The beginning of Route 66 in Chicago Day one of my Route 66 Trip is in the books. I was out the door in Fort Wayne at 3:00 A.M. and in downtown Chicago at the start of the Mother Road 5:20 A.M. CDT.
I was planning to eat breakfast at historic Lou Mitchell's on W. Jackson Blvd but discovered the weekend opening time is 7:00 A.M. rather than the much earlier weekday opening. So I hit the road.
Fortunately, traffic was light through near-west Chicago and in no time, I was at Flagg Creek Golf Club, the first course on Route 66.
I was planning to eat breakfast at historic Lou Mitchell's on W. Jackson Blvd but discovered the weekend opening time is 7:00 A.M. rather than the much earlier weekday opening. So I hit the road.
Fortunately, traffic was light through near-west Chicago and in no time, I was at Flagg Creek Golf Club, the first course on Route 66.
Notice the Route 66 Sign in the Background I was paired with the Miller group, Dave, Ed, and Joe who all walked the nine with me.
I was blown away by Flagg Creek. I did not expect to find such a gem. It is an exceptional nine hole course, among the best short course I've ever played. It was lush and in outstanding condition.
It wasn't until the sixth tee that Larry Maloney, an assistant at the course, shared the course's history.
Flagg Creek was once an eighteen hole private course called Maplecrest Country Club. When Interstate 55 was plotted, that "progress" took five of the club's holes. For a time, it was played as a 13 hole course (yep) before the members sold out to the city of Countryside. So nine of Maplecrest's holes now exist as the par 33 Flagg Creek. Billy Rozinia is the PGA Pro and oversees a property of which to be very proud.
The only disappointment was in the logo ball department. That is, no logo balls at this time. I did my best to encourage the staff to stock logo balls and take advantage of the course's place as "The First Golf Course on Route 66.
I was blown away by Flagg Creek. I did not expect to find such a gem. It is an exceptional nine hole course, among the best short course I've ever played. It was lush and in outstanding condition.
It wasn't until the sixth tee that Larry Maloney, an assistant at the course, shared the course's history.
Flagg Creek was once an eighteen hole private course called Maplecrest Country Club. When Interstate 55 was plotted, that "progress" took five of the club's holes. For a time, it was played as a 13 hole course (yep) before the members sold out to the city of Countryside. So nine of Maplecrest's holes now exist as the par 33 Flagg Creek. Billy Rozinia is the PGA Pro and oversees a property of which to be very proud.
The only disappointment was in the logo ball department. That is, no logo balls at this time. I did my best to encourage the staff to stock logo balls and take advantage of the course's place as "The First Golf Course on Route 66.
Round #2 - Carriage Greens After the two hour round at Flagg Creek, I drove 6 miles down the road to course #2, Carriage Greens Country Club in Darien, IL. I learned at check-in the course is under new management and many changes are underway. The change in management has nothing to do with the ownership or the golf course itself; just the back operations.
I was paired with husband and wife Mike and Pat and we had quite an enjoyable time. As a matter of fact, we enjoyed each other's company for 4 hours and 40 minutes as we waited on every hole.
Carriage Greens' starter for the day was Stephen Cahill. I gave him a little background about my trip and told him about my transportation. While Pat, Mike, and I played our first hole, Stephen ventured out to the parking lot and checked out the Mustang. At the green, I noticed Mike was racing up the fairway in a cart. He stopped to ask me about the Miami University decal in the back window. I told him I graduated from the college in 1972, the year I bought the car and that I had placed that decal in the window in July, 1972. He then told me that he had just graduated from Miami in 2016. What a coincidence!
Pat and Mike told me Carriage Greens has been a bit of a hidden gem in the Chicago area and they play it regularly because it is not usually crowded. I think the word is out!
Like Flagg Creek, Carriage Green had no logo balls as they are changing the course's logo. I encouraged the new Director of Golf to take advantage of the location on Route 66 and use it as a marketing tool. We will see what happens.
I was paired with husband and wife Mike and Pat and we had quite an enjoyable time. As a matter of fact, we enjoyed each other's company for 4 hours and 40 minutes as we waited on every hole.
