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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4.1
733 Reviews (733)
5 Stars
378
4 Stars
223
3 Stars
77
2 Stars
30
1 Stars
25
Conditions
3.9
Value
3.8
Layout
4.5
Friendliness
4.4
Pace
3.9
Amenities
4.3
76.4%
Recommend this course
609 out of 733 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.5
19 Reviews (19)
5 Stars
12
4 Stars
6
3 Stars
0
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
1
Conditions
4.4
Value
4.3
Layout
4.8
Pace
4.3
Amenities
4.6
StaffFriendliness
4.8
84.2%
Recommend this course
16 out of 19 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
3.9
66 Reviews (66)
5 Stars
32
4 Stars
14
3 Stars
7
2 Stars
7
1 Stars
6
Conditions
3.7
Value
3.6
Layout
4.4
Pace
3.9
Amenities
4.2
StaffFriendliness
4.4
66.7%
Recommend this course
44 out of 66 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

4.1
733 Reviews (733)

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.

Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 72
Skill Advanced
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 Average
Played On
Reviews 55
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 55
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Challenging but fun

Loved this course. It was in beautiful condition, and it has a lot of elevation for a course in the Chicago area. The staff warned us about the greens being much faster than most public courses, and they were right. Very challenging, but this is probably my new favorite in the area!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 44
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

One of the best

Makray has a great layout. Great variety of holes and the best greens yearly. Good practice facilities including practice trap and pitching area.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 6
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once 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 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played

Beware of the downhill sidehill putt!!

Great layout, but green are sever for average golfer. slow play can hapen here. Very understandable with the green run offs and slopey greens. stay below the hole and its still not a guaranteed two putt!!

Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 50
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Perfect weather
Used cart

Always a challenge.

It's all about the greens. Fast fast greens.

Stay below the hole.

Course in very good shape. A little wet from all the rain the day before. But very playable.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 5
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Great Course - Sneaky difficult

The course was in great shape, and the pace of play was outstanding. Made a little bit more difficult due to cart path only designation because of rain. Greens were hard and fast - difficult to keep ball on greens with false fronts. A fun track to play!

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Makray is fun and difficult

If u want to hit every club in the bag, Makray is the course. Great mix of short and long par 4’s. Fairways were in great shape as were the Greens. Tee boxes are a little scruffy and could use some leveling. The course is a real test as it is one of the tougher public tracks in Chicagoland. I always find it a challenge as it helps me access my game. Pace of play needs to improve although I don’t think most players realize how tough course is. I love the challenge and will be back

Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 36
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Average
Friendliness Fair
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 12
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 46
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

A real Gem

It was my first time playing Makray Memerial. I had heard and read a lot of comments about the conditions of the course and how fast the greens were, so going in I was excited to play a course of its caliber. The green were fairly quick if you were above the hole, so i highly recommend staying below it. Some of the greens were bumpy, but i was told this was not the usual condition of the greens, and i was also told they can get the greens even faster. Overall the course was fun and the layout was very interesting. Be prepared to use several different clubs off the tee on the par 4's, I used everything from a 5i to a driver, which kept the round interesting. I did not eat or drink in the club house, but I can tell you that the beer is $6 from the beer cart. If you get the chance, I highly recommend playing this course.

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

Fun challenging course

Makray is a fun yet challenging course. It really makes you work to get into those fairways. Was in incredible condition per usual.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 7
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
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