Shepherd’s Crook Golf Course

The feeling of a round at famed Irish courses Ballybunion or Waterville within 5 miles of I-94? Welcome to Shepherds Crook Golf Course, honoring the men who unintentionally invented the game and their first “clubs”. Located just on the Illinois side of the Wisonsin state line between Chicago and Milwaukee, I-94 and Lake Michigan, Shepherd’s Crook is a great getaway for golfers from either major city. It is also home to the kind of atmosphere that doesn’t just allow walking, but encourages it.

Just as the vintage Irish clubs used the land as they found it, “Shepherd’s Crook is routed with the classic and strategic design principles that cut features naturally to the terrain,” says course architect Keith Foster. The Kentucky-based designer has not only created The Quarry in San Antonio, Sun Ridge Canyon in the Phoenix area and other public/metro gems like Gateway National in St. Louis and the Tradition in Houston, he’s also been involved in the renovation and restoration of classic tournament courses like Colonial in Ft. Worth and Southern Hills in Tulsa.

“The vision of Shepherd’s Crook returns golfers to the game’s past,” Foster likes to say about the links-style design that reflects the golden era of golf architecture in the 1920’s and ‘30’s with bentgrass tees, fairways and greens. Yet five sets of tees and modern-day manicuring have made Shepherd’s Crook an extremely playable test that has had critics raving since its 1999 opening.

The Chicago Tribune called it “... one of the best bargains in town..offering several challenging and interesting holes. Yet it is priced affordably ... making it well worth the drive.” While the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel was even more glowing in its praise, calling Shepherd’s Crook, “everything a good golf course should be. The design is straight-forward, with generous landing areas, enough trouble around the greens to get your attention, and beautiful bunkering. Shepherd’s Crook is a fine golf course in every way that counts.”

In keeping with its “old-school” theme, there’s not much water at Shepherd’s Crook, truly coming into play on only five holes. Those holes have another old-school trait, catchy names that just happen to provide clues on how to play them. The first three holes are all shortish par-4’s that give you a chance to blast out of the box with a birdie (Short Fuse), take advantage of the downhill and possibly downwind second (Whistling Winds) and then thread your way between bunkers and a lake wrapping around the right and backside of the green (Eye of the Needle) at #3.The fourth hole, the course’s longest par-3, is named “Here We Go” for its difficulty in the shifting winds off Lake Michigan.

The fifth, “Cathedral,” is the toughest hole on the card at 427 yards from the tips. It offers a receptive landing area, but then plays into a grove of varied hardwood trees that provide a provocative framing for the green. “Marsh Mellow” (#6) is softer than it appears once you clear the wetlands off the tee. A split fairway gives the seventh hole its nickname, “Surf And Turf.”

Play to the side opposite the pin position you see from the tee for the best approach to a green protected by deep bunkers and trees behind. “Shepherd’s Hollow” (#8) is just that, carved into a thick grove of trees with a two-tiered green that requires you hit the right club to leave yourself any chance at birdie. The front nine climaxes with “Snake Bite”, a devilish par-5 that offers a variety of second-shot options, a safer play to the right that sets up a difficult approach over 3 greenside bunkers, a tougher play left that opens up a much easier approach shot, or you can whale away over the center fairway bunker and try to reach the green in two, though beware of the false fronts on the green.

The shepherds of Ireland led their flocks into sandy depressions for safety from the howling winds, but you’ll want to steer clear of a deep bunker left and another one greenside at the par-4 10th (Morning Glory). “Shepherd’s Haven” isn’t a golfer’s haven if you find the bunker to the right of this long-ridged green. If you DRAW your tee shot at the “Blind Draw”(#12), you’ll be left with a BLIND shot uphill to a well-protected green. The long dogleg-right par-4 13th (The Farm) leaves you a downhill second shot to a large, undulating green. Fourteen is the aptly-named “Brute”. 654-yards from the tips, 617 from the men’s silver tees. Yet it’s the second shot, not the tee ball that’s critical. A creek at about the 150-yard mark will likely force you to lay-up on the 2nd shot and leave a long approach to the green.

The uphill par-4 15th (Straight and Narrow) begins the turn for home with a table-top green guarded by a bunker in front. The “Watering Hole” is a short par-3 where the wind is as score-threatening as the water. “Shepherd’s Crook” (#17) is a dogleg left par-4 requiring you to get past the corner tree off the tee to open up the approach. The grand finale is a wonderful double-dogleg par-5. Your second, or more likely your third shot, has to carry the “Devil’s Ditch” to an elevated green with not one but two false fronts.

The clubhouse will be a welcome sanctuary after your journey around Shepherd’s Crook. The bratwurst is considered by many to be the best between Milwaukee and Chicago. A full-service dining room and snack bar are available and banquet facilities can cater everything from golf outings to business luncheons to weddings.

While Shepherd’s Crook is a public, daily-fee course, frequent players are encouraged to join its Player’s Club for preferred access to tee-time booking (which can also be done online) and lower rates. As if the regular rates aren’t already encouraging enough. The dictionary describes a “bargain” in the Chicago Tribune’s review as an “advantageous purchase”. “Value” might be an even better word, for not only do you get a “fair return” at Shepherd’s Crook, but you’ll value, and be valued by, the friendly and courteous staff at this Lake County treasure. For more information, contact Shepherds Crook Golf Course at http://www.shepherdscrook.org or call them at (847) 872-2080.