Something of a "what if" design. Clearly, some real architectural talent was deployed here, but ultimately the point this course tries to make is forced down the player's throat. Even average hitters cannot hit driver on many holes, because an arbitrary ditch bisects the fairway. Better players will easily clear the ditch or lay up and face a doable second shot, whereas the typical club member would be denied on both counts. A course is not strategic, if it takes the driver out of the hands of players, who desperately need it to have any chance of making par. This is not a case of following the natural contours either, but a conscious design decision.

Another case of "in your face architecture" are the conglomerations of bunkers, most of which will never come into play, but do clutter up the otherwise rather idyllic site. Apart from that the course is fun to play and maintained as firm and fast as possible on an inland site. Save for the heavy-handed attempts at controlling strategy it does provide enough variation to stay interesting over time. Hats off to the club for resisting the overwatering that so many American style designer courses fall prey to. With a few tweaks this could be a downright great venue, but as of now it falls a little short of its potential. Being in the neighborhood of true greatness is always tough, there are certainly many regions where Chart Hills would be the kingpin.