UPPER DECK or LOWER DECK unlike some downtown Chicago sporting venue’s, the price stays the same at the Mistwood Golf Dome on Rt. 53 in Bolingbrook. So with the outdoor season right around the corner why not come in and practice on Toptracer, or get a golf lesson. But if you need new clubs, Mistwood can fit you with new sticks you need for better golf. So you can book your hitting bay online at Mistwoodgolfdome.com, or call the dome at (630)-739-7600. #McWethysSportsbar #BestwingsInTown

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation for Golfers on Golf. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy or connect on LinkedIn or Facebook.

***From Rory Spears*** So far in 2022, several people has ask the question social media, or to me online. What was my favorite round of golf in 2021, or what was the best golf course I played. After some serious thought. I have decided that my round of golf at Baltimore Country Club-Five Farms brings home the prize. BCC was on the front end of a two day trip that included nearby Caves Valley Golf Club, home of the 2021 BMW Championship.

FOR ME a return to Five Farms was a mere 7 years after my first visit to the club. Because while covering the 2014 LPGA International Crown at Caves Valley. I stopped over at BCC while the famed East Course was under going an architect Keith Foster renovation. I received a rain check to return once the course reopened. But while it did take me 7 years to cash it in, I’m glad I did. Fosters renovation is really good and it shows. Because Golfweek Magazine has the East Course at #39 on it’s Classic Course Top 100 list, and it should be even higher in my books. RS

The Baltimore Country Club Clubhouse at Five Farms.

The Baltimore Country Club has been a popular club since day one.

Day 1 came at the clubs founding on January 12th, 1898 at it’s first location at Roland Park.

Because right out of the blocks the club had 600 members, that were part of the 150 acre club, located five miles from downtown Baltimore.

Just over 20 years later, the club decided it needed to move it’s golf operation to a second location. So it acquired land north of the city at Five Farms, where architect A.W. Tillinghast built the East Course at Five Farms. The course first opened in 1926. Once the land at Roland Park was sold off in 1962, that course was closed. But the second course, the West Course at Five Farms opened. But now with 36 holes the original clubhouse was demolished and the current clubhouse was built.

The First hole on the Five Farms East Course.

Because the club gained immediate fame, it took only a year before the course billed as a Tillinghast masterpiece hosted the fifth U.S. Open won by Willie Smith of Scotland.

The club wen through some fires with it’s clubhouse at the Roland park location. Not one, but in fact two fires hit the clubhouse in some 90 days.

But once it reopened, some of it’s original features from 1932, are still in use today. Including the duckpin bowling lanes. Tennis is played at the club and in the late 1930’s and 1940’s, the grass tennis courts were used to host qualifiers for the Davis Cup Matches.

The par 3, 4th hole at Baltimore Country Club’s East Course.

More sporting venue’s such as paddle tennis, a swimming complex, and then new tennis courts which opened in 2007.

The United States Golf Association (USGA) lists the club as one of the first 100 clubs built in the United States. it’s strong history is among the reasons the club now has over 3,000 members in various categories. Baltimore Country Club remains one of only 12 clubs that operates from two campuses.

The back nine opens with a partial island green.

The 1899 U.S. Open started golf championship play at the club. But it was certainly not the last.

Because in 1928 the PGA Championship came calling, and Leo Diegel took home the Wanamaker Trophy.

In 1932 the U.S. Amateur came to Five-Farms for the first time. C. Ross Somerville was the winner. The 1965 Walker Cup held at the club, saw the USA and Britain playing to an 11-11 tie. 23 years later in 1988 the U.S. Women’s Open came for the first time, Liselotte Neumann won with a 72 hole score of 277.

The par 3, 17th hole, is one of the most photogenic ones on the property.

The east Course held the 2007-2008-2009 Senior Players Championship.

Loren Roberts-D.A.Weibring and Jay Haas were the winners.

Baltimore Country Club is one of the two clubs in the world to host a Men’s and Women’s U.S. Open, a PGA Championship, a men’s U.S. Amateur, a Walker Cup and a Champions Tour Major.

Foster’s renovation work began in 2014, and was completed in time to reopen the course in 2015. Championship golf returned in 2017 and 20218 to host the Men’s Big Ten Championship. The University of Illinois won both team titles, and Fighting Illini players Dylan Meyer (2017) and Nick Hardy (2018) won the individual titles. Meyer is now on the Korn Ferry Tour, and Hardy is in his first full season on the PGA Tour.

Last year Foster returned to upgrade the practice area’s as part of the clubs lifestyle improvement program. What’s the next major championship held at Five Farms remains to be seen, but it might not be far away. But whatever that championship is, can’t come soon enough to one of the great classic golf courses in American history.