Vernon Hills Golf Course

	Vernon Hills Golf Course Tee Par Yardage Course Slope Blue 34 2,836 34.2 120 Red 36 2,287 33.4 107 .
This is the course I grew up on. While it is only a nine hole, it is one of the toughest little courses you will ever play. With a length of only 2836 yards from the tips (well the men's tees) the tight mature tree lined fairways and the fact that water comes into play on 7 of 9 holes makes breaking 50 a real accomplishment here. The clubhouse has come a long way from the trailer that would get blown over in midwest storms when I first started playing there. There is are lockers available for those who come straight from work. The fully stocked pro-shop is run by one of the nicest guy's you will ever meet in O.B. Sanders. With a gorgeous bar and dining area this is definately one of the "Top 10 Best 9-Hole Golf Courses" in the Chicagoland area. If you play here, do be prepared for a long round. Particularly on the weekends, a 3 hour round is not unheard of, it is "The Muni" after all.
Hole #1	The first tee does not initially feel like a warm up hole until you put your ego aside and simply lay up to the creek that is 207 yards from the tee box (your looking at a 230-240 yard carry) While it may be tempting to go for it, unless you've hit a bucket of balls up the road and are warmed up this little creek will gobble up your first tee shot, setting you up for an awful round. Beware of the OB to the left. Your second shot should leave you with an easy long to mid iron into the green that is protected on the right by a bunker and mature trees.
Hole #2	Measuring 331 yards, this straight away hole is your best chance of making birdie. Trees line the right side of the fairway and OB is all the way down the left. A solid 250 yard drive should leave you with a 100 yard approach to the green which slopes to the fairway and is protected on the right by trees and two small bunkers on the left.
Hole #3	This is the first par 3 on the course and in my opinion should be ranked a higher handicap than it is. they recently removed a bunker that ran all the way across the front of the green. But don't be fooled the creek comes into play here and is only 15 yards or so from the front of the green. There is OB all up the left side. Depending on where the tees are you may be able to take out a 7 or 8 iron here, although you probably want to club up here since there seems to be a swirling vortex above the creek. Otherwise it's a long iron to the green. TIP: there is a small bail-out area to the left of the green.
Hole #4	They have recently changed the layout of this hole making it one of my favorites on the golf course. There is a large tree about halfway up the fairway, preventing faded shots from reaching the fairway. There is OB all the way up the left side and a heavy line of trees that you don't want to find along the right. If you end up here chip back to the fairway, you are in jail! The two tiered green is protected by bunkers on the left front as well as along the back. A good drive here should leave you with a gap wedge into the green. A good opportunity for a birdie lurks here, if you keep your head. This is the one par 4 I have eagled in my life! TIP: Make sure you pay attention to the hole location or you will be facing a 3 putt.
Hole #5	It has long been my contention that they should bump the green back here about 20 yards and make this a true par 5. It's 302 yards to the water, but only 287 on the left side of the fairway. It has a slight dogleg to the left, so a drive down the right side is your best bet. At about 200 yards in there is a slope towards the water, so there is a good chance at bombing one here. Mature trees line both sides of the fairway most of the way down the fairway (these protect golfers on the 4th and 6th fairways against arrant tee shots). Your second is likely going to be a long iron or fairway wood across the creek too one of the larger greens on the course. Again the green is 2 tiered and is protected on the right by a bunker.
Hole #6	Definitely one of my favorite holes on this course. It's another good chance for a bird. If the driver has not been working during the round, pull out a 3 or a 5 wood. It's 167 yards to carry the creek. But beware, there is a large tree just across the creek waiting to gobble up any errant tee shots to the right and spit them directly back into the water. The hole is a very slight dogleg right, but there is a bunker all the way up the right and another grove of trees at the end of it. Straight up the center or a little to the left, will leave you with a nice approach. The green slopes back to the fairway and is protected by two huge trees blocking a high approach and don't forget the bunker on the right!
Hole #7	Definitely the signature hole on this course. The teebox for the men is up a large hill (the ladies is at the bottom of the hill and I strongly suggest that the ladies give it a shot from up there). It's the prettiest point on the course. There is a pond at the bottom of the hill, that should not come into play, unless you chunk one. The green is protected by three bunkers that will come into play. There is another "tree jail" to the right. Don't be left or you'll bounce off the cart path and kiss your ball goodbye. TIP: Because of the elevation take one club less here.
Hole #8	Often called the "Bermuda triangle of Golf" by some of the regulars, this is the hardest hole on the golf course. The creek is back here and it's 217 yards to layup. It is possible to carry the creek if you go over the tree to the left, but you won't have much of an approach. Your best bet here is long iron right down the center. The creek runs away from the fairway, so it's a little longer down the right side if you want to take a shortcut by laying up with a wood. Your second appears to be straight ahead, but I can't tell you how many people put 3 or 4 into the creek here and absolutely blow up. The best advice I can give here is layup to the water, long iron in (avoiding the bunker on the left) and a gap wedge to the green (avoiding the bunker on the right) which slopes to the fairway on the front and away from the pin on the back. Be happy if you walk away from this hole with a bogey!
Hole #9	Again this is a straight away hole, but should probably be played as a 3 shot par 4. Protected by trees on each side, it's 222 to the water so feel free to hit away if you drive about 200 yards, otherwise a smaller wood is advisable. Whatever you do keep it straight. This should leave you with a long iron or wood to about 50 yards in. Don't be long as there is a hill that will leave you with a blind chip to the pin. The green is also two tiered with a severe slope on the front. You don't want to be in either bunker protecting the green, or you'll be "Mickelsoning" your way back and forth over the green. Depending on the weather you'll likely have a gallery of regulars enjoying their afternoon beverages on the veranda.