COURSE PROFILE INTERVIEW: Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa

What You Need To Know: Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa

An Insightful Interview With John Schlaman, Director of Golf jschlaman@eagleridge.com

Whether you have played a course 20+ times a year or looking to play the course for the first time, insights from an insider can help enhance your golf experience. Below is an interview with John Schlaman who shares some valuable tidbits about the course, memorable holes and must eats and treats at the 19th.

Give Our Readers An Overview of the Golf Course/Property
Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa resides within the Galena Territory, which is a 6,800-acre land development located 6 miles east of the town of Galena, Illinois. The Galena Territory has 3,300 pieces of property, 2,300 of which are developed as single and multi-family. Several properties are available for short-term rental.

The town of Galena, IL (population 3,500) is the #2 tourist town in the state of Illinois (behind Chicago). Galena is consistently rated as a must-visit small town in the United States.

Eagle Ridge features three 18-hole golf courses and a nine-hole course, all of which are cut into the hills of the Mississippi River Valley "Driftless Region."

If Someone Was Looking To Golf In The Area, Why Should They Play Your Course?
The hills and valleys of the Driftless Region provide a spectacular landscape for each of our unique courses. Most notably The General, our last course to be built. The General features 289 feet of elevation change and hole #5 has a 175-foot drop from the tee to the fairway. Upon opening, all our courses were honored with "Best New Resort Course" by Golf Digest magazine. If you are here for a few days, please play them all and tell us which is your favorite. That's how scenic and unique each golf course is, with spectacular signature holes.

What Tips or Local Knowledge Would You Provide To Help Them Score Better At Your Course?
Most of the 63-holes at Eagle Ridge do not require long tee shots, but they do require accurate ones. Hit your tee shot in play and then upon reach the putting green, realize - like most mountainous courses - that the greens slope away from the highest point next to the green even though it appears they do not.

Any recent changes to the golf course? Or any upcoming changes?
N/A

Recent Awards or What You Are Most Proud About The Course?


What Is The Signature, Most Talked About, or Most Photographed Hole?
The General course hole #2, #5, #8, #17, and #18.
The North course holes #7, #8, and #11.
The South course holes #4 and #18.
The East course hole #2 and #3.

What Is Your Favorite Hole? Any Tips to Play It?
My favorite hole is #18 at the South Course. Depending on what tee you play, your tee shot needs to be no farther than the 150-yard pole. From the back tees that's about 260 yards, severely downhill tee shot, from there add two clubs for the uphill second shot and make sure you know where the hole is located on the green.

Must Have Dish or Drink after the round at the 19th Hole?


For the traveling golfer, do you have lodging onsite or partner with any area hotels?
Eagle Ridge features 80 hotel rooms in our main lodge and 105 homes/golf villas in our rental program. The lodge is situated above Lake Galena with awesome views of the lake and is home to the Woodlands restaurant, elegant ballroom, scenic meeting space, and an indoor pool. Just a few hundred feet from the lodge is Eagle Ridge's Stonedrift Spa facility which is new in 2022.

Who Holds Course Record and What Was Their Score?
N/A

Back Tee Stats
Par: 72 (The General) / 72 (North Course) / 72 (South Course) / 34 (East Course)
Yardage: 6,649 (The General) / 6,884 (North Course) / 6,762 (South Course) / 2,648 (East Course)
Slope: 136 (The General) / 136 (North Course) / 140 (South Course) / 118 (East Course)
Rating: 72.4 (The General) / 73.6 (North Course) / 73.4 (South Course) / 33.0 (East Course)

More Information
Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa 444 Eagle Ridge Dr. Galena, IL, 61036 (815) 777-5000

www.eagleridge.com