Course #2 Ravines at Cog Hill Golf and Country Club

I want to preface this review by saying that, yes, the course layout is pretty good overall. It has around 40% of the holes having course #4 DNA which is fantastic. The rest of the holes are Indian Boundary levels of layout. So a mixed bag but the highlights are quite high.

That being said, I just finished a 5 hour and 10 minute round. I notified the proshop via the text chat in the cart 3 times about the group in front of us that was holding everyone up. Marshall came out once and did nothing. The slow group refused to let us play through, they were loud on each shot, and 2 of the 4 members of their group would hit almost every shot around 50-80 yards.

On top of all that, there was a serious bees and wasps issue on the course. Our carts would be covered by them by the time we'd be walking to them after finishing a hole. It was bizarre and not a pleasant experience.

Overall if the marshalls actually did their job and there wasn't a bug issue, I think the round would have been pretty good. But it only takes on 5 hour round for me to completely write off a course. I'll never be coming back here, at least not to #2.

I played the Ravines course for the first time on 08/11/2023. I’ve always heard good things about this course, and it did not disappoint. The entire course was in excellent shape and the greens rolled perfectly. Some of the greens will give you fits if you are on the wrong side of the hole. If you are a big fan of dogleg style holes, you will enjoy this course. There are also a few blind tee shots (not including the doglegs) were you need to just trust your swing and hit it straight. The 19th hole (across the street) is a cool little bonus to play if you get a chance. I’m guessing it’s only open when there is not an outing using the pavilion. The staff were friendly and professional. Since this was my first time playing this course, I would definitely play a few holes differently. Hopefully next time.

Played ravines for the first time this weekend. Played after 18 at dubs. There's a noticeable difference between the two. Ravines is definitely more open and forgiving, bit still a really fun course with some great green conditions. Several stand out holes visually that make it fun the whole way through.

Was driving in to Chicago and packed our clubs for a place I'd wanted to play. Didn't want to take on the brute that is Dubsdread and chose #2 The Ravines. It is just a flat out good and fun course to play!

The gentleman who checked us in at the clubhouse was extremely friendly and could not have been more cordial. In addition, the young lady who was assisting him was helpful and friendly, too. Kudos to the staff for making us out-of-towners feel welcome!

The course was in excellent condition and the greens rolled great. The cart part leading to the first hole is a LONG way from the clubhouse. The fourth hole is interesting with a left and right hole "option." Definitely a parkland-style course that is at time challenging.

A small warning but Cog Hill is kind of in the middle of nowhere. We were going to try and find some place quick to eat before the round but didn't find anything really close by that we wanted to go to. Just lots of houses.

All in all, a fun place to play if you are on the southwest side of the city. Maybe one day, I'll try #4 Dubsdread!

Everyone loves Dubs but Ravines is fun & fair. Also a little cheaper. Give it a shot over Dubs next time in area.

We played first thing in the morning on a busy holiday weekend. Was wild to see so many groups pouring onto the Ravines and Dubsdread so early. The Ravines course played great. The fairways, tee boxes, and greens were well manicured. The course is approachable but challenging, especially on the back 9 where you have to strategize your club selection. Pace was good and the staff was friendly. The bonus #19 is a fun touch.

The Ravines was a decently unique track with some unique holes but overall, it felt like a very nice forest preserve course. This is fine but not aligned with what the course charges. The course had some rough patches and I think Cog Hill has taken several steps back over the past few years.

Course is in good condition, staff was grear, pace of play was great...will definitely play here again!

Our 2 some had a time for 11:57 but since there were openings ahead of ours, we got off early...to beat the forecasted rain which we did(and it never rained). I hadn’t played the course in more than 15 years and didn’t remember much but I must say it was very enjoyable. The fairways are well defined, large greens and overall great shape. The course is plenty challenging for mid 80’s golfers, plenty of undulations and nice scenery. We played in 3 1/2 hours which is always great, one 4 some asked us if we wanted to play through. The cost of this course vs a basic municipal/park district type course is higher and worth it. I would like to play course #4 at times just for the experience of it...and Pro type challenge but at $150 vs $ 75 for #2 I’m not sure it’s worth it for the level of game I play. My friend heard that replays for a second 18(on any course) are half the cost but only on available tee times....that’s a lot of golf on a HOT summer day. One other detail about this course (and #4) is that you don’t see any residential area homes or road traffic from the course...except service roads. You really feel out in the wilderness away from the hectic busy Chicago suburban traffic....until you leave the course.

