Whispering ThunderHawk is music to Illinois golfers' ears

By Dave Berner,
Senior Writer

BEACH PARK, Ill. - When you want someone to listen intently, you whisper. ThunderHawk Golf Club has been whispering for years. In a soft, no-hype style, ThunderHawk has quietly moved itself onto the short list of the best courses in Illinois and still, no one is shouting.

In a golf world full of hyperbole about the "best" courses, the "championship" layouts, the "must-plays," ThunderHawk is a breath of fresh air. It simply IS good. It doesn't have to turn on the high-powered marketing machine and grind out continuous superlatives to prove its worthiness.

"This is one of the five best public courses in the Chicagoland area," says Jordan Gottlieb, a scratch golfer who plays ThunderHawk at least once a year, usually with his father who is a 20 handicap. "My father also has the same opinions on the course."

Most people you ask will tell you ThunderHawk is tough, but it's not tricked up.

"The front nine is the most challenging nine holes I have ever played, but at the same time it is very fair and rewards good shots," says Gottlieb.

Fair, absolutely, but maybe a bit lopsided. The yardages available from the various tee boxes don't set-up for the average golfer. The black tees measure out at 7,031 yards. Forget that unless you're a professional. The brass tees are, at 6,631 yards, still too long for the average middle or high handicapper. And the silver tees come in at 5,905 yards. That's too short. The most forward, the auburn tees, register at 5,046 yards. Not a spot most would play from. Average players should mix up the tees. Play the longer par-4s from the brass or silver, and slide in a par-3 from the blacks or a par-5 from the silvers. Tee boxes that measure between 6,100 and 6,400 yards would be ideal. Maybe green tees?

All in all, this Robert Trent Jones Jr. design is a beauty. It sits on 243 acres in Lake County, Ill., north of Chicago. The course moves through prairie, wetlands, and wooded areas and uses all of these in the course strategy.

ThunderHawk is also the first public course in Illinois to be awarded the Audubon International Signature Certification. The Audubon Society worked with the Lake County Forest Preserve staff to restore dozens of wetlands and create 17 acres of new ones. Plus over 900 oak and maple trees were planted throughout the property.

All this makes for wonderful eye-candy, but some players complain the natural beauty and the protection of it has created massive out-of-bounds areas that are a bit annoying. Still, for most, the beauty outweighs all the OB.

There are several memorable holes at ThunderHawk - namely the second, third, fifth, 17th and 18th holes.

No. 2 is a solid 554-yard hole that is a pure three-shotter with wetlands to maneuver on the right side. The par-3 third hole will make your knees knock. It's 183 yards from the brass markers and usually plays into the summer breeze over a protected marsh area. The 391-yard fifth hole is a tree-lined stunner that most say is the prettiest hole at ThunderHawk.

The 17th is a shorter par-3 at just 154 yards from the brass tees, but short doesn't mean it's a push-over. There's water to the right, a bunker to the left set on a hill, and a two-tiered green. And 18 is everything a final hole should be. It stretches to 559 yards and curves its way among trees lining the fairway. The green sits a bit elevated behind a rock protected creek. It takes three good shots and two nervy putts to make par here.

There are a couple of holes at ThunderHawk that don't necessarily fit with the rest. The par-4 12th and 14th holes are nothing to write home about. They're mundane and appear almost as afterthoughts to the others.

One of the more striking features of the entire facility is the ThunderHawk clubhouse. It's a rustic, timber-built building that sits on a hill and nestled in the trees behind the 18th green. There's a patio off the grill where you can watch the groups make their way down the home stretch, or sit inside by the stone fireplace.

One issue that frequently comes up when discussing ThunderHawk is the price.

"They've got to get competitive with a lower price schedule," says one golfer hitting balls at ThunderHawk's range. He didn't want to give his name admitting he works for the forest preserve district.

"Sometimes you come here on a Saturday afternoon, and the place is nearly empty."

For a non-resident ThunderHawk can cost you as much as $98. If you live in Lake County you can knock $20 off that green fee, but either way prime time golf at ThunderHawk is steep.

Still, when looking exclusively at the golf course without price in mind, ThunderHawk is clearly one of the best courses in Illinois.

Directions

From Wisconsin, or Chicago, take I-94 to Route 173E to Lewis Avenue south.

Where to Stay

You certainly can stay in Chicago at one of the many available hotels, but if you're more inclined to stay close to the course and maybe close to a few other Lake County area courses and attractions, try one of these:

Baymont Inn and Suites
5688 N. Ridge Road Gurnee, Ill.
(847) 662-7600

Courtyard by Marriott
800 Lake Cook Road Deerfield, Illinois
(847) 940-8222

Comfort Inn
3031 Belvidere Road Waukegan, IL 60085
(847) 623-1400

Where to Eat

The clubhouse restaurant, the Tall Tail's Grille, is a good place for a sandwich and a beer. But Lake County has some other good spots including an upscale restaurant owned and operated by former Apollo 13 commander, James Lovell.

Lovells of Lake Forest
915 S. Waukegan Road Lake Forest, Ill.
(847) 234-8013

Mickey Finn's Brewery
412 N. Milwaukee Ave. Libertyville, Ill.
(847) 362-6688

Other Attractions

You are just 15-20 minutes from the Great America Amusement Park in Gurnee, Ill. Plus only 45 miles from downtown Chicago and everything the big city has to offer - the Cubs, the White Sox, museums and the city's beautiful lakefront.

Fast Fact

ThunderHawk has an incredible program that offers mentally and physically challenged adults and children private golf lessons. The course has what it calls adaptive golf clubs and equipment available for the players. It is one of the more unique and admired programs of its kind.

If You Go

ThunderHawk Golf Club
39700 Lewis Ave.
Beach Park, Illinois
thunderhawkgolfclub.org
(847) 872-4295

June 25, 2004

Dave Berner is a long-time journalist for CBS radio in Chicago and has freelanced for CNN, National Public Radio, and ABC news. He created and produced the popular radio feature "The Golf Minute" for CBS owned radio station WMAQ in Chicago along with writing a regular column for Golf Chicago Magazine. In 1999, he was asked to be the managing editor for Golf Chicago Magazine.

Any opinions expressed above are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of the management.