My Dad joined Idlewild whwn I was in my late teens and I was a legacy member until I got married. I must have played the course oer 500 times. It was designed by Naylor but langford did some extensive work although the club does not have much in the way of records. A long time greenkeeper, pete Voykin, made some changes and subsequently green committees have one some questionable work.
Enough for pedigree. The course is a lot of fun although it is a little short for the modern equipment. Par 72 with 5 par 3s and 5 par 5s. Routing consists of a front nine running roughly clockwise in an inner loop with a back nine in an outer loop around the perimeter of the property running counterclockwise. As a result regardless of the wind players are exposed to a variety of shots. The greens are small with a few exceptions and generally rely on surface drainage resulting in some interesting contours.
Notable holes;
2 is a relatively short downhill par 5 to a 2 tiered green with the pool/clubhouse creating an OB on the right. Early in the round it creates a nice risk/reward chance for a birdie.
4 isn't that special but Dan asked about it. If you are having trouble finding it look at the par 5 right in the middle. 3 is a 180ish par 3 running next to Butterfield Creek (also running through Flossmoor and OFCC). Turn left, drive uphill to a plateau with left trap at the crestt
then straight to a green for an approx 550 par5.
6 was a terrific par 3. Approc 180 downhill (later extended via runway tee to about 220) it featured a green with a semi punchbowl on the right half sloping up to a small plateau on the upper right. The pin position radically changed the hole and was the ultimate in green within a green design. Unfortunately the green has shrunk. Rather than restore it the membership ran a small creek across the front, built a new tee to change the angle and exposed an old reservoir to create a water carry from an angle that destroys the original strategy. Both tees remain.
7 is a nice long par 5 of over 540 with the creek running across the fairway about 15 yards short of the green. I remember our old pro hitting driver driver with old baltas and real woods in the late 60's early 70's to reach.
8 has one of the larger greens with some extreme rolling contours.
9 is a short, 140ish par 3 over the creek. The front bunkers were removed yeaars ago, the others remain. Fairly large green again utilizuing the green in green concept to good effec.
10 is a wonderful drive and pitch hole. 340 or so ( a back tee some 35 yards back and elevated 25 feet to the level of the parking lot also exists) it is well bunkered in the landing area. The pitch is to a tiny elevated green with OB caused by a public road directly behind. Despite its small size the green is highly contoured, back right to front left. It looks like a birdie but I have seen a lot of big numbers.
Shiva commented on 11. A par 5 with the road on the right and the internaldriving range on the left. Reachable for long hitters but the OB runs all the way down the right and the fairway plateau falls off steeply left to some difficult areas. Additionally, at about 110 the fairway drops steeply to the green leaving pitches off of downhill lies. Thus many lay back for a flat lie. But the problems just begin. OB caused by another public road is behind. The real problem is a green sloped as severely from back to front as any I have ever seen. When cut to tournament speeds, even in the 1970's, any ball above the hole was difficult to keep on the green. I have seen my old pro putt a few roles up the hill away from the hole to try to stop it.
13 is a beautiful little par 4 of less than 400 , dogleg right up a hill to a tiny green Nothing fancy but lovely to look at and it requires 2 good shots.
15 has been hurt by technology. A dogleg left with bunkers and an old tree guarding the turn it used to take a pretty strong drive to get around the turn.. Irs easier now. Still the green is narrow flanked by deep bunkers on both sides. The club championship saw more than one player spend time going from bunker to bunker.
16 is a neat little par 3 of under 140 yards. The green is a tiny postage stamp built up above grade on a small plateau. When I first played, the hole was as pictured with the front bunker extending some 60 yards from the green creating a psychological hazard but hurting the dub more than anyone. It has since been reduced to a more normal size. The funny thing is if one must miss the green, the bunker is the best place as it is almost impossible to hold the green from anywhere else.
Finally 18, running back toward the clubhouse with Dixie Highway as OB on the right is a par 5 which is reachable by long hitters. Well trapped and slightly uphill it gives a player a chance for a last birdie to try and even a match.
A fun track. I'll answer questions if you have any.