This was my first time playing the course and I was blown away by two things:
1) The Layout is great and requires thoughtful club choice at nearly every tee box. This course requires accuracy and distance and can be a true test of skill.
2) The Conditions were very poor, likely due to the excessive rain we have had through May. The rough had not been cut and was very long and very muddy. If you missed the fairway, good luck finding your ball. Also, while the greens were in good condition, they were exceptionally slow.
I hope to try this course again later in the season.

what a great layout! that is the only positive thing here. extremely poor conditions. tee boxes are barren, greens roll about a 6-7. dead spots all over the greens. fairways covered in weeds. It’s been bad weather in Chicago area but that excuse only goes so far. play dubsdread (if you can afford it) ravines is way overpriced. hopefully they can improve the conditions because it would be a really fun round

There was recent green aeration. I thought the greens would have healed a bit more given the time to recover, but only some did.

Bring your walking legs. You may ride, but you cannot always drive to where your ball may wind up. They don't call this course Ravines without a reason!

A 4 star course in 3- star condition. I''m sure it will get improve throughout the season.

For $43 riding after 3pm it would be tough to find a better deal in Chicagoland.

The course was in great condition aside from the VERY slow greens. The staff was friendly from the proshop to starter and ranger. The GPS was very accurate and updated quickly for the next hole.

The round was very slow and we left after 13 holes, but that was to be expected on such an amazing day weather wise.

Cog Hill's #2 is not a course without its imperfections, but those imperfections pale in comparison to what might be some of the most creative and fun holes in Illinois.
Yes, the greens can be a little a beaten up (particularly at the beginning and end of the season). Yes, holes #2, #6, and #18 are entirely forgettable. And yes, don't expect to be seeing the cart lady out there any time soon.
However despite these setbacks, Cog #2 is a classic track with its fair share of risk/reward options. It's a true golfers course, where if you play well it will provide ample scoring opportunities, and if not, it will eat you alive. The course opens up with a set of predictable par 4s with wide open layouts; an appreciated gesture for the golfer who is still warming up. Then the fun starts, with a reachable, downhill par 5 followed by a short and stunning par 3 that rewards accuracy as much as it penalizes a lack of. The par 4 sixth is not the most exciting design but this dogleg demands accuracy off the tee if you hope to reach the green in two. The next three holes, two par 4s and a par 3, offer lots of shot variation and can be a very rewarding stretch. Then the Ravines really comes into its own, starting with the par 5 ninth. A sweeping dogleg right with dense forestry on either side of the fairway, you hit into a green that is protected by water in front. Reachable in two for the exceptionally crazy or brave. Then the back nine kicks off with what may be the most difficult hole on the course. The tenth is a par four where accuracy off of the tee is a must, errant shots often become lost in the trees lining the hole. Once in the fairway, you're left with a long, downhill second shot onto a green that is protected by bunkers behind and a sunken ravine infront. Missing the green will leave you with as difficult of an up and down as you will find on this course. Another dogleg right par 5 follows, where less than driver is often the smartest play off the tee. The deceptively lengthy par 4 12th is always difficult to gage, and shots over the green are definitely preferable to shots short of it. The 13th is a par 4 where the entire hole is layed out before you. It almost runs perpendicular to the tee box, and gives the golfer a wide landing area. Second shot is often a wedge to an elevated green, and depending on your position it can largely be a blind shot. Take advantage of the short par 3 fourteenth, as it plays down hill onto a green that is hardly protected. The next two holes, a pair of par 4s, are average. Both require that you find the fairway for a solid chance at par. The seventeenth is a hole everyone should make a birdie on, but yet bogey is a more likely score. The par 4 is very short and a tempting go for longer hitters. However, the green is heavily guarded by trees, and poor tee shots can lead to a cruel game of chipping out of the woods. And let's not talk about 18...
The green designs are far from boring, with more than half of the holes having two tiered putting surfaces and each with plenty of contour. Bunker designs are awesome, with each bunker serving a definite purpose.
This is a must play course for the golfer that appreciates design over splendor, as there are truly no courses like it in Illinois.

Cog 2 is what I call poor man Dubsdread (Cog #4). Course is always is decent shape and very fun. Opening holes are wide open, I mean wiiiidddde open. Course is always in decent to solid shape and the pace of play is always pretty solid. Love the track and really enjoy the ravine par 3's. Almost all of them you're hitting over a deep ravine that makes your flight look pretty cool. Always enjoy Cog #2 and is one of my fun and favorite courses.

This is definitely the second best layout at Cog Hill. Greens were a bit slow and rough was a challenge trying to find your ball. This slowed down play a little.