Prairie Landing Golf Club
Prairie Landing Golf Club
Prairie Landing is a Robert Trent Jones designed course in West Chicago, IL. This course is one of my favorites because of the uniqueness of each hole. There are four sets of men’s tees, offering a completely different golf experience from each one.
I normally play from the gold tees (6,580 yards, rating: 71.3 / slope: 130). From here, you are challenged with each tee shot. The par-3’s play from 170 - 200 yards and you have to weigh the risk/reward options on the par-4 holes.
You will definitely use all of the clubs in your bag and you will seldom see a flat lie.
Hole-by-hole
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Hole #1
Par 4 (335 yards)
The easiest hole on the course…
Your best bet on this hole is a 220-230 tee shot right down the middle. You can also gamble with a driver and if successful you’ll have a very short chip to the green. There is water to the right and hills to the left. I normally play a three wood to the back of the fairway, leaving me about 75 yards to the center of the green. The large green is severely sloped from back to front and leaving the ball below the hole is recommended.
My typical play:
Hybrid, wedge
Hole #2
Par 4 (360 yards)
This hole is also one of the easiest on the course. A 280 uphill drive leaves you with a 75-80 yard shot to the middle of the green. The only real trouble on this hole are the bunkers and tall grass to the right of the landing area and green. I usually play a bump and run up to the hole depending on the pin placement. The two-level green is pretty large and slopes from the back left. Again, being below the hole is vital if you want to make birdie.
My typical play:
Driver, wedge
Hole #3
Par 3 (180 yards)
The first par three on the course requires a high shot to the center of the green. A back right pin location makes the hole ten yards longer and fescue, mounds and nastiness into play. The back of the green is surrounded by mounds and a few bunkers. So if you fly the green, you’re safe but faced with a tricky downhill chip. There’s also a bail out area short and left of the green. The green is very wide and somewhat narrow w/ three levels. A two putt is not guaranteed!
My typical play:
high six iron to the center
Hole #4
Par 5 (545 yards)
This par 5 offers a few driving options. A 280 shot down the center requires a 230-240 yard carry over a set of bunkers and leaves a long/straight shot to the green with a big landing area in front. A bomb down the right side of the fairway usually gets some roll down the hill and can leave you with less than 200 yards uphill to the green. This option requires a carry over a swamp area and a bunch of bunkers in front of the green. The green is fairly small and flatter than the previous ones. Again, it’s surrounded by mounds and bunkers.
My typical play:
Driver, hybrid/3-wood, wedge
Hole #5
Par 4 (400 yards)
This hole is the DEVIL!
A straight drive over water and a huge hill to a large fairway leaves 75-125 yards for the approach shot. And slice or fade may end up in the water or catch the bunker which lines the entire landing area. (Or, if you’re a wuss, you can play conservatively and take the ball down the right side. But this leaves you with a LONG shot over water and marshland for your approach.)
the 75-125 yard approach shot is the most difficult on the course. The green features a false front and a run-off in the back and is sloped to the right. Anything right is in the water and anything long is in a collection area (if you’re lucky) or in the water. The green is severely sloped and tiny. Bogey is a good score here. Yeah, I said, “BOGEY”!
My typical play:
3-Wood, wedge
Hole #6
Par 3 (174 yards)
This par 3 plays slightly uphill and features one most sloped greens on the course. Anything short will end up in a deep bunker. The green is three levels and slopes from left to right. A fade to the center of the green is usually the best option.
My typical play:
5-6 iron (high)
Hole #7
Par 5 (555 yards)
This long par 5 always seems to play into the wind. The fairway is huge and your best bet is an approach from the center or right side. There is a very steep embankment and stream lining the entire left side of the hole. if your ball goes down there, don’t even try looking for it. A second shot of 230 yards leaves 50 yards uphill to the center of the huge green. The green is surrounded by mounds, sand and fescue. Getting a good read on the putts is important and the green is huge and multi-tiered.
My typical play:
Driver, 3-wood/hybrid, wedge
Hole #8
Par 4 (360 yards)
This hole is fun!
A 230 yard tee shot from an elevated tee box leaves 130 yards to the small and sloped green.
