This past weekend my wife and I had the opportunity to play Village Greens in Woodridge, IL for the first time. Despite having lived in the area for most of our lives, we hadn't chosen this public course located on 75th Street for a round of golf ever before. After our first experience at Village Greens, however, I can bet that we will be returning very soon. First things first: Village Greens is a golf course geared toward the weekend or beginning player. The course has an "old" feel to it (rolling hills, small greens, tall trees) which is both charming and inviting for even the most novice players in the Chicagoland area. However, those looking for an exceptionally challenging test likely won't find it here... but that's still ok!

Considered one of the best golf values in Chicago and managed by the Woodridge Park District, Village Greens offers players 18 holes of family-friendly golf, a full-service driving range, practice putting green, and a full banquet facility. My wife and I booked our tee time through Back9Booking.com, so the course also has partnerships with many online discount sites.

What I enjoyed most about the course was the repeated scoring opportunities golfers of any level had during a typical round. Many of the par-4 holes were shorter than average, however there were still a select few that exceeded 420-yards. Seasoned players should be able to score relatively well on this course, however the tree-lined fairways can prove to be punative for wayward tee-shots. In addition, my wife (who is still a beginner) also enjoyed the course because of its fairness and lack of water hazards on the majority of the holes.

The one negative I have to mention were the greens fees. While the course's website offers many different value options during different times of the year, a round of golf with gart can run a non-Woodridge resident player $60 on the weekend during prime hours. While that price is certainly comparable to other courses in the area, I didn't feel Village Greens' condition or difficulty level warranted a price tag over $50. Weekend rates after 2:00pm with cart do drop to $39.99 for non-residents, but with a prime location on a main highway tee times can fill up quickly.

Overall I would give Village Greens 3 stars out of 5. If you are looking for a semi-challenging yet fun course to play with a group of friends, this is the place for you. However, if you are looking for a true test of your golf abilities, you may want to venture elsewhere.