of the many ponds dotting the course. I probably will not play here again simply because I do not like tricked-up courses...Old Orchard is a arboretum not a golf course.

Just because a course is difficult does not mean its bad. This is a really nice course. Usually not too busy, people are helpful, and just generaly nice looking. I definitely recommend - especially if you can get a coupon. Do prepare for a bit of a challenge, but it beats a course where you can drive the ball 100 yards wide and 7 iron it to the green.