GOLF’s latest ranking of the Top 100 Courses in the World includes many household names, from Augusta National and Pine Valley to Cypress Point and Pebble Beach. But among these icons lie lesser-known layouts with convincing designs and a rich history of their own. In this ongoing series we introduce you to them.
The same rule that applies to books and their covers applies to golf courses and their scorecards. You can’t judge one by the other.
Shoreacres illustrates this point.
This attractive course on Chicago’s north side sits at just over 6,300 yards, making it the shortest of GOLF’s Top 100 courses in the world. (Yes, some holes at Shoreacres may be postponed for competition, but we assume the daily playing line-up and distance printed on the map.)
However, the story is more than just a story on tape.
Shoreacres is the work of Seth Raynor, the engineer-turned-architect who was taught the craft by the father of American architecture, CB Macdonald. Like his mentor, Raynor incorporated templates into his designs, archetypal features that he adapted to each location. If you’ve played a Raynor course – this can be a challenge as most are private courses – you’ve probably heard the terms: Biarritz, Redan and Eden. Shoreacres has them all, in an intimate location next to Lake Michigan.
Shoreacres starts out benignly, with a viable par-5 and a couple of short par-4s. Save some birds while you can. The front nine is relatively flat, but the land becomes more dramatic as you round the bend, with a particularly exciting stretch of holes 11-15 playing over and around ravines. From start to finish, the main defense of the layout comes on and around the greens. At some point during an outing here you’ll often hear the phrase, “You’re Raynored,” which can come in any number of ways. For example, an approach shot that is defied by a false front or deflected by a shoulder on the green side. A putt that breaks in a confusing way. A ball that slides past the cup… and ends up in a bunker.
Classic courses filled with templates are often described as architectural museums. Actually, they seem more like interactive exhibitions. In that regard, Shoreacres demands your full involvement, without you having to play the power game. Strategy and shot making are priorities here.
It’s all the more impressive that Raynor has accomplished this without having access to what many consider the property’s best land. The clubhouse occupies that acreage and a bluff overlooking the lake. It is an idyllic place where you can enjoy the view while recounting your highlights of the day. Self-aggrandizement is fair game in golf. Just do your friends a favor and keep those stories like the golf course: short.
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