Suburbs home to some above-par golf bars

Even if you are awful at golf or downright detest the sport, you have to give it credit for being one of the few activities that goes hand in hand with drinking. I suppose bowling could be grouped with golf in this regard, but do you really want to spend your summer pent up at a black light-lit bowling alley which still spins "Jock Jams Vol. 3"? No, you do not.

The suburbs are covered with golf courses, and many offer new haunts for suburban bargoers. So I slipped on a polo and checked out just a small sampling. I found that you don't need a tee time to enjoy yourself. These bars are ace, a hole-in-one, like making the green on a par five in two - OK, I'll quit with the golf puns.

• J.J.'s, St. Andrews Golf & Country Club, 3N441 Highway 59, West Chicago, (630) 231-3100, www.standrewsgc.com/clubhouse.asp

J.J.'s, named after St. Andrews' late owner Joe Jemsek, is one of the larger golf bars, but still keeps things pretty simple. A large bar stretches along the side wall and serves a decent amount of beer with Warsteiner, Fat Tire, Guinness, Peroni and more. Near the bar are plenty of tables and chairs for people to relax at after a round of golf. The bar also serves food such as sandwiches, nachos and Buffalo wings. Televisions line the walls and are usually showing sports, but if you care less about TV, then head outside to the patio where you can watch people tee off on the first hole of course one. I suppose watching people stumble on the course could make an excellent drinking game; I'll have to look into that.

• Arrowhead Restaurant and Bar, Arrowhead Golf Club, 26W151 Butterfield Road, Wheaton, (630) 510-5070, www.wheatonparkdistrict.com

I knew that the newly built Arrowhead clubhouse had become an attraction for folks that I had graduated high school with, but I resisted its clutches. It all makes sense now: Arrowhead is top notch. There is a distinct restaurant and bar section. The bar itself has a nice beer selection with Two Brothers, Guinness 250, Arrowhead Ale and many other tasty brews. The four-sided bar has seating, and booths and tables are present throughout the room. The bar also advertises having 15 HD televisions, but, for me, the biggest draw is the bar's large patio. The patio has an excellent, raised view of Arrowhead for these upcoming summer days.

• Creekside Restaurant, Klein Creek Golf Club, 1N333 Pleasant Hill Road, Winfield, (630) 690-0101, www.kleincreek.com/content/view/19/137/

Klein Creek's Creekside Restaurant is very reminiscent of a pub. The room is not too large, features plenty of tables, a small bar and the pub-mainstay, a fireplace. Their menu includes sandwiches, soup, salads, appetizers and a fish fry on Fridays. Also check for the daily specials listed on the chalkboard near the entrance. And the bar has excellent views of the course, so please, go ahead and stare those golfers down.

• The Grill Room, Bartlett Hills Golf Club, 800 W Oneida Ave., Bartlett, (630) 213-837-2741, www.bartletthills.com/restaurant.htm

The Grill Room at Bartlett Hills Golf Club was probably the smallest clubhouse bar that I visited. In a matter of seconds, possibly two or three, I went from the bar's entrance to the patio. The patio itself was quite nice, overlooking the course and a pond down below. Supposedly, The Grill Room is known for its Friday fish fry (what golf course isn't?), and they also have sandwiches, burgers and wings. Heck, have your family join you at the bar for food after you finish 18.

• Chandler's, Schaumburg Golf Club, 401 N Roselle Road. Schaumburg, (847) 885-9009, www.chandlerschophouse.com

Chandler's is a bit different than the average clubhouse bar. For example, June 25 is girls night out where jewelry, fashion and handbag vendors will be in attendance. Hey, guys, sound fun? Chandler's also has daily food specials and sometimes features live entertainment. If all the glamour of the chophouse is a little too much for you, no worries: There is a patio for relaxation.

• The View, River Bend Golf Club, 5900 S. Route 53, Lisle, (630) 968-1920, www.lisleparkdistrict.org/view.htm

The View in River Bend Golf Club is one of the more fleshed-out bars on this list. For example, the bar has an online jukebox. How many jukeboxes do you see at golf courses? Exactly. Besides the jukebox, The View has a Golden Tee machine, plenty of tables and chairs and a full-service bar. There are daily drink specials, all-you-can-eat Friday fish fry, all-you-can-eat fried shrimp on Saturday and a large menu with sandwiches, burgers, steak and pasta. Did I also mention that The View has a patio with an excellent vantage point? Also, check out The View's movie schedule as they will be showing movies outdoors this summer on Monday nights.

• The Dock/The Grill Room, Seven Bridges, 1 Mulligan Drive, Woodridge, (630) 964-7777, sevenbridges.com/golf/proto/sevenbridges/thegrillroom/thegrillroom.htm

The Grill Room is a laid-back, bar/restaurant with a small bar and tables. And, surprise, there's a fish fry on Fridays. The Dock is an extension of The Grill Room and is an outdoor bar on the patio. And even while you are outside, you can still watch television and enjoy the full food menu. The view is excellent, and I personally don't need the outdoor television. But after a long day playing golf, say you return to the clubhouse wanting to sit outside and watch golf, then The Dock has you covered.

