Hole #6: GolfScout's Take
The 6th hole brings the first par 5 of the day, one of two at Wilmette. This one doglegs to the right at around the 280 yard mark from the back tees. In a recent development (2022), they removed a fairway bunker that used to be here, which I appreciate since I've spent a lot of time there over the years. Perhaps with the new cart path they paved, it had to go? I don't know, but the mound there with lots of rough remains. At least if you hit it up there, you have an elevated look at the hole. It's not the worst position.
Speaking of the worst position, that would be down in the valley area on the right side. Tough to find your ball down there sometimes. Plus your playing partners are up in the penthouse on that mound, while you're down in the gutter. How did you let this happen?
Approach shots are straightforward until you get to the 3 bunkers up toward the green. The wise move is to lay up and take those out of play, leaving yourself a short final shot into the green where you can take dead aim. I don't always play it that way, but that's what I think a wise person would do. There's water tucked away on the left of the final segment of the hole, the first time we've seen any today. Luckily, it's not really in play unless you truly try your hardest to flirt with disaster.
The green runs uphill and sort of has two tiers. Also I've seen deer on the right side of this hole before, which is always a bonus. Good to have a gallery.
