At last, it’s here… the BMW Championship is coming into Cog Hill Golf and Country Club in Lemont, Illinois this week from September 9th through the 12th. The PGA‘s best (only the top 70 in Fed Ex Cup points will be teeing off) will take on the challenge of the Rees Jones renovated Course #4, “Dubsdread” at Cog Hill.

Dubsdread was recently acknowledged in Golf Magazine’s “Top 100 Courses You Can Play” as #16. The magazine also gave this true championship course it’s #1 in Illinois distinction. In our opinion, both are well deserved as Dubsdread is truly the gold standard in public golf courses.

So with the BMW Championship/Fed Ex Cup dropping into Chicago and Cog Hill this week, we thought it only fitting that we pay tribute to this wonderful golf course by making Cog Hill Golf and Country Club and Dubsdread our Course of the Week.

So what makes Dubsdread so special? Well, lots of things really. When “The Open Doctor” Rees Jones renovated the course in 2007-2008, he stayed true to original course architect and designer, Dick Wilson‘s vision. However, Rees cranked up the challenge with 18 completely redesigned greens, strategically placed trees, a new pond on Hole #7 and the placement of the final green, #18 very, very close to the large pond. That’s not to mention reworking and repositioning the bunkers. Mr. Jones deepened and clustered the bunkers to truly penalize those unfortunate enough to find themselves in them.

So what does all that mean for those ordinary golfers who take up the challenge of Dubsdread? A very tough, very challenging day of golf. The course is a championship course and you had better bring your “A” game if you expect to have any success taming this beast. That being said, any good golfer needs to treat himself or herself to a round on this American classic. The course is just beautiful, contoured in the fertile soil of the Des Plaines River Valley and there are many spots you just want to stop and take it all in.

If you’re planning on attending the BMW Championship/Fed Ex Cup and are looking for a great spot to see some action, try “Pork Chop Hill”. Pork Chop is a perfect place to take in action on four different holes. If you’re sitting down looking west, the beautiful par 3, Hole #14 green with it’s wicked rolling contours is right in front of you. Perfect for watching the game’s best struggle to sink those long putts. Behind it is the fairway for the long and treacherous, par 4, 486 yard, Hole #13. This is the toughest of all of Dubsdread’s holes. The pro’s will need to be at their best in terms of accuracy down the fairway as Rees Jones has made it a very tough nut to crack with expanded fairway bunkers and a restored creek running in front of the green,

As you sit on Pork Chop Hill and enjoy a cold beverage, turn to your right and take in the exquisite beauty of par 3, 221 yard, Hole #12. This gorgeous piece of golf course real estate can be a very demanding hole requiring accuracy off the sunken tee boxes. With 2 large, deep bunkers in front of the rolling green and thick woods right behind it, you can’t go too long, and you can’t go too short. And because of the sunken tee boxes, this hole offers a great view to watch the big boys swing away.

Turn to your left and you can see the big guns on the tee box at the par 4, 427 yard, Hole #17 a wicked dogleg with big time fairway bunkers that will give the PGA‘s best pause and some serious reflection as to how to play this hole.

Pork Chop Hill is a great place to then, follow the boys home to that final, beautiful green on Hole #18. There’s also access to some tasty food and ice cold beverages close at hand.

All in all, the BMW Championship/Fed Ex Cup portends to be a hotly contested match. Is Tiger Woods too far off his game to win it? Well, he could be, but remember, Tiger loves Dubsdread. He has stated in the past that he really “sees” Dubsdread well and can visualize the shot he needs to hit. Also, remember this; Tiger broke the course record last year on the newly renovated Dubsdread by shooting an absolutely stunning round of 62 on the Saturday round. So it should make for an interesting 4 days of high level professional golf in sleepy little Lemont, Illinois.

Here’s some links to our Dubsdread (all 18 holes!) and Cog Hill Golf and Country Club virtual golf course tours along with some of our “Why Play Here” videos featuring Cog Hill owner Frank Jemsek.

Dubsdread Virtual Golf Course Tour

Cog Hill Golf and Country Club Virtual Golf Course Tour

Video: Cog Hill owner Frank Jemsek talks about Dubsdread, Course #4

Video: Cog Hill owner Frank Jemsek talks about The Ravines, Course #2

Video: Cog Hill owner Frank Jemsek talks about Courses #1 and #3

So, whether you’re planning on attending the BMW Championship/Fed Ex Cup or just siting back in your favorite chair and watching on tv, be sure to check out the virtual golf course tour of all 18 holes of Dubsdread. It will certainly give you a better understanding of what the PGA pros are facing when they take on this classic later in the week.

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