Stonewall Orchard Golf Club
Stonewall Orchard is probably one of the most difficult courses in the area. At least for a first-timer. Very demanding tee-shots, small, speedy greens, thick rough and it’s always windy. Stonewall Orachard is definitely and interesting course and if you’re on your game it should be a lot of fun! Bring your range finder because you’ll definitely need it and the course’s carts are not GPS enabled.
The course starts off with a somewhat demanding blind tee shot to a dog leg par-4. If you’re not familiar with the course, I’d recommend hitting a three wood or something you know you wont pull. There’s a bunch of junk on the left. Other than that, the hole is pretty wide open.
And the course does NOT GET ANY EASIER! The second hole requires a precision tee shot and approach to a very narrow, elevated green. If you have to hit anything longer than a six iron to the green, I recommend laying up to the 100 yard marker (or whatever you ideal sand wedge distance is.
Hole number three is your first real birdie opportunity. It’s a short downhill par-5 with some bunkers and again, a somewhat shallow green. But two long shots will have you putting for birdie and possibly eagle if you can get your ball up enough.
The fourth hole is incredibly deceiving. A four iron to the 100 yard marker….no problem. Only you have a very dramatic downhill lie to a small, well-protected green with water long. And you will most likely be left with a semi-blind shot to the green unless you can approach it from the right side of the fairway. Arthur Hill and hist Stonewall Orchard aren’t messing around.
The fifth hole is a long par-3, where if you’re going to miss, it must be left…and not by much. Good club selection is crucial here. The green is large…just hit it!
Number six is a very long par-4 but it’s pretty wide-open and again, the green is very small and guarded by a pair of bunkers short on each side. Par is very nice here!
The par-4 seventh hole is a slight dog-legged par-4 to a large, double tiered green with some major slopes. Check your tee sheet and get your approach to the correct level or get ready for three putt city.
Number eight is another short par-5 birdie opportunity. Bomb your drive left for the shortest approach but even if you go right, decent yardage will leave you with a long iron tow the green which has a generous bail out area to the right. The green is, again, small and slopes severely to a bowl in the back.
Walk up to nine with no wind and you might be able to make the turn with a smile on your face. The par-3 ninth sets up from an elevated tee box with a large green with water on the right and long and bunkers and fescue on the left.
Stop and grab a snack and take a deep breath. In my opinion, the front nine is more difficult than the back. That’s not to say the back nine is easy, by ANY MEANS.
The tenth hole is a twisting par-5 with a blind tee shot that requires a big fade around some trees to a pretty narrow fairway. The approach to the tiny green is fairly narrow with trouble on both sides &, long. Despite it not being an overly long hole, par is a very nice score here.
Hole 11 is long and try to carry the bunker if the wind allows for it. Other than that, I don’t remember much about this hole. The green is probably sloped and small like every other on the course.
Go for it on number 12! Take a driver and lit it rip up the right hand side. Or take your 230 yard club and leave a nice wedge to a rather large green with many peaks and valleys. Birdie time, son!
You’re not making par on the 13th par-3. It’s not long but the green has more tiers than any other green I’ve seen before. If you get wet, there’s a nice drop area 75 yards to the right of the green.
14 presents a few options from the tee box. All of them require a precise shot if you want to hit the green with your second. It’s a short hole but it twists and turns and the green is heavily guarded and raised. Again, par is very good here.
Number 15- how much do you want to cut off. You’ll have to carry thelong bunker on this par-4. It’s simply a matter of how much of it you want to carry. The large peninsula green on this hole is surrounded by water and a bunker on the right side.
DO NOT take your driver out on the 16th hole. There’s nowhere to put it unless you’re going for the green. There’s a big oak tree on the left side of the fairway and a lake on the right. Oh, and the green is tiny with a bunch of junk behind it. Lay up to 120 yards and knock it close.
The 17th par-3 is the easiest par-3 on the course. It’s not long, it’s protected from the wind and there’s not much trouble around. Placing your tee shot on the correct portion of the green is crucial if you want to make birdie or even par.
The final hole is a very long fun par-5 that plays from over 600 yards. Iy requires three long and straight shots. Otherwise, it’s layup city. If you do not hit the fairway, take your medicine and pray for par or bogey and LAY UP to the middle of the fairway…wherever you can. The green here is the smallest on the course and is guarded by water on the left and bunkers on the right. BOGEY is a finse score here, friends.
That’s it, I’m tired just writing about the Stonewall Orchard golf course in Grayslake, Il. If you have a choice, avoid it on very windy days. You’ll have much more fun if the winds are blowing under 15MPH.
Enjoy!!!