Blackstone Golf Club - Illinois - USA

Blackstone Golf Club, like many Chicago-area clubs developed during the booming ‘90s, came with the understanding that the course would disrupt the native wetland as little as possible. Those playing the course will see that ownership and architect Bob Lohmann did a great job on that aspect of the design.

Too good of a job perhaps, for some golfers’ liking; more than 13 holes bring the marsh into play, with plenty of opportunity for those with shaky hands to lose a ball! Lohmann, however, understood that giving higher handicap players a better chance means more than just lowering the yardage, thus numerous holes include better angles for those playing off of shorter tees. No. 9, for example, makes the tee shot less of a “Cape” affair for shorter players, and gives them a straight line to the fairway.

Some holes, such as the closer, don't need water to be strategically interesting. This long par four plays more as a “par 4.5”: Your ability to find the green in regulation will require both a strong drive, and an angle into the green that takes the large “Lion’s Mouth” bunker out of play.