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Rating Index Rating
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4.0
262 Reviews (262)
5 Stars
76
4 Stars
89
3 Stars
44
2 Stars
20
1 Stars
33
Conditions
3.7
Value
4.3
Layout
4.3
Friendliness
4.6
Pace
4.4
Amenities
3.5
90.5%
Recommend this course
201 out of 262 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.2
15 Reviews (15)
5 Stars
6
4 Stars
7
3 Stars
1
2 Stars
1
1 Stars
0
Conditions
3.9
Value
4.7
Layout
4.5
Pace
4.5
Amenities
3.6
StaffFriendliness
4.7
93.3%
Recommend this course
14 out of 15 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.1
34 Reviews (34)
5 Stars
12
4 Stars
15
3 Stars
5
2 Stars
2
1 Stars
0
Conditions
3.8
Value
4.5
Layout
4.4
Pace
4.4
Amenities
3.6
StaffFriendliness
4.7
94.1%
Recommend this course
32 out of 34 reviews
Read Reviews
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AI summaries based on real golfer reviews
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Course Highlights
Friendly staff and a well-maintained layout make this Cook County course a strong value for golfers seeking a challenging and enjoyable round. Recent improvements to course conditions have impressed returning players, with fairways and greens consistently drawing praise.

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
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Course Details

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

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes
Pull-carts Yes
Clubs 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)
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Reviews

4.0
262 Reviews (262)
Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 8
1.0
Previously Played

Bad experience

We played at 12:30. On our round was a guy with his kid, so we ended playing 5 and no one controlled it.

When we end the front nine they told us that the back 9 were closed due to the darkness and asked us to play the front 9 again. We left the course and probably won’t return again.

Conditions Fair
Value Fair
Layout Average
Friendliness Fair
Pace Poor
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 8
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing
Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 85
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Fair
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 2
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 80
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great course to play for the average player. For February course is in great shape for this time of year.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 80
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 18
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played

Should be amazing but it’s really good.

I learned how to play at this course. This is one of the more challenging courses around because there is so many water hazards and it’s very narrow. This course shaped my game to be an accurate hitter instead of the longest hitter. The course is beautiful with all the water especially on the middle of the course it’s very picturesque. The greens are sloped but are a good size. The course isn’t very long so if you can remain penalty free you can post a good score here. The sand traps are deplorable though and it kind of makes me sick tbh for what is kind of my home course. When I travel to other forest preserve or TROON management courses it’s not like that.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 96
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser

Great Team

Lester, Nicole, Mac, great people, very customer oriented.

Only issue here is heavy rains will soak the course.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
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 44
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 15
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 12
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 80
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 12
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 9
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 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
First Time Playing

Cheap but good

Course is well maintained and not too bad. Greens are decent, bunkers sand is very hard and firm with no rakes around them. Overall not a bad course and not as tough to play either. Would highly recommend for mid to higher handicap golfers.

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 4
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
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