GolfPass Icon
Rating Index Rating
Tooltip Information Icon
3.8
153 Reviews (153)
5 Stars
37
4 Stars
39
3 Stars
31
2 Stars
15
1 Stars
31
Conditions
3.6
Value
4.1
Layout
4.1
Friendliness
4.5
Pace
4.1
Amenities
3.5
80.8%
Recommend this course
102 out of 153 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
3.9
36 Reviews (36)
5 Stars
17
4 Stars
10
3 Stars
3
2 Stars
1
1 Stars
5
Conditions
3.8
Value
4.1
Layout
4.2
Pace
4.0
Amenities
3.6
StaffFriendliness
4.6
80.6%
Recommend this course
29 out of 36 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.0
41 Reviews (41)
5 Stars
19
4 Stars
13
3 Stars
3
2 Stars
1
1 Stars
5
Conditions
3.8
Value
4.2
Layout
4.2
Pace
4.1
Amenities
3.7
StaffFriendliness
4.6
82.9%
Recommend this course
34 out of 41 reviews
Read Reviews

About

Holes 18
Type Public/Municipal
Par 72
Length 5952 yards
Slope 119
Rating 69.3
Book a Tee Time at
River Oaks Golf Course
Powered by GolfNow.com

Course Details

Year Built 1968
Golf Season Open: 3/01 Closed: 11/01
Architect Dick Nugent (1968)

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes
Clubs Yes
Pull-carts Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range No
Bunker Yes
Teaching Pro Yes
Pitching/Chipping Area Yes
Putting Green Yes

Policies

Credit Cards Accepted VISA, MasterCard Welcomed
Metal Spikes Allowed No
Fivesomes Allowed No
Walking Allowed Yes

Food & Beverage

Snacks

Accolades

  • Golf Advisor: Top 25 Most Improved U.S. Golf Courses (2022 #5)

Reviews

3.8
153 Reviews (153)
Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 1
1.0
Verified Purchaser

Don’t go

Didn’t tee off till 45 minutes after our time. Didn’t get carts. Greens are sand. Bunkers are clay. Nothing nice or special about this course. Would avoid at all costs

Conditions Fair
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Poor
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 32
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 13
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing

Nice Course......!!!

Looking at past reviews, you would think River Oaks was a bad course play..........NOT TRUE!!!! Nice course, pace of play, greens were nice, NO GEESE DROPPINGS on the Greens!!!! Nice PACE, NICE FAIRWAYS, Will definitely be back......OVERALL NICE COURSE!!!!!

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 7
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 43
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 8
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Poor
Value Fair
Layout Fair
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Amenities Fair
Default User Avatar
Commented on 09/01/2023

Course operator here. Thank you for taking the time to post your review. If you’d like to share any details about your experience at River Oaks, we are always looking for ways to improve. Please feel free to contact us directly at info.riveroaks@forestpreservegolf.com.

Played On
Reviews 4
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
1.0
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

goat ranch

i have played at least 45 times this year and this course was by far the worst there was goose poop everywhere. the greens were soft and mushy. hardly any grass in fairways.lots of weeds everywhere.do not waste your money here.bad,bad,bad.all traps were unplayable.bring hand sanitizer. yucky place to play.never again

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Poor
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Difficulty Fairly Easy
Default User Avatar
Commented on 09/01/2023

Course operator here. Thank you for playing River Oaks a bunch this year - and we take your observations to heart. We will continue to find ways to manage the geese's impact on the course, and how we can improve course conditions. We hope to see you again soon.

Played On
Reviews 7
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Sand traps

The course need to keep up with the sand traps. They were all dirt and mud.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 25+
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 43
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 Good
Played On
Reviews 43
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 4
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played

The course was in great shape Jamie & his crew have done a great job in getn course in shape to play. Nicole & Staff are a pleasure.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 43
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 2
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart

Much Imrpoved Conditions

2nd time playing and course overall in much better shape than last time. The bunkers were unplayable, but it had rained the night before.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Old school Character.

I grew up playing this course in the 80/90s. But I just recently started playing it again. After the flood in like 2008 I had heard it had pretty much washed away. They lost a par 5 and replaced it with kind of a sad par 3 but besides that it’s a fun course with a lot of character and charm. Bring a spare ball or two, lots of woods and water but it’s worth a try.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 4
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart

Get What You Pay For

Some interesting tee shots for a shorter course, but you get what you pay for here. $50 with a cart is spot on for this course. The are a lot of massive bunkers and a decent amount of water throughout the course, but the conditions are fair or below average.

Conditions Fair
Value Fair
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 43
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 Good
Played On
Reviews 43
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 Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
1.0
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart

Over Booking With Carts

Ive been to river oaks a few different times and this time was the worst time yet. The course had no carts available which pushed everyone back an hour and a half plus. The starter was doing all he could but started getting a attitude when i started getting frustrated. Overall terrible experience and i would play this course again.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Good
Friendliness Poor
Pace Poor
Amenities Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 2
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Nearby Courses
Burnham, Illinois
Public
3.3088235294
110
Lansing, Illinois
Private
0.0
0
Glenwood, Illinois
Public
3.5247666667
39
Riverdale, Illinois
Public
3.8616941176
238
Homewood, Illinois
Semi-Private
3.8173352941
483
Hammond, Indiana
Public
4.4569176471
443
East Chicago, Indiana
Public/Municipal
4.0
1
Homewood, Illinois
Public
4.4706588235
734
Munster, Indiana
Municipal
4.1800411765
97
Hammond, Indiana
Public
4.4569176471
443
Highland, Indiana
Public
3.8436470588
288
Chicago Heights, Illinois
Municipal
4.1036764706
78
Golf Packages
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.
FROM $147 (USD)
GRAND RAPIDS/KALAMAZOO | Enjoy 3 nights’ accommodations at FireKeepers Casino Hotel and 3 rounds of golf at The Medalist Golf Club, Riverside Golf Club, and Binder Park Golf Course.
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)
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).
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).
Now Reading