Makray Memorial GC
A view of a green with water coming into play at Makray Memorial Golf Club.
GolfPass Icon
Rating Index Rating
Tooltip Information Icon
4.1
710 Reviews (710)
5 Stars
364
4 Stars
216
3 Stars
76
2 Stars
30
1 Stars
24
Conditions
3.9
Value
3.8
Layout
4.5
Friendliness
4.3
Pace
3.9
Amenities
4.3
77.0%
Recommend this course
590 out of 710 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
3.6
60 Reviews (60)
5 Stars
24
4 Stars
12
3 Stars
9
2 Stars
7
1 Stars
8
Conditions
3.4
Value
3.4
Layout
4.4
Pace
3.6
Amenities
4.2
StaffFriendliness
4.2
63.3%
Recommend this course
38 out of 60 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
3.7
66 Reviews (66)
5 Stars
28
4 Stars
13
3 Stars
10
2 Stars
7
1 Stars
8
Conditions
3.5
Value
3.4
Layout
4.4
Pace
3.6
Amenities
4.2
StaffFriendliness
4.2
65.2%
Recommend this course
43 out of 66 reviews
Read Reviews

About

Holes 18
Type Public
Par 71
Length 6903 yards
Slope 139
Rating 74.5

Makray Memorial Golf Club (formerly known as Thunderbird Country Club) is a public course that has been open since 1962. To commemorate 40 years of great golf, the course was remodeled and revamped in 2002. The renovations improved its playability and also made it more challenging. The championship-caliber layout features strategically placed bunkers, including some Scottish-style sod-faced ones, and tricky water hazards on several holes. The hilly terrain offers both challenging elevation changes and scenic views. The golf course finishes with a long par 5 that plays across a canyon of berms to a narrow fairway. Further accuracy is needed to reach the well guarded green surrounded by high berms, a pot bunker to the left, and a deep, steep bunker to the right. In addition to the course, Makray Memorial G.C. boasts an extensive practice facility with 1 1/2 acres of grass teeing ground, two putting greens, and a short-game area.

Book a Tee Time at
Makray Memorial Golf Club
Powered by GolfNow.com

Course Details

Year Built 1962
Fairways Bent Grass
Greens Bent Grass
Architect ILT Vignocchi (2002) Bob Lohmann

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes - $20 - $30
GPS Yes
Pull-carts Yes
Caddies No
Clubs Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Golf School/Academy Yes
Teaching Pro Yes
Pitching/Chipping Area Yes
Putting Green Yes

Policies

Credit Cards Accepted Visa, Master Card, American Express, Discover
Metal Spikes Allowed No
Walking Allowed Yes
Dress code No blue jeans. Collared shirts for men, although mock turtlenecks are acceptable. Shorts no shorter then 3 inches above the knee.

Food & Beverage

Bar, Grill

Available Facilities

Clubhouse, Banquet Facilities

Accolades

The Best Way To Book Is With GolfPass+
waivedfees
10 rounds of waived fees
golf ball.svg
$120 in tee time credits
teetime protection.svg
Tee Time Protection
redeemtrophy
Redeem GolfPass points

Reviews

4.1
710 Reviews (710)
Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 11
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Best kept secret

I have played many courses over the years here in the Chicagoland area and found this to be one of the best kept secrets for a public courses.

If you’re looking for a great track at a great value this is the place. Book it !!!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 6
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 9
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

cloudy day

Cloudy day. Course played nicely that day. 2:30 pm tee. A foursome ahead of me waved me through which was really nice because it was wide open after. I played a a single that day and finished in 2:55 minutes. Greens were in better condition than I expected/heard about.

Tee boxes were pretty chewed up, expected given late season. If more golfers would fix/repair just 2 ball marks on the greens..... or rake your trap.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Fair
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great course with extremely challenging greens

The course is fair but course knowledge is critical. It is not atypical to miss putts, as there are lots of breaks and the greens are quick.

It is better to be short and have an uphill putt than to be sidehill because if you miss, you will still have an uphill putt. Chip close will help you score.

If you score in the 70s elsewhere, don't be surprised to see the 80s here. Silver tees are demanding even for a single handicap, so don't do longer tees unless you are a 4 or below. This will help you avoid the embarrassment, lost balls, and a huge score!

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

This course

Greens were super fast which is fine but the greens were in terrible shape,ball marks everywhere,tee boxes were also in terrible shape.loved the layout but that's about it

Conditions Fair
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
1.0
Previously Played

DONT PLAY HERE AS A SINGLE. HORRIBLE STAFF SERVICE

Course is fine Staff service is horrible. Do not book as a single. Staff will not honor that you paid a cart fee and force you to pair up. Never had this happen as a single. Then was insulted by staff multiple times when trying to understand what this policy even was.

