My thoughts on Detweiller. Haven’t played there in years. With that being said, it’s where I learned to play golf. A few memories- my first ball lost until I shook the pine tree and it fell out, and my first experience of an island green… number 7. When the river floods, it’s an island green. I’ve done it a few times; shoot at the green with no chance to recovering your ball without wading through the Illinois river. I wasn’t the only one though, there were tons of balls on the green. Whoever was the first to get to the green once the water subsided got alot of shag balls.

For Midland, never played there, but it sounds fun.

I have a love-hate relationship with Weaver. I love it, but I hate the greens fees. $50 to tee off before 8 doesn’t entice me. I’ve only payed to play there once, and that was when it first opened. I’ve played two or three times since, mostly in scrambles and corporate stuff. If I’m on vacation, I’ll hunt out the best course and dish out the dough to play a great course, but something in my brain (or bank) prevents me from driving 10 minutes to pay that much when I could just as well go to another local course much cheaper.

I stayed away from Bloomington courses in my post, but I totally agree, Prairie Vista is awesome, other than I lost my driver head into the 17th hole’s lake and the guy I was betting against wouldn’t give me a mulligan. I’m not much for mulligans, but it seemed to me that was a special circumstance. My friggin driver head flew into the lake, along with my ball. What ever happened to friendly competition? That pissed me off, so I went on to bogey 17, including the penalty stroke, and par 18 teeing off with a 3 wood to beat him. Jackass.

I played the Den once, but it was years ago and I don’t remember much other than a general impression of it being a very very nice course that was reasonably priced and I wished Peoria could have, since it was owned by (either Bloomington or Normal’s) Park District. I also haven’t played the ISU course in many years, but I’d like to go back. Lightning fast greens and tight fairways. Fun, if not frustrating.

Some shorter Par 4’s and longer Par 3’s with the best greens I have ever putted on. It’s a very cool old course with tight fairways, long rough and a LOT of doglegs.

Sadly, one of my buddies asked the pro if it was public and he said it’s only open to the public until May 15th and then after September.

Also in my top three, though not in Peoria, Prarie Vista.

And I think Weaver is still running the special if you tee off before 8 AM during the week it’s $50.