Chicago Golf Report

  • Home
  • Play Golf
    • Golf Courses Near Me
    • Winter Golf Facilities
    • Illinois Golf Courses
    • Chicago Golf Courses
    • Driving Range Directory
    • Topgolf Near Me
  • Find an Instructor
  • Events Calendar
    • Submit Your Event
  • Photo Gallery
  • Groups
    • Golf Organizations
    • Tournament Associations

Old Top Farm Golf Course: Pictures, Numbers, and Words

May 24, 2020 by Greg Miles

OLDTOPFARMGOLFUtilizing three descriptive modes — pictures, numbers, and words — Chicago Golf Report presents a review of Old Top Farm Golf Course. Old Top Farm is a privately owned, 9-hole, open to the public, golf course located in Crystal Lake, IL.

Old Top Farm has 3 sets of tees: the blue set plays to a total length of 2891 yards; the white set measures 2699 yards; and, the forward red set’s length is 1724 yards. The par is 37 for the blue and white tees, and par is 35 for the red tees; the difference of two strokes in par is created with two holes (#4 & #9) played as par-4’s when playing from the forward tees as opposed to par-5’s when played from either the middle or back tees.

Old Top Farm Golf Course was designed by Randy Wirkus, who is also the owner. The course occupies property that was a former tree and sod farm, and while this land is an old farm, it is a relatively new course.

Old Top Farm opened as a golf course in 1998; in 2008 the routing was changed to its present mapping. A favorable dichotomy of Old Top Farm is that even though its total par of 37 may conjure thoughts of OTF being a ‘long’ course, six of its holes are of relatively ‘short-for-their-par’ lengths. These six holes provide six birdie (or better) opportunities.

Old Top Farm’s topography is flat, easily walkable, and mostly open; nonetheless, it could still be categorized as parkland-style. By trade, OTF’s owner, Randy Wikus is a landscape architect, and he has retained stately trees in one area of the course. Hole #5 is a short par-3, whose green is situated in a grotto of tall trees. The next hole follows with the course’s signature living landmark, a massive oak tree that rests majestically to the right of the par-4, #6 green. The age of this tree is between 150 and 200 years old.

OLDTOPFARMGOLFIn the remainder of the ‘open portion’ of the course, Wirkus has added one mound of prairie grass, two ponds, and a several small groupings of trees; all of these hazards are cleverly positioned as to be both eye-catching and ball-catching. A quaint gazebo, acting as a rain shelter, is located in the middle of course.

Finding the Old Top Farm golf course may be slightly difficult due to an unusual factor — the north-south running street on which Old Top Farm Golf Course is located has two names; if approaching from the south, this road is called ‘Walkup’, but if approached from the north, the same road was labeled ‘Crystal Lake.’

When OTF first opened in 1998 the old farm house was used as the course’s clubhouse. A few years later a new permanent clubhouse was built. Riding carts and pull carts are available for rent. The practice putting green is a few steps outside of the clubhouse. The clubhouse offers a modest selection of snacks and beverages. OTF is a solid, value-conscious choice for a round of golf. For example, using the “bogo” coupon on their website, on a weekday, seniors can buy a 9-hole greens fee and get the second 9-holes free; that is, based upon the 2016 greens fee rate, 18-holes with riding cart will cost $22.

It is the policy at OTF to allow single golfers or groups smaller than foursomes to play by themselves; forcible combining of golfers at OTF is not done. Also of note, reserved tee times are not taken at Old Top Farm, as management prefers the situation where anybody can come out on the spur of the moment and have an equal chance of being next on the first tee.

Further information about Old Top Farm Golf Course including hole-by-hole playing tips and a flyover can be found on their website: www.oldtopfarm.com, or by phone at 815-479-9361.

Old Top Farm Golf Course

2120 Walkup Road
Crystal Lake, IL 60012
815-479-9361

16OLDTOPFARM-hole2
17otf-sign3
18OLDTOPFARMGOLF-hole3
19otf-sign4
20OLDTOPFARMGOLF-hole4a
21OLDTOPFARMGOLF-hole4b
22otf-sign5
23OLDTOPFARMGOLF-hole5
24otf-sign6
25OLDTOPFARMGOLF-hole6a
26OLDTOPFARMGOLF-hole6b
27otf-sign7
28otf-hole7
29otf-sign8
30OLDTOPFARMGOLF-hole8a
31OLDTOPFARMGOLF-hole8b
32OLDTOPFARMGOLF-hole8c
33otf-sign9
34otf-hole9a
35otf-hole9b

12►
Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail

Filed Under: Featured, Featured Courses Tagged With: Old Top Farm Golf Course

About Greg Miles

Greg Miles has been a writer following golf in Chicago since 1990. For the past 27 years he has been a member of the Golf Writers Association of America and currently is classified as a GWAA "Life Member". He played his first round of golf on his 11th birthday, and since then has played more than 6,800 rounds of golf in his lifetime at 514 different courses. He has interviewed more than 275 golfers across all the professional tours along with famous celebrity golfers. Additionally, he is a member of several other competitive and honorary golf associations, as well as the Golf Nut Society.

Top Picks

  • Where to Play Golf During the Winter in Chicago
  • Complete Guide to Golf Driving Ranges in Chicago
  • Chicago’s Top 10 Nine Hole Golf Courses
  • Chicago’s Top 10 Elevated Tees
  • Chicago’s Top 10 Toughest Golf Course Greens
  • Chicago’s Top 10 Most Troublesome Bunkers
  • Chicago’s Top 10 Forced Carry Golf Shots
  • Chicago’s Top 10 Easy Opening Golf Holes
  • Chicago’s Top 10 Toughest Finishing Golf Holes
  • The Fantastic Par Fours of Chicago Golf
  • The Triple Threats of Chicago Golf

Categories

  • Chicago Golf History
  • Columns
  • Equipment
  • Featured
  • Featured Courses
  • Featured Events
  • Fitness
  • Free Downloads
  • Golf Course Renovations
  • Golf News
  • Instruction
  • Most Popular
  • Podcasts
  • Product Reviews
  • The Masters
  • Top 10

 

Chicago Golf Report Sponsors

Find your ideal Chicagoland Golf Course Homes with Falcon Living.
Help your golf outing stand out from the rest – SMT Golf Outing Services.

Advertise with Us

Quick Links

Privacy Policy
Terms of Service
Contact Us
Advertise
About Us

Copright © 2021 · Chicago Golf Report · All rights reserved.