Makray Memorial GC
A view of a green with water coming into play at Makray Memorial Golf Club.
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Rating Index Rating
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4.0
716 Reviews (716)
5 Stars
368
4 Stars
217
3 Stars
77
2 Stars
30
1 Stars
24
Conditions
3.8
Value
3.7
Layout
4.4
Friendliness
4.3
Pace
3.8
Amenities
4.3
74.2%
Recommend this course
594 out of 716 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
5.0
2 Reviews (2)
5 Stars
2
4 Stars
0
3 Stars
0
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
5.0
Value
5.0
Layout
5.0
Pace
4.0
Amenities
5.0
StaffFriendliness
5.0
50.0%
Recommend this course
1 out of 2 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
3.7
62 Reviews (62)
5 Stars
26
4 Stars
12
3 Stars
9
2 Stars
7
1 Stars
8
Conditions
3.4
Value
3.4
Layout
4.3
Pace
3.7
Amenities
4.2
StaffFriendliness
4.2
62.9%
Recommend this course
39 out of 62 reviews
Read Reviews
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AI summaries based on real golfer reviews
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Course Highlights
The course layout consistently earns high praise for its challenging design, rewarding course management and strategic play around quick, break-filled greens. Friendly staff and solid amenities complement a pace of play that keeps rounds moving efficiently.

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.

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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

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Reviews

4.0
716 Reviews (716)

What Golfers Are Saying

The 19th Hole is Great For:
Drinks 26
Patio Dining 18
19th Hole Scenic Views 15
Course Challenges Include:
Undulating Greens 35
Elevation Changes 27
Bunkers 26
This course/club is great for:
Advanced Golfers 34
A Weekend Splurge 13
Entertaining Clients 13
This Course's Location is:
In the 'Burbs 32
Worth the Drive 22

Numbers based on reviews tagged with attribute.

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Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 17
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great Course

Pricier course, but definitely “get what you pay for”. Course is in great shape, greens are quick, course is challenging, pace of play was good. Overall good experience.

If I had to ding one thing about this place, it’s that the halfway house kind of sucks from a golf perspective, it’s real nice but when your golfing and want a couple beers and hot dogs to go… you really don’t have the time to sit and wait for them to help you or make them. Nothing is quick there.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 5
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

A fluke

I honestly skipped more holes than I actually played--no fooling. The pace of play was a nightmare. It seemed as if every slow-placed foursome showed up this day, and their etiquette only added to the delays. Having said this, I believe this was a fluke. My previous rounds here were incredible memories. My stepdaughter had her wedding and dress rehearsal dinner here and it they were wonderful experience. I will always come back to Makray; I love the course and the staff is amazing.

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Poor
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 5
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Windy weather
Used cart
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 9
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 12
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Windy weather
Used cart

Gail force winds made a difficult course even tougher

Way too windy a day to score well, but course is one of the better in the area. Too bad its a bit pricey and I'll look for some sales (Deals) in the future to play again (maybe a weekday senior rate?).

Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 9
Handicap 0-4
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Previously Played

Pace of Play

Pace of play was horrible. 3 hour front 9 and when we rolled up to 10 there was 4 groups on the tee.

Greens were incredibly fast,.

Conditions Good
Value Poor
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Poor
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 3
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 4
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 116
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 116
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Best Greens in Chicago

Whether it’s public or private Makray has the best greens of just about any course in Chicago.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 34
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great round at Mackray

Early morning rounds at Mackray are great. The course is quiet, especially with the electric carts and the pace of play is perfect. The ten minute tee times work to give just the right amount of time for all levels of golfers. Will be back many more times. Be wary of the crazy greens though…they will challenge even the best!

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 23
Handicap Don't know
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
4.0
First Time Playing
Windy weather
Used cart

Hardest Course I Ever Played!

You better be a long ball hitter...which I am not! Well kept course. Give it a try, but be prepared.

Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 6
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

It was Labor Day Monday

It was Labor Day Monday That the course me thinks didn’t want to upset a packed Holiday a course made our five hour round.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Poor
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 4
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 11
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Sad and bad greens…sand was also bland

Sadly whoever takes care of the greens has decided to make them insanely fast and completely unfair… They were also rock hard… The sand looked good at first but unfortunately was also rock hard underneath the quarter inch of light sand that they did have, sad lack of raking. The fairways were good and the pace was fine but workers were very grumpy…

Conditions Poor
Value Fair
Layout Good
Friendliness Poor
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
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