Story/Photos by Chris Yucus
Where is it? 2003 Veterans Road, Morton, IL 61550 directions
Who plays here?
Friday, Aug. 6 - Pool E (MA40), Pool G (MA55)
Saturday, Aug. 7 - Pool R (MA3b)
Sunday, Aug. 8 - Pool F (MA50); Pool Q (MA3a)
Cart Friendly? No. This course is bad news for carts, with lots of slippery, steep inclines and stairs.
Practice schedule notes: A Flex C Tier will be held at Megiddo Saturday, July 31. No restrictions Aug. 1-5.
Course breakdown: Par: 57. Length: 5,683 feet: Baskets: DGA Mach V.
A testament to man vs. nature, this challenging course is carved into its environment in Westwood Park. Bridges and steps are constructed seemingly everywhere to help navigate the treacherous footing and massive elevation changes throughout the course. Ravines whittled out by a small creek (that mostly plays casual) carve through heavily wooded fairways that punish off-line tee shots and unfortunate tree hits.
Course History: Established in 2014, designed by Kip Taufer.
Signature holes (and holes to watch out for):
Hole 4 - It’s a long way to the top if you want to par this 405-foot Par 4 that finishes up an enormous slope. Take care on those upshots, as cartoonish rollaways are a real possibility.
Hole 6 - The shortest hole on the course at 190 feet, this Par 3 provides a tight window through foliage off the tee. Successful deuce runs will travel over a ravine to the basket, which is guarded by a boulder and tree.
Hole 11 - With a tee box perched atop a massive staircase and an OB rope lining the left side of the fairway along a creek, this 387-foot Par 3 will penalize errant drives that miss their mark early or hyzer late. The business end of the hole sits atop the edge of a casual creek bank, making for plenty of opportunities for tricky footing and unhappy endings.
If you’re hungry, check out: Seasons Gastropub, 149 S. Main, Morton, IL 61550
Looking toward the basket on Hole 2’s fairway gives a good indication of the rough terrain that Megiddo occupies.
The view down to the initial fairway from atop the ridge at Hole 4’s basket. The 405-foot Par 4 features a massive rise at the end of the hole.
The mammoth staircase leading down from Hole 11’s elevated tee box. The 387-foot Par 3 has a vast vertical drop to start the hole.
