Cog Hill Golf & Country Club: Dubsdread #4

If you are anything like me, you did a double take reading the golf course’s name…Dubsdread #4…yes, you read it correctly. ‘Dub’ means ‘poor golfers beware, challenges ahead’, and ‘dread’ connotates a ‘feeling of impending doom’. My experience at Cog Hill was anything but dreadful and it was clear to me why ‘Dubs’ is consistently ranked in the top 100 public courses in the country.

This particular trip was a whirlwind 48-hour golf mission that I was poised to tackle. I began this leg of the journey by arriving at the golf course directly from O’Hare International. My initial impression when winding down the driveway was that this facility was truly a ‘golf mecca’. From every angle, one of the four golf courses on site was visible from the entrance. Upon arrival, the golf course staff could not be more accommodating. Once my luggage was stored and I grabbed a bite to eat I was ready to get started.

After flying in the morning I could not wait to find the driving range and stretch out a bit before playing. The range is a mixture of artificial turf stalls and a grass teeing area a bit further down. The facility almost has a ‘Happy Gilmore-esque’ vibe and a small bucket of balls will run you $7. Cog Hill also has a small area to warm up with your wedges before venturing to the massive practice putting green. The practice putting green was in great shape and mimicked the course conditions well, which helped prepare me for the undulating greens ahead.

As usual, I decided to walk and forgo the cart to follow in the footsteps of Tiger and try and have a bit of his magic rub off on me. Tiger won 5 tournaments at ‘Dubs’ throughout his career and currently holds the course record (which he set in 2009) of 62. The course uses dynamic pricing for greens fees and includes a cart in the round price. I had a 1:00 pm tee time and paid $162 for my round. I had no issues making a tee time online and to be honest, probably could have just walked on because they had numerous times available. For this course, I ended up playing alone which gave me some extra time to enjoy the scenery and hit a few extra shots from different angles.

When approaching the first tee box there is very little fanfare, simply a metal sign noting ‘Dubsdread Hole 1’. The opening hole requires a tee shot in the fairway to avoid massively deep bunkers left and right and surrounding the slightly uphill tiny green. The pin placement and the small green caused a bit of havoc for me and I started my day with a double and already feeling the ‘dread’. After settling down and enjoying the lush fairways and natural scenery over the next few holes I approached my first par 5 of the day on #5. The hole plays fair and rewards smart shot-making and respect for the tight landing zone on the green. I walked away with a regulation par and used that momentum to par out the last four holes. Overall the front nine was a nice mix of holes that required a bit of strategy and were set nicely in nature with a countryside feel.

In my opinion, the back nine of ‘Dubs #4’ is really where the course begins to shine. Once again, bunkers are majorly in play throughout the entire back nine, and in addition, the terrain seems to change. After playing the 10th hole you must take a short walk across the street to play #11-18.

Hole #11 is a long 525-yard par 5 (from the whites) that will test you and require you to keep your tee shot in play with out-of-bounds right and bunkers left. The hole seems to go on forever and when you think you’ve made it, the green is uphill and has more twists and turns than a rollercoaster. The fun continues with hole #13, a 371-yard par 4. As I approached #13, I had no idea how important it was to keep the ball in the fairway off the tee. I hit my ball into the left rough and was forced to punch out onto the severely sloping left-to-right fairway. Not only is there the slope to contend with but the uphill raised green is guarded by bunkers and a ravine on the left-hand side. Needless to say, I was happy to take my bogey and move on to one of the most picturesque par 3’s on the course, #14. This par 3 seems to be set in the country with beautiful wildflowers that make for a forced carry from the tee. The green is surrounded by 6 bunkers, so once again, accuracy is paramount.

In the pro-shop staff’s opinion, hole #16 is Dubsdread’s signature hole (I beg to differ, but more on that to come). The 16th hole certainly is magnificent, the view from the tee box is incredible as you look down the fairway and see trees lining both sides and a slight dogleg left around a ravine. This hole truly requires you to channel your inner Tiger and become a shot-maker. After my tee shot in the fairway along the right-hand side I had a hybrid into the green. Fortunately, I left my hybrid short leaving me a chip and a putt to make par. I say fortunately because if you are long on #16 you most likely will have a lost ball in the ravine that surrounds the back and left side.

As my day wrapped up, I approached what in my opinion is Dubsdread #4’s signature hole, #18. According to the PGA’s stats on Cog Hill, #18 during PGA Tournament play consistently is the most over-par played hole on the course…meaning that this hole is no walk in the park even for the professionals. The 18th is a par 4, a 401-yard hole, that requires precision. Off the tee, you must keep the ball in the fairway and steady your nerves for your second shot. The approach is a narrow opening to the green that has water on the left and bunkers on the right and green that is once again small. Miss the green long and you are in the parking lot, miss it left or right and you are in trouble. I ended my day with an up and down to save par and looked back at the hole to take in the scenery.

My trip to Cog Hill: Dubsdread #4 was a success and I would strongly recommend checking out this midwestern championship course if you have the opportunity…and don’t forget to sample some deep dish when making the trek to the windy city.

See you in the fairway!
Courtney