The TPC at Deere Run is a big deal in Quad Cities

By Dave Berner,
Senior Writer

SILVIS, Ill. -- Western Illinois is tractor country. If there's not a John Deere tractor or mower on the farm, there's one in the garage. And there are several in the maintenance shed at the Tournament Players Club in the tiny town of Silvis squeezed right between the Rock and Mississippi Rivers. There better be since the PGA Tour plays the John Deere Classic on this golf course every summer.

Are you getting the theme here?

John Deere plays a big part in the lives of people living along this section of the Illinois-Iowa border known as the Quad Cities. Although Deere was from Vermont, the steel plow he invented is closely linked to the development and settlement of much of the Midwest. In fact, the company's headquarters is in Moline, Illinois, just a few miles from Silvis. So, in 2000 when the PGA Tour opened one of its premiere TPC courses in this part of America's heartland and linked it closely with the John Deere Company, it became a very big deal.

The TPC at Deere Run is a majestic golf course. The views and the vistas are inspiring throughout the 386 acres of land filled with ravines, bluffs, water and stately old trees. The former horse farm is now 7,183 yards of tight fairways dotted with 70 bunkers. There are intimidating blind shots and tricky doglegs and slippery, but not overly undulated, greens.

There is a dramatic roll to the land at Deere Run and it all happens between mature oak, beech and sycamore trees. The Rock River can be seen from nine holes and there's a sense of disappearing into the landscape as you move through the course.

D.A, Weibring, a 24-year Tour veteran and Illinois native, designed Deere Run and approached it with the philosophy of the old masters of architecture. Weibring worked with the property he had, not against it, and changed very little. He believes in the traditional style and in the art of design that allows the natural pitch and roll of the land to determine the golf holes. "It has all the things you'd like to have in a golf course, " Weibring told reporters who came to see the course for the first time. "It turned out just like I wanted it to."

How to play it

The TPC at Deere Run is not set-up to be a target golf course. The layout is about picking the right shot for the circumstance and being creative with the short game.

The opening hole is tougher than it looks. At 359 yards from the middle tees, one might consider it a birdie hole. But standing on the tee box you realize it moves uphill and doglegs left. Uphill and left? Not necessarily made for the average golfer who needs a little roll on the drive and a little room to the right for that slice. The first hole tells you how crucial it is to negotiate your way through this layout to allow for a chance at a decent number on the card.

The most memorable holes are the 4th, the 14th and the 16th. The 4th, a 450-yard par-4, has a large oak tree sitting in the middle of the fairway forcing the golfer to choose the route he'll take. Plus, it's tight. There's just 22 yards of fairway on the right, and 32 yards on the left. The right side gives you a shorter approach to the green.

The 14th is named John Deere and is a drivable (for some of us) par-4. It measures out at 358 yards from the back tees, but it's all down hill. Beware though, if you're going for it, be advised the green is elevated making a well struck drive require an extra amount of giddy-up to get on the putting surface.

The 16th is one of the prettiest holes on the course. It's a short par-3 sitting next to the water. The H-2-0 doesn't come into play but it adds to the serene setting.

Actually, the entire stretch of holes from the 15th through the finish is what you'll take with you when you leave. It's set-up with a stadium course feel like many other TPC designs. But this time Weibring did it with very little earth moving.

The John Deere Classic

This PGA Tour stop brings in fans from as far away as Chicago. But its biggest draw is from the Quad Cities area itself. It's a wonderful event for a part of the Midwest that has no other major professional sporting teams or events.

This year the biggest attraction at the John Deere Classic will undoubtedly be the 2003 British Open Champion, Ben Curtis. His Cinderella story at Royal St. George's was as refreshing as it was unlikely and new Curtis fans will be lining the Deere Run fairways September 8-14, 2003.

But the best thing about this Tour stop is that is shows us all how the professionals work their way around this dramatic golf course. And then we can go out and test our own games on it. What's the word used so often about golf? Humbling? Yep, that's it.

Other Area Courses

Glynns Creek
18 holes
Scott County Park
19251 290th Street
Long Grove, IA
(563) 285-6444

Highland Springs
18 holes
9500 35th Street West
Rock Island, IL
(309) 732-7265

Directions to TPC

From Chicago -- Take I-88 West. Take I-80 Exit West to SR-5 for 5.7 miles toward East Moline. Turn LEFT onto Colona Road. Turn RIGHT onto Friendship Farm Road and follow signs to the Clubhouse.

From Des Moines, Iowa -- Take I-80 East to I-74 follow to Exit 4B (John Deere Road - East). Stay on John Deere Road for approximately 5 miles. Turn RIGHT at the stoplight onto Colona Road. Take first RIGHT onto Friendship Farm Road and follow the signs to the Clubhouse.

From Peoria, IL -- Take I-74 West for approximately 78 miles toward Moline/Rock Island. I-74 will turn into I-80 West. Follow for 3 miles and then take Exit 7 off I-80. Turn RIGHT at bottom of exit onto Cleveland Road. Turn RIGHT on State Highway 84. Continue on State Highway 84 to the top of the hill and turn LEFT on Friendship Farm Road and follow the signs to the Clubhouse

Area hotels

Radisson on John Deere Commons
1415 River Drive
Moline, IL
(309) 764-1000
The Radisson is the best hotel in the area. Marvelous rooms, great service. It also offers stay-and-play packages with the TPC at Deere Run.

Best Western
Moline, IL
(309) 762-9191

Hampton Inn
Davenport, IA
(563) 359-3921

Area restaurants

Johnny's Italian Steakhouse
1300 River Drive, Moline, IL
(309) 736-0100

The Boat House
1200 East River Drive
Davenport, IA
(563) 326-3663

Whitey's Ice Cream
(Several locations)
1601 23rd Avenue
Moline, IL
(309) 762-4335

If You Go

TPC of Deere Run
3100 Heather Knoll
Silvis, IL 61282
(309) 796-6000

August 5, 2003

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.