I usually play left of the right hand bunkers and it leaves a nine iron down to the green. It’s BIRDIE TIME…if you leave it below the hole!
My typical play:
hybrid, 9-iron/wedge
Hole #9
Par 4 (410 yards)
Great finish to the front nine!
This hole offers a few driving options. To the wide right side of the fairway leaves a longer approach bringing water into play. Down the left center requires a carry over some hills and bunkers but leaves a much shorter approach away from the lake.
I usually play a low-liner to the narrow, two-level green in order to take the water and bunkers out of the shot.
My typical play:
Driver, 7/8/9-iron
The Turn: Hurry up and get your brat or dog, the tenth hole is across the street and I don’t want to wait for you!
My typical play:
Brat w/ extra peppers mix and an Arnold Palmer
Hole #10
Par 5 (530 yards)
An easy par five if you can hit the ball straight. The blind tee shot to a wide fairway is best played down the right center. The second shot is to a wide open landing area or large green. Again, play your approach shot below the hole for any chance of one-putting.
My typical play:
Driver, 3-wood, (wedge)
Hole #11
Par 4 (340 yards)
An iron or hybrid from the tee is the best bet here. The hole wraps around a wetland area to the right. If you miss right, you may not have a shot to the green.
The second shot requires a carry over some water directly in front of the green’s landing area. Like most of the greens on this course, this one is big and multi-leveled with water on the right side.
My typical play:
4-iron/hybrid, 9-iron/wedge
Hole #12
Par 3 (210 yards)
THE LITTLE MONSTER
Water…green. There is nothing in-between. Except a drop area if you dunk your tee shot. A high, floating hybrid or long iron to the back of the green is the best option. Any fades or slices will most likely end up wet. The green is long and wide making par a very good score.
This hole has definitely seen many sixes and sevens over the years.
My typical play:
Hybrid/4-iron
Hole # 13
Par 5 (550 yards)
You must step on your driver for any chance of getting home in two. Any tee shot less than 290 yards will most likely result in a layup second shot. There is OB left of the fairway and mounds and bunkers to the right. The fairway opens up a bit after 250 yards or so. There isn’t much bail out room for your second shot so a layup is often the smart play.
An angled stream cuts across the fairway about 50 yards in front of the green. The green sweeps from left to right and is elevated from the water. This is your last chance for an eagle….
My typical play:
Driver, 3-wood (or 7-iron, wedge)
Hole #14
Par 3 (179 yards)
This shorter par three requires a straight shot. You can be short but anything left or right will result in trouble…and most likely a double. There are huge bunkers along the right side and a drop to marshland on the left.
The green is long and narrow and the slopes are gradual and easily navigated.
My typical play:
5/6-iron
Hole #15
Par 4 (363 yards)
A long drive down the right side will run down to a large collection area shot of the green. From here, you’re left with a short pitch, a bump and run is best, to a large, fairly flat putting surface. A definite birdie opportunity!
My typical play:
Driver, wedge
Hole #16
Par 4 (420 yards)
Almost identical to the 15th hole but 60 yards longer. A low-trajectory approach from the right side is a good option into the mound, sand and fescue surrounded large green.
My typical play:
Driver, 8/9-iron
Hole #17
Par 3 (208 yards)
A long par three with a plateaued green requires a long carry up to the green. The green is surrounded by hills, long grass and bunkers. I usually fade a hybrid up to the pin position. landing on the correct level is your only chance for a birdie. Par is a great score here!
My typical play:
Hybrid fade or 4/-iron
Hole #18
Par 5 (560 yards)
Are you tired? Too bad, this hole is a BEAST!
You have many options from the tee. You can drive left down to the fairway and leave yourself with a 240+ yard carry over the lake to the green. The smart route is to the right of the many middle bunkers then a mid iron to the fairway which is position right of the lake and above the green.
The huge sloping green is set down by the lake surrounded by hills. Leave yourself above the hole if you like roller coater putts. Birdies are possible, eagles are very rare. A par is a strong finish and should leave a smile on your face as you leave the course. 8’s and 9’s are common!
My typical play:
Driver, 6-iron, wedge