Carriage Greens' starter for the day was Stephen Cahill. I gave him a little background about my trip and told him about my transportation. While Pat, Mike, and I played our first hole, Stephen ventured out to the parking lot and checked out the Mustang. At the green, I noticed Mike was racing up the fairway in a cart. He stopped to ask me about the Miami University decal in the back window. I told him I graduated from the college in 1972, the year I bought the car and that I had placed that decal in the window in July, 1972. He then told me that he had just graduated from Miami in 2016. What a coincidence!
Pat and Mike told me Carriage Greens has been a bit of a hidden gem in the Chicago area and they play it regularly because it is not usually crowded. I think the word is out!
Like Flagg Creek, Carriage Green had no logo balls as they are changing the course's logo. I encouraged the new Director of Golf to take advantage of the location on Route 66 and use it as a marketing tool. We will see what happens.
Prairie Bluff - A Links Style Course Late for my afternoon tee time, I rushed out of the Carriage Greens parking lot and drove 14 miles further down Route 66 to Crest Hill, IL where I was scheduled to play course #3, Prairie Bluff Golf Course.
I was ten minutes late for my tee time but was easily accommodated.
Prairie Bluff was the first course on the trip with stocked logo balls.
Alice was the starter for the afternoon and she wasn't very complimentary of the golfer wearing a Chicago White Sox hat in the twosome in front of me. I then noticed she was wearing a Chicago Cubs hat.
Prairie Bluffs is a gorgeous links course in wonderful condition. I played as a single and breezed through the front nine. And at the turn, I hit the wall and waited on every hole. The round was over in a shade under three and a half hours.
I was ten minutes late for my tee time but was easily accommodated.
Prairie Bluff was the first course on the trip with stocked logo balls.
Alice was the starter for the afternoon and she wasn't very complimentary of the golfer wearing a Chicago White Sox hat in the twosome in front of me. I then noticed she was wearing a Chicago Cubs hat.
Prairie Bluffs is a gorgeous links course in wonderful condition. I played as a single and breezed through the front nine. And at the turn, I hit the wall and waited on every hole. The round was over in a shade under three and a half hours.
This Sign is Neon At Night and Rotates Now it was time to check out my first diner on the trip. I drove 27 miles southeast to the Polk-a-Dot Drive-Inn in Braidwood, IL. The Polk-a-Dot Drive-Inn is a typical burger, chili dog, french fry, milk shake diner with a very cool sign. Seating is either inside or outside. The Drive-In opened in 1956 and features a fantastic Route 66 theme. There are life size mannequins of Elvis, Marilyn Monroe, James Dean, Betty Boop and the Blues Brothers outside against the wall of the diner.
I noticed other Route 66 travelers in the diner as several took pictures of the sign just as I did.
After a quick burger/fries/shake dinner, I headed across the tracks to my lodging for the night, the Braidwood Motel.
I noticed other Route 66 travelers in the diner as several took pictures of the sign just as I did.
After a quick burger/fries/shake dinner, I headed across the tracks to my lodging for the night, the Braidwood Motel.
I'm not sure how old the Braidwood Motel is but it's very clean and the rooms have obviously been updated. And the price is right!
All in all, the first day of the trip was tiring (mostly because my day started at 3:00 A.M.) but mostly successful. I would have liked to start the day at Lou Mitchells with breakfast but I'll have to leave it for another day.
The Mustang ran beautifully...no issues.
Only one of the three courses had logo balls in stock and that was quite a surprise. I'd say more than 98% of golf courses sell golf balls with their logo.
Day 2 starts in 6 hours in Dwight, IL at the Old Route 66 Family Restaurant
All in all, the first day of the trip was tiring (mostly because my day started at 3:00 A.M.) but mostly successful. I would have liked to start the day at Lou Mitchells with breakfast but I'll have to leave it for another day.
The Mustang ran beautifully...no issues.
Only one of the three courses had logo balls in stock and that was quite a surprise. I'd say more than 98% of golf courses sell golf balls with their logo.
Day 2 starts in 6 hours in Dwight, IL at the Old Route 66 Family Restaurant
RSS Feed