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PHOTOS & REVIEW
Park Hills Golf Course (west "Koch") (Freeport, IL)
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Duffy's Review
If you would like to know more about course conditions and atmosphere, read the East (Rawleigh) course review. I won’t go on about it here. But I will reiterate “What a wonderful place for a golfer to spend a day!”
The west (Koch) course at Park Hills Golf Courses is the harder, and longer, of the two. This is not just my opinion, everyone I talked to while I was there said the same. As with the east side, the west was manicured to the high standards of a much more expensive golf course. The added length is not the obstacle, it’s more the tight fairways and well planned use of the terrain. There seemed to be more dramatic elevation changes and there was definitely more water.
I got into trouble right out of the shoot. The 484 yard par 5 1st appeared to be an easy birdie. I had scored fairly well on the East, and my driver had been working, so confidence was high. I hit the ball well, clearing the creek easily, but for some reason it decided to go right. No problem, it’s not that far right and a lay up from the rough will still net a par. Reaching my balls’ supposed destination, there must have been 30 balls in the area, I had landed inbounds but right next to the driving range. Nope, I never found mine. Not wanting to hold up play I dropped there for 3 and took bogie 6 for the hole. So much for that easy birdie.
The 169 yard 2nd is straight up the hill. From my position I could see the top 2 feet of the flagstick and the flag taunting me in the breeze. My game didn’t suffer from this hole, a par, but the view from this green is worth mention. From here you get a good perspective of the rolling fairways surrounding you and the way the creek ambles through the course. The last picture in the first row is from this vantage point.
Park Hills Golf Courses have several holes that tempt your ego. The 380 yard 5th is one of these. An elevated tee and green, with the creek running through the low section of the fairway, asks the following question, do you let the “Big dog hunt” or keep him in his kennel? Holes like this are what make golf fun, and Park Hills has plenty of them. I kept my dog chained up, even though the barking was getting really loud.
The finishing hole for this nine is laid out in what I consider Pro Tour fashion. This sweeping dog-leg right 428 yard par 4,
with its elevated tee and beautifully striped fairway is lined with trees and dotted by bunkers. The tall trees on the right
at the turn, make cutting the corner a high risk proposition. If you are short of the trees and right, you will have very
little chance of making this green in 2. A pulled tee shot will put the smaller trees on the left into play. Those small trees
will not be small for long.
#12 is a 451 yard par 5 that slowly descends into a dog-leg left, and farther down hill from there. A shortened tee shot right will land you in one of the fairway bunkers. I wasn’t going to make that mistake so I tried to draw my driver and let it run down the hill. If you don’t know the difference between a “draw” and a “duck hook” I’ll tell you. 2 strokes! I hit the trees on the left and my ball came straight down. I had no choice but to punch out, gaining no distance. Another small bunker short right and a large one directly right give you something to think about on your approach.
#13 is handicapped as the 14th toughest hole on the west course. At 367 yards it’s not very long but it is uphill all the way. A good drive and approach shot will make this an easy hole. The trick to this hole is the narrow tree lined fairway that slopes to both sides. Miss the fairway and this easy hole turns on you.
As long as we are on the subject of tight fairways, let me finish with the 374 yard par 4, 16th. I like this hole for 2 reasons. Standing on the tee box looking to your right, you have the most awesome view of the west course. The second picture on the top row is only a small part of this fantastic view. The other is the intimidation factor of the 16th hole itself. You’re looking down a narrow tree lined fairway that slopes drastically to the right, you either hit the fairway or forget it. Golf is a game that you can never be sure of, I pulled the ball so far right I was almost in the #2 fairway for the east course. Thinking I was dead I hug my head and started towards my way-ward ball. What a great game. I had a shot so up and over the trees I went, yee-haaaaaa!! Par.
I guess I can’t stop repeating myself, “What a wonderful place for a golfer to spend a day!” With 2 golf courses, a driving range, extensive snack bar menu and friendly people, both working and playing, I think golfers would agree with my opinion of Park Hills Golf Courses. A premium facility at very reasonable prices.
For more information on Park Hills Golf Club check out the links below
Play often, Play fair and above all, HAVE FUN!.
I love this game!
Duffy
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