Prairie Landing:
The Ultimate Practicing Experience

By Ray Brewer,
Staff Writer

July 5, 1999

WEST CHICAGO, Ill. - Time and time again, golfers across the world complain about needing a few holes to get into the flow of things.

You know the individual in your foursome who seems content with discounting the first few holes and calling them practice - not that this individual gets any better as the day goes on.

At the Prairie Landing Golf Club in west Chicago, that excuse is thrown out the window.

Prairie Landing has three practices holes which golfers can play over and over before hitting course for the 18 holes that count on the score card. In addition to warming up with the driving range and putting green, these practice holes allow golfers to be fully prepared.

"Some people don’t use them at all and others play them three or four times," Prairie Landing assistant head pro Jim Larson said. "It’s different than playing at a range because you are playing at a hole with targets to shot at."

The three-hole practice center - two par-threes and one par-four - also comes complete with a chipping center and is designed with the same link style holes as the remainder of the course.

The course, a Robert Trent Jones Jr. design, is in its sixth year of existence. Prairie Landing was honored by Golf Magazine in the publication’s top 10 new course section in February of 1995.

"It’s a links style course that is in great shape," Larson said. "We have four sets of tees, so it is playable for all types of players. Yet, it is challenging if you play from the back tees."

Larson says that the course brings a lot of strategy into play because the holes offer a variety of shot possibilities. The course blends earthwork contours, bunkering, waterways and wetlands to provide a challenging, yet relaxing atmosphere.

Chicago is known as the windy city and Prairie Landing is no exception.

"In general, it is very windy," Larson said. "We are right by the airport and out in the open. There are no trees, so the wind really comes through here. A lot of the time you are playing in the wind."

The wind doesn’t stop golfers from raving about this course " especially the business community.

Prairie Landing has several packages for business outings. For example, the eagle package includes 18 holes of golf with a cart, lunch and dinner, a sleeve of balls and a towel with the Prairie Landing logo and complimentary locker and towel service.

This package is for outing of 64-144 person and costs $195.00 per player.