Blackstone Golf Club

Work began on this beautiful golf club in 1997, when local real estate developer Daniel Weck evaluated property in Marengo for a golf course he always wanted to build. Weck hired architect Bob Lohmann to design a challenging and intriguing layout for golfers that would stand out in a veritable sea of Chicagoland golf options -- and he succeeded. The course was completed in 2006 at a reported cost of $15 million.

The first thing you notice driving up is the enormous, stately clubhouse. While the course opened in 2006, the clubhouse building itself wasn’t completed until 2011. Its beautiful 6,500 square foot structure is one of the nicest in the Chicago area. It houses the Blackstone Golfer’s Grille, along with a bar that overlooks the 18th green. The restaurant has all the classics you’d expect, plus more upscale dishes on weekends. Blackstone’s pro shop isn’t huge but stocks a good selection of golf merch, lots of it with the Blackstone logo.

Blackstone’s golf course is gorgeous, with obvious attention given to the landscaping. At 6,734 yards, it’s not the longest course. But the track sports a rating of 73.1 from the back tees, along with a slope of 140. This puts it in the same company as The Glen Club, Klein Creek, and Pine Meadow. Blackstone’s fairways are generally spacious, but water lurks everywhere in the form of many small ponds. The holes on the western half of the property are tucked into tighter fairways with mature trees, while most of the eastern half feels less constricted. A handful of homes border the course, but there’s mostly open lots where future homes could go.

Five par-5’s and five par-3’s are incorporated into the par-72 design. The front nine has three of each. The hardest hole at Blackstone is also the longest -- hole #4. The 564-yard par 5 has three separate bodies of water and requires accurate delivery of ordnance to avoid the huge marsh on the right side.

To warm up before your round, Blackstone’s practice facility offers a full driving range, which you’ll see on the left as you drive in. It has grass tees, although when I was there last, the sign said mats-only that day. A large putting green sits next to a separate green to use for chips & pitches, with enough room for offerings up to ~35 yards.