South at Hickory Hills Country Club

I did not expect the course to be in the good shape now at the end of the season. Greens were rolling surprisingly smooth for a well played public course. Fairways also in good shape. Rough a little long but to be expected at this time of the year.

Recommendations: Continue to cutback on the older trees.

The carts are beat, the greens are slow & long, and the facilities need renovation.

Terrific rate from GolfNow brought us here. Not a good start - had to wait nearly 30 minutes for a cart - it's end of season and course had 10 carts out of service for repair. Also, very awkward arrival logistics - no real bag drop and long walk thru dark tunnel to get to carts. Front end of of the "clubhouse" is dominated by banquet and restaurant facilities.

As for the course (south course), impressive opening tee high above the par 5 fairway. This course has great terrain and lots of up and down, doglegs, blind shots, etc. which make for a very interesting and challenging layout. Old course with every hole lines by stately old trees. That part is great. However, the fairways are basically Kentucky bluegrass with clover throughout, not bent grass, Bermuda grass or any other type of standard golf turf. Therefore, you never really feel comfortable hitting off the fairway "grass" even though it was very green.

The greens were exceptionally soft and spongy - and extremely slow and difficult to read because they did not give you the break the slope would ordinarily give you. Softest greens I have played on in many years. That said, they were in great shape with no bare spots or other distress - just very soft and hard to read.

Pace was very good the front nine, then slowed considerably on the back. No evidence of rangers or other on-course assistance to keep things moving. "Half-way" house it actually located where the greens for three holes (4, 8, 15) and tee-boxes for three other holes (5, 9, 16) come together. A very busy intersection, which on a crowded day is also very distracting for those on the tee-boxes and trying to execute putts since any conversations on any of these, or around the half-way house can be easily heard. Probably a neat arrangement for outings but no so much for those just wanting to golf.

At any rate, I would play again - but probably not on a weekend, and only for a bargain rate. Will be a very attractive course when the fall colors are out at this is a venerable old-time course with trees galore.

Tee boxes and "fairways" covered in weeds. The 3 bunkers on the course look like sandboxes - not raked or maintained. No bent-grass, so even shots in the fairway are like hitting out of rough. Greens are SLOW. They're cut so long you need to hit 30-40% harder than you think just to get it to the hole. Cart paths are so close to the greens, if you miss a 180 yard shot by just 15 feet, it could hit a path, bounce God knows where and be lost (speaking from experience).

If you like country club style courses, this ain't it. If you want to get out of work, have a cheap afternoon in the suburbs, and play a few challenging holes, this place works fine.

I give 4**** rating for this course............................