Calumet Country Club

Calumet Country Club – Played October 2016

• Rankings: None of the four lists
• Location: 175th Street & Western Avenue, Homewood, Illinois
• Year: 1917
• Original Architect: Donald Ross
• Additional Work By: Bob Lohmann & Larry Packard
• Course Access: Private
• Walking Rules: Carts & Caddies Available

Score Card Information:

• Blue: 6,619 yards, Par 71, 72.5 Rating/134 Slope
• White: 6,326 yards, Par 71, 71.1 Rating/131 Slope (Men’s), 77.1 Rating/142 Slope (Women’s)
• Silver: 5,534 yards, Par 71, 67.5 Rating/121 Slope (Men’s), 72.7 Rating/133 Slope (Women’s)
• Red: 5,015 yards, Par 72, 65.1 Rating/115 Slope (Men’s), 69.8 Rating/126 Slope (Women’s)

I was lucky to play Calumet Country Club in the Chicagoland area for the final round of my October trip.  Mark, my friend from GolfMatch, was hosting an outing at his club and invited me to play in it.  I was happy to say yes and meet some fellow GolfMatchers.

Designed by the legendary Donald Ross, Calumet Country Club has hosted many important events such as the 1924 Western Open and 1945 Chicago Victory Open.  The latter served as one of 11 straight won by Byron Nelson in his epic streak.

The course is not overly long, but as a par 71, it plays longer than the yardage.  For our event, we played the tips.

Hole 1 – 390 yards – Par 4

The first hole presents a wide fairway but is a little tricky because of the angle it sits to the tee.  The trees up the right side can cause some trouble if your drive leaks that way.

I was a little wayward with my drive, but here is the angle from the left side of the hole.

The green has more slope than you can see in the photo below.

Hole 2 – 191 yards – Par 3

This flat hole is no easy ride.  The terrain makes depth perception difficult.  The front bunker is ready to gobble up any short shots.

Hole 3 – 423 yards – Par 4

This dogleg left is on the longer side.  A draw over the left bunker is the ideal play.  A creek runs up the right and is in play.

The second shot plays a bit more uphill than it appears.

Below is a look at the green.

Hole 4 – 410 yards – Par 4

This is a daunting tee shot with trees all up the left side and a creek on the right.  You need a solid shot since the hole is over 400 yards.  Drawers need to be aware of the large tree on the right just past the tee.

The approach is a pretty one with the green framed by sand.

The green has some great undulation on the edges.

Hole 5 – 439 yards – Par 4

For a course that is not overly long, this is our third hole over 400 yards.  If you have a power fade now is the time to use it.  The creek really shouldn’t be in play.

The hole flattens out for the approach shot.  The green is wide open in the front to accept longer shots running into the green.

Hole 6 – 551 yards – Par 5

This hole is tight off the tee and long.  With the fairway width, it will be difficult to get home in two.

I didn’t get a photo of the second shot, but the third is seen below.  The green is pretty open as the bunker you can see is not very close.

Here is a ground-level view of the putting surface.

Hole 7 – 407 yards – Par 4

This one is a dogleg left.  The landing area is pinched in by trees.  Once past those you are smooth sailing to the green.

It’s a little blurry, but here is the approach shot.

Hole 8 – 166 yards – Par 3

I didn’t get a photo of this hole, but it was a fun hole with a green on the smaller side.  It demands precision from the tee.

Hole 9 – 517 yards – Par 5

This is a fun hole.  There is a creek crossing the fairway, but it shouldn’t be in play.  A straight shot will run through the short stuff into the row of trees.  The hole doglegs quite hard to the right.

Below is a look at the tee markers with the club logo.

Here is a look at the hole from the fairway.  You can barely make out the green in the distance.

You can see the famous Ross turtle shell greens a bit in this one.

Hole 10 – 485 yards – Par 5

Back to back par fives and this one gives you a birdie opportunity for sure.  With a drive in play it is most likely reachable.

The second shot is not easy, however.  The green is guarded by sand and plenty of trees that will affect an offline shot.

Here is a look at the putting surface.

Hole 11 – 210 yards – Par 3

This is a superb, but a difficult hole.  You have a little bit of dry land so it is not all carry.  The green is large since the tee shot it long.  It is fair, but stern.  Long of the green is not where you want to miss either.

A view of the green.

Hole 12 – 367 yards – Par 4

I liked this tricky little hole.  There is OB right and the water comes into play on the second shot.  A fairway wood is a smart play from this tee.

The picturesque second shot is seen below.

Hole 13 – 431 yards – Par 4

Can you say hallway?  Look at this beast!  It’s not quite as tight as it looks since it opens up once you get past the trees.  The hole doglegs to the right and plays uphill. Great hole.

Hole 14 – 213 yards – Par 3

This is my favorite hole on the course and probably the most difficult.  It plays all the way uphill and was of the most sloping greens you will find.  Most of the bunkers are just visual intimidation, but you need a very well-struck shot to hold the green.  And that is only half the battle.  You can easily putt right off of the green.

Hole 15 – 419 yards – Par 4

This hole bends to the right and favors a long fade off the tee.  Draws will tend to run through the fairway.

The second shot plays a little shorter due to the downhill slope.  The green is open in front which gives you options for how you want to play the shot.

The green is slightly raised so any shots played short will need to be running to get on the putting surface.  It is not a very large green.

Hole 16 – 349 yards – Par 4

This is one of the shorter holes and is not overly difficult off the tee.  Take enough to hit it about 225 and you will be in prime position.

The approach must deal with some sand so no running your shot up here.  It should be a short approach though making this one a definite birdie opportunity.

Another view.

Hole 17 – 163 yards – Par 3

A solid, if unspectacular hole.  A mid-iron is all you need here but definitely must hit the green.

Here is a look at the green.

Check out the flags at CCC below.

Hole 18 – 488 yards – Par 5

There is no wide-open fairway for your last drive of the day.  You better be hitting it straight.  Due to the length, you could take less than a driver and still get home in two.

The second plays all the way up the hill back to the clubhouse.  Indifferent shots won’t make it all the way and anything left or right most likely will end up in a bunker.

Once on the green, you are faced with a putting surface that slopes back to front. There are plenty of makeable putts, however.

Calumet Country Club is a gem in my opinion.  It’s old-school but quite difficult.  Getting to play it in October was a treat.  It was in prime condition and I had a great group to enjoy the round with.  If you find a way onto the course definitely accept the offer.  You won’t be disappointed.