Cog Hill Golf & Country Club, Lemont, Illinois, Usa

http://www.coghillgolf.com


First golf course on my "Midwest Swing" itinerary is No. 4 at Cog Hill Golf & Country Club, an amazing public golf facility featuring 72 holes of golf located just 20 miles south of downtown Chicago.
Four 18 holes championship parkland courses for a total golf experience.
Four courses that across the years have essentially contributed to the grown of the game in Chicagoland.
Course No.1 (Blue Course), opened in 1927, is the oldest at Cog Hill. In 1929 Course No.2 (Ravines) opened, a challenging and interesting course that hosted in 1997 the US Amateur Championship won by Matt Kuchar.
In 1951 Joe Jemsek, a local one-time caddie who worked his way up through all levels of the game, bought Cog Hill. At the time Jemsek was pioneer on the golf industry and his goal was to bring the country club experience to regular daily fee players.
In 1963, with the help of Dick Wilson, trying to emulate his beloved No.3 course at Medinah, he added Course No. 3 (Red Course) to Cog Hill.
Mr. Jemsek wasn't really happy with the result. He wanted more, a great challenging golf course, a golf course able to host a Major tournament, a jewel that could be recognized as one of the top courses of the nation.
And in 1964, designed by Joseph Lee and Dick Wilson, course No. 4, or Dubsdread as the course is nicknamed referring to its difficulty, opened to the public.
Dubsdread soon became a nation's favorite course and Jemsek's vision started to take life.
No. 4 was Heaven on Earth for him.
Since its opening Cog Hill No. 4 Course hosted several PGA tour events, from the PGA Tour's Western Open Championship (1991-2006) to the 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2011 BMW Championship.
But never an U.S. Open or a PGA Championship.
Joe Jemsek passed away in 2002. and today his legacy lives on through his son Frank, who want to realize his father's dreams of hosting a Major tournament on the Dubsdread.
In 2007 a $5 million renovation work started with the help of "Open Doctor" Rees Jones. In 2008, after 12 months, the course presented itself better then ever, with new tee boxes and 18 new greens, each with an underground Sub-Air drainage systems.

Dubsdread today presents a demanding layout featuring tight landing areas, elevation changes, undulating greens and 110 strategically positioned bunkers (bunkers come into play on almost every shot!!), everything surrounded by the lush and pristine vegetation of the area giving the impression of playing a golf course located miles away from the urban world. 

Even if challenging and extremely long (Par 72 7,554 yds 77,8/151 from the tips), the course is never boring offering to the golfer a sequence of unforgettable golf holes.
One of those courses you would play again and again.

And of course it has been awarded of numerous rewards:

• 2011 "Top 100 Golf Courses in the U.S." by Golf Magazine
• 2013/2014 "America's 100 Greatest Public Golf Courses" by Golf Digest
• "Best Course You Can Play in Illinois" by Golfweek
• "America's 75 Toughest Golf Courses" by Golf Digest

Still no U.S. Open has been assigned to Dubsdread, but I remain positive one day it will be.
And in the meantime if you are planning to visit the Windy City, challenging the Dubsdread will definitely be an unforgettable experience.

#1 Hole 458 yds Par 4

#1 Hole 458 yds Par 4

#2 Hole 224 yds Par 3

#3 Hole 443 yds Par 4

#3 Hole 443 yds Par 4

#4 Hole 462 yds Par 4

#5 Hole 507 yds Par 5

#5 Hole 507 yds Par 5

#6 Hole 240 yds Par 3

#8 Hole 379 yds Par 4

#9 Hole 613 yds Par 5

#9 Hole 613 yds Par 5

#12 Hole 216 yds Par 3

#13 Hole 480 yds Par 4

#13 Hole 480 yds Par 4

#14 Hole 215 yds Par 3

#14 Hole 215 yds Par 3

#15 Hole 523 yds Par 5

#15 Hole 523 yds Par 5

#16 Hole 456 yds Par 4

#16 Hole 456 yds Par 4

BMW Championship Merchandise Tent

#18 Hole 494 yds Par 4

#18 Hole 494 yds Par 4