Course Spotlight: Shady Oaks, Streamwood, IL
Like cats vs. dogs, or Coke vs. Pepsi, there are two camps of disc golfers: Woods vs. Open. Some people love the tight lines in the woods, and others love the big open fairways on and open layout. Who’s right? Obviously, both are awesome, and this week I want to highlight one of the best open layouts in Illinois. Located in Streamwood, IL, Shady Oaks DGC is a long thrower’s dream come true.
Coming in at 6,756 feet, ‘Shady’ as it’s known locally isn’t the longest course, but just under half the holes are around 400 feet or more. Even the short holes present plenty of challenge. Hole 2 is the shortest on the course, but with a very precarious basket placement, very well-placed OB, and a stream to get over while throwing through guardian trees from an elevated tee, it’s never an easy birdie. Long tee pads, immaculate signage, trash cans everywhere, and a very intuitive course flow all add to the charm of this amazing track.
It goes without saying that when we find amazing courses, there is always an amazing local volunteer group responsible for keeping the course that way. Shady Oaks is no different, and if you ask anybody who plays there regularly who to thank, it’s always the same name: OG Elmo. It’s his leadership that has helped Shady secure a 3.9 rating on UDisc.
That’s not his real name, but that’s how he’s known around these parts, and it’s his preferred moniker. I was able to catch up to Elmo and discuss his involvement with this property. He says, “I played my first tournament at Shady Oaks in 1991, and then I started running leagues there in 2001.” In 2007, he was given the opportunity to redesign Shady Oaks into what it is today, along with installing another 9-hole track at Sunny Hill later that same year. The next logical step was to form a disc golf club, and in 2008, with the help of Tony Batisti, Sean Butler, Fred Vroman and Brian Kidder, the Disc Golfers Union was born. Responsible for countless workdays, leagues, and tournaments, the DGU is a powerful force in Chicagoland. In fact, they just completed their 22nd season of Tuesday night leagues, and are just starting up the fall season for their doubles league that alternates between Shady and Rolling Knolls. I didn’t look it up, but I’m going to say that 22 years has to be some kind of standing record.
When I asked him what he thinks is the signature hole, he says, “It’s a tough call. Every hole has a different flavor, but the long original hole 8 might be my favorite.” He’s right; the course winds through the park and utilizes the tall grass, trees, and well-placed OB to create a fun but challenging track. For my noodle arm, I don’t run the risk of going long on many holes, but for bigger throwers, the threat of going deep into the grasslands always looms. One misplaced drive and you’re probably losing your disc forever. When I asked Elmo what hole the worst was, he quickly said, “Hole 10, because I made that one.” It’s funny because I think hole 10 is the signature hole there. It’s a relatively short 514 feet par four, but the wide-open fairway is flanked by grasslands on the right and OB sidewalk on the left, and the approach shot into the green is a very tough get, as the green narrows into a wall of very thin guardian trees. In my opinion, it is hole 11 that is the least pleasant to play, at least during warm weather. With grass that grows to over 8 feet, the tee shot requires that you throw over that grass wall. It’s not a huge throw, but it certainly is daunting.
Overall, if you love to get out there and bomb drives, then Shady is the place for you. Extra-long tee pads when needed, great signage, very clean fairways and greens make for a pleasant golfing experience. There are multiple pin positions, and the baskets are moved regularly to keep things fresh. When everything is in the longs, you’re in for a very long day. If you haven’t already, you need to get out to Shady and see for yourself why this course is loved by locals and travelers alike.
