Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
Chicago claims a number of firsts in U.S. golf – first to establish an 18 hole course when others were mainly between 6 and 12 holes, and first to establish an out-of-bounds rule. It’s no longer a novelty, so try to avoid testing that. The course was designed with Scottish links golf in mind, so there are few trees and large greens, but the topography is quite different. The land is far flatter with few of the undulating fairways and massive mounds one would associate with a links course – the effect is a feeling of extreme spaciousness. The greens are unique too, many of them being quite square in shape and accompanied by horse shoe or wraparound bunkers. Several are very misleading, with false fronts and bunkers well ahead of the green, creating the idea that the green is far closer than it actually is. The opening holes are the most demanding on the course; the 3rd is a long par 3 with an elevated green, a cross bunker to collect any short hits and sand traps either side of the putting surface. The following hole is equally demanding, another high green that funnels short approaches back in the direction of the hitter.
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