We are nearing the final stretch of the 2025 PGA Tour regular season, and the stakes are high for players hovering around the top-70 bubble as they try to qualify for the FedEx Cup Playoffs.
This week, TPC Deere Run hosts the John Deere Classic, bringing the PGA Tour out to the western boundary of Illinois. As I discuss on my podcast, Linksworms, this is another easy golf course, but it is far more scenic and certainly more interesting than what we saw in Detroit last week.
TPC Deere Run is a beautiful and fun golf course, even if it doesn't present a tough test for the PGA Tour
Memorable Holes: 6.5
The exciting land and picturesque scenery at TPC Deere Run make for some memorable shots and golf holes. The par-4 14th is a good example: It plays downhill from tee to green, and at only 361 yards, it is drivable for longer hitters, especially if the PGA Tour pushes the tees forward.
The hole features gorgeous cross bunkering on both sides, with one bunker short and left of the green. There is a shaved runoff area right of the green and a small protrusion to put a hole location in the back right.
The hole is surrounded by woods as it bounds down the hill, and the Rock River lies a short distance behind the green on the other side of the tree line.
Interest: 6.5
The elevation changes at TPC Deere Run create interest, as well as some of the green complexes. Many greens have somewhat unorthodox shapes with a narrow section to put a tricky hole location.
The par-5 17th is a particularly good hole. This 569-yard dogleg left is tight and treelined off the tee, but it opens up a little over 100 yards out. The green is shaped a bit like a boot as it has a wide but shallow back area with a small, narrow front section.
There is a bunker short and a steep drop-off to the right where the ball will feed away from the green and leave a tight-lie chip back up to the putting surface. This setting results in difficult recovery shots and interesting short game as players try to make birdie on the penultimate hole.
Par-3s: 6.0
The par-3s at TPC Deere Run are solid and provide enough variety to keep golfers engaged.
The 186-yard third is not typical because it plays uphill from tee to green, although there is a fun alternate tee to the right that is elevated, turning this hole into a much shorter downhill shot.
The seventh is long and difficult, measuring 226 yards with a few bunkers guarding the front-left side of the green.
The 12th is also no picnic at 215 yards with bunkers on both sides of the green and a sharp drop long and right.
The 16th is the shortest hole on the course at 158 yards. There are two bunkers guarding the front-right side of the green and one to the right, but the defining feature of this hole is the drop-off just left of the green that leads straight down to the Rock River.
Difficulty: 3.0
TPC Deere Run is another very scorable golf course during this stretch of the PGA Tour schedule. It may play slightly more difficult due to a lack of recent rain and firm conditions, but there will still be a high volume of birdies.
The golf course is not long at 7,289 yards and a par of 71. Still, there are a couple of challenges here and there.
The 484-yard 15th is one of the hardest holes on the course. This straight par-4 is very narrow, with trees tight to the left side off the tee. The narrow green sits at an angle to the fairway and is protected by a bunker short and left, another one to the right, and a dangerous shaved runoff area over the back.
Finish: 6.0
The finishing holes at TPC Deere Run are not spectacular but get the job done to provide an entertaining conclusion to the John Deere Classic.
The aforementioned 16th is a short, interesting par-3 with great beauty as it rests next to the Rock River. The 17th, which was also discussed previously, is a quality par-5 with a devilish green complex.
The 18th rounds out the finish with a difficult par-4, a 476-yard dogleg right. The landing area is very narrow as it bends to the right, with a bunker on the left and heavy forest surrounding the fairway.
The green is deep, and it narrows at the back with two more bunkers guarding the right side and a pond nestled directly against the left edge. This hole provides a challenging and nerve-racking finish to the round, setting up a dramatic conclusion to the tournament.
Overall: 5.60
For the criteria used to determine these ratings, please click here.