Makray Memorial Golf Club
About
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.
| Tee | Par | Length | Rating | Slope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 71 | 6903 yards | 74.5 | 139 |
| Gold | 71 | 6573 yards | 73.0 | 135 |
| Silver | 71 | 6215 yards | 71.4 | 131 |
| Silver (W) | 71 | 6215 yards | 71.1 | 140 |
| Green | 71 | 5716 yards | 69.1 | 126 |
| Green (W) | 71 | 5716 yards | 74.3 | 134 |
| Bronze | 71 | 5168 yards | 66.7 | 120 |
| Bronze (W) | 71 | 5168 yards | 71.3 | 128 |
| Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black M: 74.2/138 | 436 | 425 | 342 | 175 | 452 | 556 | 201 | 302 | 430 | 3319 | 468 | 471 | 314 | 189 | 355 | 562 | 426 | 244 | 530 | 3559 | 6878 |
| Gold M: 72.8/134 | 418 | 407 | 347 | 155 | 433 | 540 | 190 | 298 | 414 | 3202 | 431 | 450 | 304 | 173 | 337 | 552 | 389 | 215 | 520 | 3371 | 6573 |
| Silver M: 70.8/130 W: 76.0/137 | 387 | 355 | 298 | 135 | 411 | 524 | 178 | 274 | 388 | 2950 | 408 | 429 | 294 | 158 | 322 | 533 | 351 | 197 | 498 | 3190 | 6140 |
| Green M: 68.4/124 W: 73.2/131 | 285 | 355 | 298 | 130 | 366 | 439 | 148 | 254 | 385 | 2660 | 379 | 366 | 288 | 140 | 318 | 480 | 347 | 145 | 495 | 2958 | 5618 |
| Bronze M: 65.8/118 W: 70.1/124 | 280 | 300 | 274 | 128 | 362 | 438 | 112 | 249 | 297 | 2440 | 312 | 365 | 284 | 101 | 258 | 439 | 322 | 141 | 392 | 2614 | 5054 |
| Handicap | 13 | 3 | 11 | 7 | 5 | 9 | 15 | 17 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 14 | 16 | 12 | 6 | 8 | 18 | 10 | |||
| Par | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 35 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 36 | 71 |
| Handicap (W) | 15 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 7 | 11 | 17 | 13 | 5 | 8 | 2 | 14 | 16 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 18 | 12 |
Course Details
Rentals/Services
Practice/Instruction
Policies
Food & Beverage
Bar, GrillAvailable Facilities
Clubhouse, Banquet FacilitiesReviews
Reviewer Photos
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Photo submitted by u445449310 on 06/02/2025
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Photo submitted by schoi4u on 05/24/2023
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Photo submitted by u6722019 on 06/03/2021
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Photo submitted by u314159922990 on 09/09/2020
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Photo submitted by u314159922990 on 09/09/2020
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#2 Par 4 Photo submitted by BryanTweed16 on 07/15/2015
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#4 Par 3 Photo submitted by BryanTweed16 on 07/15/2015
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#5 Par 4 Photo submitted by BryanTweed16 on 07/15/2015
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#9 Par 4 Photo submitted by BryanTweed16 on 07/15/2015
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#11 Par 4 Photo submitted by BryanTweed16 on 07/15/2015
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#18 Par 5 Photo submitted by BryanTweed16 on 07/15/2015
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Photo submitted by Fred1977382 on 07/06/2014
Great track and layout
Great track. The layout is great and makes you use different clubs and not just driver and short iron. Greens not as bad as people say it is but it is very fast. Would’ve been better if people fixed their ball marks on the greens and if they had leveled tee boxes.
Only BAD thing was despite finished 18 in a little over 4 hours that we caught up to a 2 some after hole 2. They wouldn’t tee off until we finished putting the last hole. A 4some should never be waiting on a 2some with the whole front open ahead of them. Course ranger said they’re on pace so it’s ok. That’s pretty unacceptable to wait he waiting behind a pair.
Ridiculous Greens
The greens are unfare, not only are they extremely sloped, they are hard as concrete so they are fast and rough.
Beautiful Course
FIrst time playing and was impressed by the layout and hole designs. Par 4s that made you lay up or make sure you hitting the fairway for an approach. Unfortunately the greens were rolling the fastest I had ever seen. Just tap the ball to start rolling and if was downhill you were going off the green sometimes.
Tough, fun course
The main talking point of the course is the tabletop fast greens. Fastest I have played for a public course, almost unfair if the pins are in sketchy spots. I still enjoy it though, worth playing especially if you get a deal time.
Awful Conditions!!!!
The greens were in terrible condition. Too hard, too much sand and ball marks all over, they need to be replaced. The price of this course is not suitable for the conditions. I will not be going back.
Best public course greens in IL.
Easily my favorite track I’ve this year. Best greens I’ve played all year, including private clubs. White sand is pure. Great course layout. Clubhouse has a private club feel.
Fastest Greens Around
Makray greens are always a challenge, but they seemed exceptionally fast on my most recent round. In addition to the speed there is a lot of back to front slope, so you want to stay below the pin on your approaches. The greens and the whole course was in great shape in spite of the shortage of rain. Pace was unusually slow because of a "full house" on a Friday afternoon.
Fun course to play.
Fun course, good condition, AWFUL pace of play
One of the most challenge greens I’ve played. Fun course and makes you think. However the pace of play was so bad I might never come back. At least two rangers patrolling and still unacceptable pace of play. 5 hour round got a two-some.
Difficult
Makray is serious test
Almost all the greens slope back to front and if you are above the hole good luck
Greens were receptive but very fast
Nice range
Course is difficult and you need to play the correct tees
Group in front of us were playing one up and figured out by the 5th hole they needed to move up
One thing they need to fix is the practice putting green
It is awful and has been that way since opening
On the right side you can drop a ball and it will roll 20 feet
If you want to test every part of your game Makray is the place
Top Notch facility
This Golf Course never disappoints always in Tip Top shape greens are lightning, staff is right on top of things. Water on every few holes in coolers is one of the nicest touches I've seen in the course in this area. For the money you cannot beat this course private course amenities at a public price highly recommended
Greens Unplayable
Greenskeeper should be fired. Greens are unplayable
Too fast for the amount of undulation.
Stay away from this place unless you like to be tortured?
Nice Course, but
One draw back - I asked for a handicap flag and they said they don’t have one (or cart override). Not too happy about that as there is a lot of walking from the path over hills to the green.
ENJOYED
COURSE IS ALWAYS IN VERY SHAPE. GOT A GOOD GOLFNOW DEAL