Spring Update

It seems as if I only have the opportunity to write blog posts when we have snow on the ground in late March. Once again, the 2014 season seems as if it will be late to start. I just can't see a scenario today that will allow for a course opening this Friday.

We, as a staff, have taken great pride in the course we present each year to our residents and guests. 2014 will be no exception. Our decision to open will be directly impacted by the weather over the next week. Once the weather cooperates and we can get out on the course to prepare it for "opening day," we will. 

As we move into next week, we will re-evaluate the course conditions and keep you posted. Until then, enjoy the madness of the NCAA Tournament. This winter is only going to make the warmth of summer all that much better. 

-EH

Course Update | March 27

Annually we target to open the golf course on the last Friday of March.  Last season we were fortunate to open two weeks early.  This season, the weather has proved to be a challenge when trying to meet our scheduled opening date.  At this time, snow-cover remains on over a third of the golf course.  We are hoping that by the end of the weekend this number is less than 10%.

We have started to prepare the course for the 2013 season, where we can.  Some areas will not be able to be prepared until more snow melts this weekend.  Our hope is to have the course open and playable a week from this Friday (April 5).  This keeps the Opening Scramble on the schedule for April 6.  As we progress through the next week we will have a better idea when riding carts will be available.  The practice facility will open with the golf course.

We appreciate your continued support and look forward to a wonderful 2013 season.

-EH

My Personal Top-15

Recently I have noticed a lot of golf publications posting their most recent golf course rankings.  Golf Digest posts a Top-100 list of courses inside the US -- as well as a list of the Top-100 outside the US.  They rank their favorite courses in each state, which I am always underwhelmed by the number of public access courses listed in Illinois.  Golf Magazine goes out on a ledge and combines both lists to produce a Top-100 in the World list.  I've seen lists of the best "modern" courses and best "classic" courses.  The number of ways to create a list is unlimited.

With that being said, I've created a list of the Top-15 courses I've played in my life.  Before releasing my list, there are a couple of things I found to be true about my perception of how "good" a course is.  First, I put a lot more weight on the experience I had at the club.  I tried to keep my own score out of the equation, but I've found I always enjoy courses I play well more than courses I've never posted a good score on.  Second, I love the history of a club -- so older courses always rank higher on my list than "modern" ones.  Third, desert courses don't ever seem to make the cut.  I've found they all look the same to me.  I very rarely remember much about desert courses I've played.  Finally, I love courses that are unique.  I understand every course is different, but there are just some courses that are more unique than others.

I've played 15 courses on the 2011 list of Golf Magazines Top-100 in the World.  This is how my Top-15 would rank if I exclusively used their list:

1, St. Andrews (Old) | 2, Pebble Beach | 3, Pinehurst (No. 2) | 4, Royal Dornoch | 5, Ballybunion (Old) | 6, Pacific Dunes | 7, Carnoustie (Championship) | 8, New South Wales | 9, Sunningdale (Old) | 10, Lahinch | 11, Whistling Straits (Straits) | 12, Portmarnock (Old) | 13, Bandon Dunes | 14, Shoreacres | 15, Medinah (No. 3)

My list would look different.  I've also noted how these courses rank with my four key criteria when evaluating a course.

1 | Ballybunion (Old), Ireland | Picking number 1 was harder than picking number 15.  When reflecting on each course on this list, this one is special.  I had the opportunity to play this course twice when I was 15 and would love to get back and play there again someday.  While Ballybunion doesn't have the history of major championships like St. Andrews and Pebble Beach, it has 18 great holes.  I've never played a better set of 18 holes. (Experience: 9 | History: 7 | Uniqueness: 10+)

2 | Pebble Beach, USA | This course has my second favorite six hole stretch of any course I've ever played.  While I played the old 5th hole when I was there, I'd have to imagine an ocean-front par-3 is stunning and you don't get much better than the next five.  The second shot on the 8th hole is probably my favorite shot in all of golf.  And then to finish you have 17 and 18 -- enough said. (Experience: 9 | History: 9 | Uniqueness: 10)

3 | St. Andrews (Old), Scotland | In Webster's Dictionary you could put a picture of this golf course as the definition of history.  The idea that just about every noteworthy golfer in the history of the game has walked these fairways makes this place special.  The thing I remember most about this course was walking up the 18th with a couple hundred people in town lining the property fence.  I hit my approach shot to about 20-feet and received an applause from the gallery.  I then proceeded to three-putt for bogey. (Experience: 10 | History: 10+ | Uniqueness: 8)

4 | New South Wales, Australia | The most spectacular view I've every seen is after the tee shot on the par-5 5th.  About 200 yards off the tee, the hole falls over 50-feet and seems to crash into the Pacific Ocean.  The par-3 6th allows golfers to cross a bridge onto a small rock island and play a tee shot back over the cove and onto the mainland. (Experience: 9 | History: 7 | Uniqueness: 9)

5 | Pacific Dunes, USA | The best place to go for a golf trip.  No spa, no fine dinning, no glitz or glam.  This is just pure golf. (Experience: 10 | History: 2 | Uniqueness: 10+)

6 | Carnoustie, Scotland
7 | Portmarnock (Old), Ireland
8 | The Bears Club, USA
9 | Sunningdale (Old), England
10 | Shoreacres, USA
11 | Bandon Dunes, USA
12 | Whistling Straits, USA
13 | Skokie Country Club, USA
14 | Bandon Trails, USA
15 | Pinehurst (No. 2), USA

-EH

A Look Back

When looking back on the 44th season of golf at LBGC, I can't help but think about the tremendous successes of the season.  Weather had a lot to do with another great season, but much of the success of the past season didn't rely on sunny warm days.

For the first time in over three seasons, Lake Bluff had more passholders than the previous season.  While the warm spring weather certainly had a positive impact on sales, I feel golfers truly found great value in the season pass.  Reasons for purchasing a season pass varied throughout our passholders.  Some enjoyed calling Lake Bluff home.  Others appreciated the reciprocal program with local golf courses.  Almost all loved the financial value.  Unlimited passholders received three complimentary riding carts, a range punch card, a member gift and a complimentary spot in our permanent tee times.  Limited passholders took advantage of the fact that Lake Bluff is one of the few clubs still offering playing privileges on the weekends to limited passholders.  While it has taken a few seasons to create the right season pass structure for our residents and guests, Lake Bluff has a season pass available that is perfect for anyone looking to call LBGC their home course.

2012 brought other great success.  Lake Bluff hosted over a dozen private events with sixty players or more during the season.  There is no doubt that the word is out about our club.  If you are looking to host an event on a great course with a high level of guest services without the high prices and strict schedules found at a private club, Lake Bluff is the place for your next private event.  Just a few years ago, LBGC would only host a couple large outings a year and now we host a majority of the charitable golf events located is Lake Bluff / Lake Forest, not to mention several corporate events, each season.

The staff also formed the new Lake Bluff Men's Club.  Playing on Wednesday afternoons throughout the summer, members of the club enjoyed a very casual, yet competitive, golf league.  A dozen teams participated and the league is looking to expand in 2013.

These were just several of the numerous highlight of the 2012 golf season.  I am certainly excited for the 2013 campaign to begin and build upon these great successes.  I owe gratitude to my outstanding staff and members for the past season and look forward to seeing you all this spring.

-EH