• Fareways Grill, Cantigny Golf Course, 27W270 Mack Road, Wheaton, (630) 260-8193, www.cantignygolf.com/restaurant/FarewaysGrill.aspx

Cantigny is one of the nicest golf courses in the suburbs, so it is no surprise that their Fareways Grill is equally as impressive. The large bar contains many places to sit, be it at a table or in a comfortable leather chair. Televisions line the walls while large windows look out onto the course; it's really quite the lovely view. On the other hand, I sat at the bar and ate an excellent pulled-pork sandwich and drank one of my favorite beers, Bell's Two-Hearted Ale. Yes, the beer selection is delicious with other choices like Bell's Oberon, Boddingtons, Stella Artois and Spaten Marzen. The food and beer here was really outstanding, but - like Cantigny's green fees - it was not cheap. Still, you really do get what you pay for.

• Masters Clubhouse, Indian Lakes Golf Course, 250 W Schick Road, Bloomingdale, (630) 671-5016, www.indianlakesresort.com/dining.htm

When I wrote a roundup of hotel bars last year, Indian Lakes' Cave Bar was easily one of my favorites; thankfully, the bar dedicated to their golf course, Masters Clubhouse, does not disappoint. Masters is neither as flashy nor as imaginative as Cave Bar, but what golf bar is? One of the oddest things I saw on my travels was the bar at Masters: It was about 3 feet tall or so. There were low, comfortable seats up against the bar, but standing at the bar to get a drink made me feel like a giant. Speaking of drinks, the full bar has Blue Moon, Goose Island Honker's Ale and Samuel Adams Summer Ale on tap. You can also enjoy selections from their menu as you sit at their small bar while watching their normal-sized televisions.

• Fox Den, Fox Run Golf Links, 333 Plum Grove Road, Elk Grove Village, (847) 228-3544, www.foxrungolflinks.com/?page_id=20

During my golf bar tour, Fox Den was easily the most hopping. Sure, the clientele on this particular day was filled with people my grandparents' age, but still - hopping. Fox Den at Fox Run is a freshly built bar, and fairly slick might I add. The long black bar has Miller Lite, Blue Moon, Sam Adams and Leinenkugel's. Besides the all-important beer, Fox Den has menu options such as burgers, Reubens, hot dogs, wings and a bunch of other stuff that would go well before or after a round of golf. And like any other good golf bar, Fox Den has an excellent patio overlooking the course, which was a nice break from those party animals inside.

• The Hickory Stick Bar and Grille, Highlands Golf of Elgin, 875 Sports Way, Elgin (847) 931-5950. www.cityofelgin.org/index.aspx?NID=225

Don't ask me why, but I rather enjoy the bar name Hickory Stick. Besides having a cool name, the bar and grille, located in Highlands Golf of Elgin, has even more to offer golfers and nongolfers alike. Look for beers such as Labatt Blue, Miller Lite, Berghoff and Leinenkugel on tap in the full bar. Hickory Stick's menu also hits all of the standards including Friday fish fry, sandwiches, burgers, steaks, salads and appetizers. Of course, do not forget to check out the course views from the patio.

• Lake Charles Grill, White Deer Run, 250 W Greggs Parkway, Vernon Hills (847) 680-6100, www.whitedeergolf.com/dine/dine.html

While many golf course patios overlook ponds, Lake Charles Grill gives you a great view of an honest-to-goodness lake. Seriously, go on Google Maps, it's there. So while you overlook Lake Charles, feel free to visit the full bar and sample menu items such as steak, burgers, sandwiches, soups and salads. No worries, there is also a Friday fish fry.

• Pinecrest Restaurant, Pinecrest Golf Club, 1120 Algonquin Road, Huntley, www.pinecrestrestaurant.com

Adding itself to the list of golf courses with renovated clubhouses is Pinecrest Golf Club in Huntley. With their new clubhouse comes their new Pinecrest Restaurant. I am happy to see that clubs take into consideration the importance of a quality interior and exterior, and it shows with Pinecrest's comfortable patio. The menu is quite large with items such as wings, calamari, salads, wraps, burgers, sandwiches, steaks, ribs, seafood and pasta.

• Sweetbriar Grill, Stonewall Orchard Golf Club, 25675 W Highway 60, Grayslake, (847) 740-4891, stonewallorchard.com/menu.asp

Sweetbriar Grill at Stonewall Orchard Golf Club in Grayslake covers golf course bar requisites. Is there a Friday fish fry? You better believe it! Besides the fish fry, they also have fish tacos, ribs, pork chops, burgers, sandwiches and more. Is there a patio? Of course! Sweetbriar Grill's patio overlooks the greens at holes nine and 18. So, no pressure guy attempting 10-foot putt while I sip on a beer and stare you down.