(June 18th) Day 13 - Byron, IL   drove 366 miles

Prairieview Golf Club is my NEW #1 favorite golf course I have played on this trip, or maybe any trip for that matter. If I did not know this was a municipal golf course, I would not have believed it was a "muni". It cost me a whole $38 for green fee & cart, the best bargain you're going to see in these writings, because the "quality" of this course could demand many times that fee if it wasn't out in the sticks. It's only about 40 west of Chicago and my Clarkston buddy Aaron is from Chicago. Aaron has played a lot of different golf courses in Illinois and Indiana and never heard of this one. I'm guessing he will play it next time he goes visiting old friends in Illinois.

The front nine is fairly level, but not flat. The back nine starts with two uphill holes, not as severe as some I played, but would definitely make you think twice about walking the course. The other thing for a walking golfer to consider is the distance between some of the greens and the next tee box. There is water on three or four holes and enough sand bunkers to make you think. Though the grounds are not heavily wooded, there are enough trees to cause you problems if you're out of position..

They were having a shotgun start outing the day I played, but the young lady in the pro shop got me out on the course (in about 10 minutes) in front of the lead group on hole #8. I never caught the back of the pack until hole #5 after I had played the back nine so I didn't spend waiting around to play my shots. 

This is a golf course you will want to play again! Prairieview has four sets of tees ranging from 7158 yards to 5219. I played the white tees at 6103 (a very good yardage for my game) with a course rating of 69.7 and a slope of 125 on the scorecard, but my posted score is listed as 70.2 / 128 by the USGA. I can't say enough good things about this golf course, and I'll leave it at that.

After golf I headed for Michigan, trying to miss as much Chicago traffic as possible, but missing it entirely wasn't going to happen. I got behind two drivers (both had Illinois plates, & btw, nearly all the most aggressive drivers I have encountered on this trip had Illinois plates!) who were trying to cause each other to wreck on I-80. One of them was even throwing water bottles at the other car. I backed off immediately and noticed that the cars on my right AND on my left had also backed off and we were in a line straight across, about 50 feet behind "the Fighting Illini". (For you non sports fans, that is the nickname for the U of Illinois sports teams, I just co-opted it!)

Between road construction, dangerous drivers and the fact it was a Friday and people were getting out of Chicago in droves, it was a long drive to Grand Rapids where I spent the night. I had a great BBQ meal at a place called "Smoky Bonz" that I walked to from my motel. I don't know if its a chain, but I would eat there again if I come across another on on my journey.

           Randy’s golf course             ratings           play again               could recommend              Price

Prairieview GC (Byron, IL)              5                  YES                             YES                            $

Wine Valley (Walla Walla, WA)          5                   YES                             YES                            $$$

Dakota Winds (Hankinson, ND)         5                   YES                              YES                            $$

Raccoon Creek (Littleton, CO)          4.5                 YES                              YES                            $$

Brooks Golf (Okoboji, IA)                  4                   YES                              YES                            $$

Awarii Dunes (Kearney, NE)              4                    YES                              YES                            $$ 

Lake Panorama Nat. (Panora, IA)       4                     no*1                            YES                            $$

Brandon GC (Brandon, SD)                4                   YES                              YES                            $

Viroqua Hills GC (Viroqua, WI)         4                   YES                              YES                            $

Rivers Edge (Burley, ID)                   3.5                    ??                                YES                           $

Birch Creek (Smithfield,UT)             3.5                    no                       good golfers only!             $

Kimball Golf Club (Kimball, MN)     3                      no                                 no                             $

Buffalo Golf Club (Buffalo, WY)       3                      no                                 no                             $$

Pryor Creek (Huntley, MT)                 3                      no                                 no                             $        Johnny Walker Course (there’s also a Country Club course, but you need to play with a member!)

*1 = would play again if a different yardage was offered, with slope and course ratings


There were NOT a lot of pictures on their website so I did a scorecard too.





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