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From our Directory of the most recommended golf courses
Eagle Ridge Resort - The General Course
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Eagle Ridge Resort is located 140 miles northwest of Chicago on a 6800 tract of land, and is recognized as one of the top golf resorts in the country. There are 63 holes of golf here scattered through the rolling hills and valleys of western Illinois. Rates for guests of the resort are $20 less than for non-guests. The North course was designed by Roger Packard in 1977, and is 6836 yard, par 72, slope 134, and handicap of 73.3 This course has a good amount of water hazard, slightly rolling hills to flat meadows. The South course was also designed by Packard and opened in 1984, and has similar design and terrain features and is cut through heavily wooded rolling ground with water throughout. The course is 6762 from the tips, with a handicap rating of 72.7, and a slope of 134. The General was designed by Andy North and Packard and opened in 1997. The course is laid out on the highest point of land on the property and has a series of elevation changes of up to 250 feet, combined with dense forests, and bordering the limestone cliffs of the Galena Ridge. . The course measures 6820 yards, handicap 73.7, and a lope of 141 from the back tees. All great courses, well maintained, I prefer the General, just for the change in elevation, and more great holes.
Published by: nickr
Posted by: Marco
May 31st, 2010
The General is definitely the best of the three both the South and North are really solid as well. I actually preferred the South course to the North. It played a bit tougher and had more consistently interesting holes, but then again it may have been the fact I played the South later in the afternoon so the pace of play was quicker, while I played the North early on a Sunday morning and the weather was a bit worse and the pace of play much slower. But you really can’t go wrong. The courses we’re in really good condition considering how much rain they had gotten the few days before. Have fun though, all the courses are really super.
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Posted by: dannyp
Jun 15th, 2009
The General golf course review by Dan Perry We played the three 18 hole layouts, and I thought they all held their own, but clearly the gem of the three is The General. The General has four sets of tees, but doesn’t use the standard red-white-blue style of naming them. Here, they use 1, 2, 3 or 4 stars (get it, 4-star general? Not bad). The course starts off easy enough (or one would think). The first is a downhill par 4, with a pretty receptive green. Just don’t be long (which, of course, is easy to do on a downhill hole). The 4th hole is not a long hole, by any means (376 from the tips), but there is lots of trouble on either side of the fairway, requiring accuracy over length. The approach is pretty easy, as long as you don’t go left. Trust me, it’s a near-death experience (I know; I went left). At the 5th tee, there is a restroom facility. The 6th hole is a great par 5, and really provides a wonderful view of most of the front 9 when you get on the green. It is potentially reachable in two, but the green is pretty small, and there’s water up the entire right side. The 9th comes straight back to the clubhouse (as expected). The tee shot is key here; be on the left side of the fairway if you can. There is some foliage on the right which may hinder your shot. There is also a bunker right in front of the green, making anything on the right of a green tough to stick. A par here is all good. Making the turn, and playing the uphill tenth, you come to the 11th, a great par 3 that is all carry. The green isn’t necessarily small, but it isn’t large by any means. There are no bailout areas, making this a tough par if you miss the green. The 13th is a long, full par 4 (442 from tips, and even 423 from the 3-star tees), with a slight dogleg to the left. Try to cut as much off at the corner as you can. Once you get to your approach, you’ll see the sky just open up behind the green. It really is a great spot, and the next hole is even more interesting. By looking at the tee sign, the par 4 14th actually looks pretty short (only 357 from the tips)… Until you see the magnificent 180 foot drop from the tees to the fairway (reminded me of the 13th at the Arthur Hills Golf Course at Boyne). It’s one of those holes where you feel like you can drive it a mile. It’s easily one of my favorite holes on the course (and actually on the entire Eagle Ridge Resort property). Enjoy the view, but be careful; there’s water to the right near the landing zone, and it’s easy to miss it with such a spectacular view. The 17th is another strong hole, mainly because the tee shot and approach are both fully uphill. It plays to 407 yards from the tips, but is easily 40-50 yards more because of the slope. It also had an “island” fairway, that is actually pretty thin. A par here is like a birdie. The finishing hole is a par 5, with a split fairway near the final half of the hole. I favored the right side, mainly because it’s a little fatter. With the split fairway, it does allow the opportunity to try to go for it in two, without too much recourse for an errant shot. All in all, we absolutely loved the golf at Eagle Ridge, especially the General. That being said, we were less than impressed with the resort itself, for a number of reasons. If we were to do it again, we’d stay off property and play the three courses again.
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