Western Springs Poll: Where to Golf Nearby?

Western Springs proper has no golf course of any stripe—Timber Trails, of course, used to be one before it became part of the Village in 2005 and, well, we all know how that has turned out so far (not quite as expected.)

In the near Chicago suburbs, where land is at a premium, public courses are somewhat few and far between (private clubs, with a full 18-hole course often jam-packed into a few city blocks, dominate.) A public golfer willing to drive about 30 minutes west, northwest or southwest will find an embarrasment of riches, but right around Western Springs, courses are a bit more scarce.

Club members can, of course, play at their La Grange, Ruth Lake or Chicago Highlands country clubs, but the Vilage public player looking to drive ten minutes or less to his or her course has about five options: Flagg Creek, Meadowlark, Fresh Meadow, Willow Crest and Oak Brook.

Flagg Creek and Meadowlark are nine-hole tracks; the others have 18. Fresh Meadow, Oak Brook and Flagg Creek have driving ranges. Willow Crest and Oak Brook are the most expensive; Meadowlark is the least pricy, also with the simplest design.

Tell us: Which of these five is your go-to for a round nearby? Why do you like it? And if you like to play somewhere else a little further away, where do you go?