Margreth Riemer Reservoir

Back nine was well thought out and has great elevation change. Some great views around the reservoir and on top of the hill on the back nine you can actually see the Chicago skyline. Overall great mix of hole types and fairly scenic with good flow. The back nine will give you a bit of a workout with the elevation changes. Wind comes into play often. Overall a great course!

I agree that the added 9 holes now make this course very fun and challenging, more so on some days, depending on wind. I gave it 4 stars since it is one of the better 18's in this area, but not 5 since it does lack a few more obstacles here and there to make it next level worthy. It is true, the wind and tall grass later in the year can cause frustrating searches for poor disc throws. The two reservoirs are what look like old quarries. This prairie has been undisturbed since the glacier left this area 10,000 years ago. These are the plants that the Native Americans saw, and the first pioneers who set foot in what was to become Illinois. It really is beautiful. The 7 1/2-acre Palatine Prairie is a mixture of seven or eight types of grasses and more than 120 species of flowers that are native to Illinois, including rattlesnake master, wild quinine, prairie rose, wild garlic, blazing star, mountain mint, prairie dock, nodding wild onion and compass plants, members of the sunflower family that reach seven feet in height. Each season is unique at the prairie. Early spring is totally different from mid-summer, for instance. To really appreciate the prairie, you need to come out every few weeks. The Palatine Prairie is a place of discovery. You find something new every time you come out! Along with plant life, the Palatine Prairie is also a popular hangout for butterflies and the local grassland bird population. Common sightings include meadowlarks, gold finches, song sparrows, red-tailed hawks, American kestrels, chimney swifts, common yellowthroats, eastern kingbirds and mourning doves. And great blue herons are occasionally spotted flying overhead.

The addition of 9 new holes (18 total now) makes this course worth playing because the added variety, like throwing from the top of a sledding hill, spices things enough to keep my interest. Wind can be a problem as well as tall prairie grass.