Pros:
Up front - this is my home course and I've had input on designing some holes. I'll try to be as objective as possible, but this course really needs an updated review considering all of the changes in the last couple of years.
- As of Nov. 2022, there are now tee signs and Mach X baskets that replaced the nearly 20-year old Mach IIs
- There is a good mix of wooded and park-style holes throughout that challenge your entire bag. The red tees are a solid introductory course, but the blues really do offer a good challenge. A 54 would be about 1000-rated.
- New tee and pin locations have been added to a handful of holes in recent years to give added variety and challenge. Hole #3 received a complete rework with two new pin positions and clearing of rough. Holes #1, #2, #6, and #11 have added either new pins and/or tees in the last couple of years for additional challenge.
- For as little elevation as there is in central Illinois, Lincoln Park South does have some and makes good use of terrain. And there are multiple pathways to reach several of the holes - #9 is a great example. You can throw directly to the basket, but over the road nearly the entire way, or there's a wide hyzer shot that's much safer, but tougher to reach the pin.
Cons:
- This is in a public park, and a few holes may have non-golfers in the same space. Hole 15 can certainly present problems as new benches often have pedestrians within circle 2 on the weekends. While I love hole #4, the blind tee shot runs parallel to a road many pedestrians walk on.
- Additional amenities like benches and trash cans near some tees would be nice.
- There are some signature holes (#4, #6, #13)... and then there are some holes that get you to and from the signature holes. While some of these "transition" holes (#5, #14) have been better carved out, there are a few holes that stand out a bit as not meeting the same standard as the rest of the course.
Other Thoughts:
Lincoln Park South is an outstanding course, but a few lackluster holes and the close shared space with other activities keep this from being a top score. While there is another course on the north side of Lincoln Park, this one is the clear favorite with great use of the woods, elevation, and the upgraded amenities.