Conditions Average
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Poor
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 2
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played

Love it

Beautiful property. That has wonderful fairways and bunkers

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Fix your ball marks people

This was the worst shape I’ve seen the green in. Mostly ball marks not repaired by inconsiderate golfers. I fixed 5 a green on average and that didn’t touch the surface. Greens were much slower than I’m used to here. Pace of play was brutal, granted it was a holiday weekend but Makray is not a course to have a knock around with the family on a Saturday, >10 hcp don’t play from the back tees please.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Poor
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

A bit disappointed

For decades everyone knows Makray to be a well kept challenging course with concrete unputtable greens, but this time the greens were receptive, possibly from recent rains. Sadly half of them were diseased with bare spots which we were told they're addressing. Bunker health and maintenance seem to have fallen off which was unexpected. $78 weekday rate is currently the only reasonable way to play here. Weekend rate is a no go.

Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 5
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

great layout - poor conditions

very sad to see a great course in this bad of shape

Conditions Fair
Value Fair
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Poor
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Greens were in terrible condition.

Green fees are too high for the condition the golf course is in!

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 3
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 9
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Good layout

Course is heavily played and it shows. Greens are bumpy. Expensive for the condition.

Conditions Average
Value Fair
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Worse shape ever

Unfortunately this was the worst shape of a course I might have ever seen. The greens were absolutely atrocious and the fairways were even worse. The greens had almost zero green space and was covered with all patches of dirt or huge divots. It’s like someone intentionally ruined the entire greens and fairway. We left after 7 holes because it was that bad. Which is crazy because I have played this course multiple times and it was always in good condition. Not sure what is going on this year but hopefully they change it.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Fair
Friendliness Average
Pace Poor
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

The greens and bunkers are in terrible shape. Play elsewhere until next season.

A recent rainstorm is likely to blame for the condition of the sand traps but there is no excuse for the greens to be in the shape they are in. There are huge swaths that look like a chemical was spilled on them or, alternatively, a fungus that ate the sections away.

Conditions Poor
Value Fair
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Bad Condition

Greens are diseased; tee boxes not kept up, not what is usually is …

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 8
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
1.0
First Time Playing

Awful greens

Paid $80 for 18. Course conditions are awful. Greens are burned out and full of divots and dead spots.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Fair
Amenities Fair
Nearby Courses
Barrington, Illinois
Public
0.0
0
Palatine, Illinois
Private
0.0
0
Palatine, Illinois
Public
4.4372500611
336
Barrington, Illinois
Private
0.0
0
Lake Zurich, Illinois
Private
0.0
0
Barrington, Illinois
Private
0.0
0
Barrington, Illinois
Private
4.8571428571
5
Hoffman Estates, Illinois
Public
4.1427886764
798
Barrington, Illinois
Private
3.2320235294
313
North Barrington, Illinois
Private
0.0
0
Palatine, Illinois
Public
4.5
2
Arlington Heights, Illinois
Public
4.5572675241
233
Golf Packages

Geneva National Golf Experience Package

FROM $167 (USD)
LAKE GENEVA, WI | Enjoy 4 nights’ accommodations at Geneva National Resort & Club and 3 rounds of golf at Geneva National Golf Club - Palmer, Player, & Trevino Courses.

Destination Kohler - Champions' Trail Golf Package

FROM $617 (USD)
KOHLER, WI | Enjoy 2 nights’ accommodations at The American Club or the Inn at Woodlake and 3 rounds of golf at Blackwolf Run (River or Meadow Valleys Course) and Whistling Straits (Straits or Irish Course)

SentryWorld Stay & Play Package

FROM $347 (USD)
STEVENS POINT, WI | Enjoy 3 nights’ accommodations at The Inn at SentryWorld and 2 rounds of golf at SentryWorld Golf Course (site of the 2023 U.S. Senior Open).

Destination Kohler - To Dye Four Golf Package

FROM $557 (USD)
KOHLER, WI | Enjoy 3 nights’ accommodations at The American Club or the Inn on Woodlake and 4 rounds of golf at Blackwolf Run (River & Meadow Valley Courses) and Whistling Straits (Straits & Irish Courses).

SW Michigan Golf Around Package

FROM $127 (USD)
GRAND RAPIDS/KALAMAZOO | Enjoy 3 nights’ accommodations at Quality Inn – Battle Creek and 3 rounds of golf at The Medalist Golf Club, Angel’s Crossing Golf Club, and The Grande Golf Club.
Now Reading
  • Home

  • Memberships

  • Library

  • Account