Makray Memorial Golf Club

First off, the good. This is a beautiful golf course with a nice, challenging layout. Greens were impeccable on 5/5/18, rolling true, fast, and firm - honestly some of the best greens at a public facility. Bunkers were fantastic, firm packed and freshly raked with just the right amount of sand.

If my review was based solely on the quality of the golf course it would be 4.5 stars all day. But, as you know, your overall experience at a course can either be enhanced or diminished depending on the staff working at the course and how the property is managed.

This is where we get into the bad....

Our foursome started our round @ 10:10am... and had a 20 minute buffer from the group in front of us (a couple of foursomes that we noticed on the 7th or 8th hole). Pace of play on the front 9 was just under 2 hours, perfectly normal and relaxing pace. Upon finishing the 9th hole @ 12pm our group stopped into the clubhouse for a beer and quick hotdog, spent 5 mins at most. As we approached the 10th tee we noticed a long backup (group on #10 green, fairway, and 2 groups waiting on the tee). This didnt make sense as we never had to wait for a shot on the front 9... on top of that, ALL of the groups in front of us were completely different groups that we had not seen previously. The course was sending groups off of #10, ahead of groups making the turn - even though the 1st & 2nd hole were wide open. By the time we finished the 10th hole it was now 1:00pm - thats right, 1 hour from the time we made the turn. 1 hour to play 1 hole.

We called into the proshop from the 11th tee box to advise them of what was happening and find out why they decided to send groups out in front of us. They offered NO assistance and the course pro actually hung up on me after our 3rd call into the shop. It took 1 hour for a ranger to come out and talk to us and when he arrived to our group he jumped out of his cart and screamed "What do you expect me to do!!!"... Really poor approach to customer service when spending $94 to play the course. He said that those groups must have stopped for lunch at the turn and that caused the backup.... no apology, no respect, nothing but a mean old man that obviously didn't care. Our back 9 took 2:50 for a total round time of 4:40.

Wont return, there are plenty of good courses out there. Take your $$$ to Cantigny, Stonewall Orchard, Thunderhawk, Prairie Landing, Shepard's Crook, Harborside, Mistwood, Seven Bridges, or Cog Hill.

Very fair lay out with a number of holes that are nice to look at and make you think. Tough approaches with reasonable elevated greens. Greens ran true. This is a fun golf course that is a pleasure to play. We are single digit handicappers and picky. We will be back here. Their senior rates are good.

Has wanted to try this place for a while. Great choice. Greens were nice, true and fast. Layout was also challenging. Some elevated greens and long, even from the second longest tees.

Makray is a good layout and the value through Golf Advisor is great.

This was my 2nd time playing Makray Memorial. I like the layout every hole made you work for Par. Had to make some key shots into greens to avoid the hazards. Most greens are elevated requiring a uphill with added yardage approach shots. The greens have good contours and are fast. Hope to play again with some more course knowledge.

Great couse, difficult pin placement and greens. The greens make you respect them on approach and where you leave your missed putts.

Best burger on the turn of any course I played by far. You will need a pick me up. This burger and a cold beverage of you liking was certainly needed to tackle the back nine.

It was a sunny 45 degrees but the course was in great shape. The greens are very fast so stay under the hole. Fairways were pristine and the pace of play was not an issue because of the 45 degree weather and playing on a weekday. It's a great golf experience and we were lucky to get a good price. A must play course that will challenge your course management and short game.

The clubhouse and facilities are beautiful. The course is in incredible condition. The take great care of it. They also go cart path only at the drop of a hat and keep it that way 3 days after rain.

This was first time playing this course although I had heard about it through various avenues. Son (14) who plays high school golf and I found available Early morning Saturday tee time at last minute. Due to this, I was concerned what type of shape the course would be in. We were more than pleasantly surprised. Course was in impeccable shape despite time of year. Don't have one bad thing to say about course conditions, although leaves are starting to become s problem. However, they had active leaf blowers out on the most affected holes. The greens were true rolling and pure, albeit fast and a little tricky to adjust to breaks. Virtually all greens slope front to back and are fast, so stay below the hole!! Local knowledge is likely critical on these greens. Wonderful staff and very friendly. Very pleased, worth the pice in my opinion.

For a premium course at premium prices it was not what was expected.

Not your father's Thunderbird. This property has always seemed tailor made for a great course. The group that transformed this once poor track really hit it out of the park. Before moving back to area, never played here, but wow what a nice course. Fast but receptive greens, very well maintained tee to green, rough to rough. Nice bunkers, plenty of fluffy sand. This track is very challenging with a good mix of demanding long par 4's, risk/reward shorter ones, tough par 3's and fair par 5's. Pin placements can be a bit unfair at times as some will leave your ball off the green or back to your feet. A little proud of itself with higher than average rates, but they do put effort in keeping this course in tip top shape. Excellent practice facility as well. Some staff are very friendly, others not so much. They know who they are and you will recognize them without too much interaction also.

Been here a few times already but will definitely not be back at the current rates. 5+ hour round in 100 degree weather with no enforcement of pace which comes with a price of $94. It was not a spectacular round to say the least. The group ahead of us could barely reach the fairway off the tee box and they use a range finder for every shot??!! The carts come with GPS you fools!! Although they will not be as accurate, does it make that much of a difference if you cant hit past 150yds?? Rangers should be doing their job and ask if theres anything they could do to help if youre charging these rates!! Must we complain to get you to focus on your patrons?

Anywho, was once one of my favorite courses because the greens are usually well maintained and quick but if its going to take me 15 minutes per hole waiting at the tee box and fairway, id rather leave this course off my list. I dont mind paying higher rates but that should be complimented by epic experiences. 5+ hour rounds should be reserved for forest preserve courses.

Shame on you Makray for a horribly over priced round today along with an ancient card reader that took nearly 5 minutes to pay for a couple beers; i was afraid it would take as long and chose not to drink more. I still tipped because its the polite thing to do. What have you done in the 23rd to go above and beyond for your patrons in the blistering 100 degree heat?????

I had heard about Makray for years and finally played. Well worth it at the $55 I paid. A whole lot of course for a mid handicapper. Great shape, fast greens, well manicured.

We played as a four-some on Saturday the 9th. The fairways were really beat-up from play and not irrigated nearly enough. Greens were in good shape but unreasonably fast and pin placements were really terrible. Made for slow play. Expensive relative to other courses and expected it to be in better condition. Will not go back.

Great start working. Starter was the most hospitable man I've seen all summer. Offered cold water. Anything we wanted

Course is excellent as usual. Great layout Fair holes with small fast greens Tough steep aprons in the back side. Long too. You play this at the back tees and it's tough.

Hope to play it again soon

Nice course.

To bad the pace of play left a bad tast.