THE PAR 4 9TH GREEN AT CHICAGO HIGHLANDS CLUB COMPLETE WITH VIEW OF THE CHICAGO SKYLINE

The newest secret in Chicago area won't be a secret much longer, the new private Chicago Highlands Club
(CHC) has opened it's golf course. With an outing on May 15th, the current members of CHC tee'd it up and
began breaking in the Arthur Hills designed links style layout.

The course measures 7,460 from the tips with a rating and slope of 76.3/141 which shows the course is no
pushover. There are six sets of tee's which will allow members and their guests to enjoy the layout at a length
that will suit their game.

While the golf course is a test from start to finish, there are several holes that help define this challenging new
layout. The backbone of Chicago Highlands are four outstanding par 3's, that can be put up against any set
of par 3's anywhere. The par 4 ninth hole is one that ends on a green at the highest point of the property, it
is like finding a flag stick at the top of the mountain. It also requires a well played approach shot to hold the
green, and have a putt for par or birdie.


           CHICAGO HIGHLANDS LINKS STYLE GOLF IS SHOWN HERE AT THE PAR 4 2ND HOLE

The club does have golf carts but is set up for walking. Chicago Highlands Managing Partner John
Baxter who had the dream to start the club, then put 7 to 8 years of planning into it before any golf ball
was even struck, wanted it that way so golfers could get more exercise while playing.

"The course is set up to walk," Baxter said. " It's the way golf is supposed to be played. A great way
to get outside, get some fresh air, exercise and live a little longer."

Baxter is emphasizing family as Chicago Highlands grows, he wants it to be a family club that runs
all 12 months a year. Not one that turns into a ghost town when golf season is over during a Chicago
winter.

Which is why the club is more than a golf course. It's a pool, it will have tennis courts, paddle ball
courts and a outside hockey rink. A full scale health club in a clubhouse which be styled so that all
of it gets used all the time. There won't be rooms for banquets that happen once a year. There will be
area's that allow people in the clubhouse to watch golf on the course. Baxter himself made the
measurements so the view is perfect, considering the elevation change from the clubs entrance to
the ninth green is about going up eight stories in a building.

The club is private and will hopefully soon be home to 300 families. Membership is north of 150
already so it's over halfway full. Construction on the clubhouse will begin after more memberships
are sold and get the club closer to it's 300 goal.


CHICAGO HIGHLANDS 430 YARD DOUBLE SIDED RANGE IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST IN THE AREA

The double sided practice facility at 430 yards long, will give members plenty of room to work on
their game. The facility is complete with many of features golfers will see on the course, to help
them be at their best when on their home course. Or when guests visit they can get familiar with
what they are in for, before even teeing off.

Chicago Highlands is located near some forest preserve property, so golfers will see deer and
other animals at times when on the course. Heading out to the first tee takes one out to an area
close to the center of the 270 acre property. There are 26 greens on site, counting practice greens,
practice holes and a hole with two greens. The course conditioning is in the hands of Michael
Hustis who joined CHC after a stint at the historic Chicago Golf Club.

The opening hole is uphill and a par 4 that will test the player, it's not a killer but not super easy
just because it's the first hole. The downhill second hole, ends up with a punchbowl style green.

After the third hole a shorter par 4, the first of the par 3's awaits at number four. 243 yards from the
tips, this hole plays like a chute between the mounds.

The first of the par 5's is the fifth hole. It's the shortest par five at only 530 yards and allows the
player to think about going for the green in two shots with a well stuck drive.


CONSTRUCTION IS WRAPPING UP (JULY COMPLETION EXPECTED) ON CHICAGO HIGHLANDS POOL HOUSE

The par 3 sixth hole is another one of the great short holes on the Chicago Highlands layout. Bunkers
corner the green and test the player off the tee, the green requires testy putts to make par birdie or par.

The par 5 seventh hole is the longest on the course, playing 615 yards from the tips golfers will find one
of the biggest greens anywhere when they finally reach it. It also has a big down slope after the center
of the surface.

After a solid par 4 eighth at 432 yards, the par 4 ninth with it's mountain like green finishes the front
side. The flag stick looks like it was planted by a mountain climber. The green is also protected by a
deep pot bunker halfway up the mountain. The approach is a delicate one for the green to hold the shot.


                      THE 13TH THAT GIVES GOLFERS A "LAHINCH" BLIND PAR 3 HOLE FEEL

The par 4 tenth hole (478 yards) does not start back at the clubhouse but in the middle of the course. A
demanding tee shot is needed on this sloped fairway, hitting the fairway allows the player to have a good
shot at the green. Water comes into play off the tee on the par 4 11th hole, one of Hills trademarks bite off
as much as you can chew comes into play here.

Another testing par 5 with water left and across the fairway makes up the 12th hole. A creek runs across
the front of the green making the challenge of the approach shot even tougher. If you like links style
Scottish/Irish golf you will love the par 3 13th, a blind par 3. Golfers have the choice of playing the hole
from an elevated tee and seeing a small part of the green, or from green level seeing only the top of an
elevated flag stick pending the hole location of the day.


            THE PAR 3 6TH HOLE WITH BUNKERS ON THE CORNERS WILL TEST THE TEE SHOT

The 14th hole a par 4 requires a tee shot played right, or the possibility of going for the green over
a fescue wetland type area. If you are wondering where to hit your tee shot here, aim at the Willis
(Sears) Tower a little touch added by Baxter.

If you want to test your distance on the tee, the par 4 15th plays 519 yards to the tips. The 16th hole
is the last "break" the course gives in it's closing holes playing only 405 yards.

The 17th hole rounds out the collection of great par 3's at CHC, only 158 yards from the back tees
the green leaves the golfer multiple challenges. Baxters input on this hole, left this smallish two-tier 
green surrounded by pot bunkers.

CLICK HERE TO HEAR RORY'S INTERVIEW WITH JOHN BAXTER:

Download | Duration: 00:14:51

The closing hole number 18, is a par 5 573 yards from the back tees. It requires a left to right tee shot,
with the left side of the fairway bordered by a wetland fescue area. The green is guarded by bunkers
making the approach delicate.

When finished a golfer has the choice of walking in over the mounds or taking the path into the
clubhouse, option three might be walking over the dunes and just jumping on the 115 foot water
slide ending up in the pool. Quite an option on a hot day.

One can't appreciate what Chicago Highlands is until they see it in person, every day it gets harder
to see it from the outside as the mounds around the course keep growing. Someday people will be
driving down 22nd street, 31st street, Wolf Road, or the Tri-State tollway (294) and will not realize
CHC is even there.

Right now you can see it, if interested in inquiring about membership visit the clubs website at
www.chicagohighlands.com. Call or leave Baxter and email he promises to be in touch. He is
anxious to share his dream with others who have a love for the things Chicago Highlands will offer.