Lake Bluff Golf Club
Rating Snapshot
About
Situated on Chicago's scenic North Shore, Lake Bluff Golf Club has become a "must-play" destination in the area. First opened in 1968, the course has a classic layout with front and back nines that are very different. The front nine provides a gentle start. The terrain is mostly flat and the holes are straightforward. As you move onto Lake Bluff's back nine there is more up and down and consequently the challenges are greater. Don't get too comfortable on the first half of the golf course because you'll need your wits about you for the second. Trees line the narrow fairways and the tricky greens all slope in one direction or another. Accuracy is essential. Water doesn't come into play but the doglegs and strategically placed bunkers provide plenty of challenges.
| Tee | Par | Length | Rating | Slope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 72 | 6589 yards | 71.3 | 124 |
| White (W) | 72 | 6195 yards | 75.4 | 126 |
| White | 72 | 6195 yards | 69.5 | 120 |
| Gold (W) | 72 | 5656 yards | 72.4 | 120 |
| Gold | 72 | 5656 yards | 67.0 | 114 |
| Red/Gold (W) | 72 | 5162 yards | 69.6 | 114 |
| Red (W) | 72 | 4969 yards | 68.5 | 112 |
| Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black M: 71.3/124 | 393 | 522 | 330 | 183 | 538 | 200 | 338 | 360 | 419 | 3283 | 420 | 364 | 419 | 194 | 367 | 494 | 147 | 530 | 321 | 3256 | 6539 |
| White M: 69.5/120 W: 75.4/126 | 380 | 472 | 315 | 158 | 506 | 190 | 327 | 344 | 402 | 3094 | 410 | 357 | 391 | 182 | 342 | 482 | 137 | 521 | 279 | 3101 | 6195 |
| Gold M: 67.0/114 W: 72.4/120 | 299 | 469 | 285 | 149 | 406 | 168 | 312 | 331 | 399 | 2818 | 366 | 326 | 377 | 165 | 339 | 429 | 124 | 444 | 268 | 2838 | 5656 |
| Red/Gold W: 69.6/114 | 296 | 400 | 276 | 140 | 404 | 168 | 312 | 331 | 340 | 2667 | 315 | 290 | 312 | 125 | 253 | 421 | 111 | 400 | 268 | 2495 | 5162 |
| Red W: 68.5/112 | 296 | 400 | 276 | 140 | 404 | 140 | 248 | 274 | 340 | 2518 | 315 | 290 | 312 | 125 | 253 | 421 | 111 | 400 | 224 | 2451 | 4969 |
| Handicap | 7 | 1 | 11 | 17 | 3 | 15 | 9 | 13 | 5 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 16 | 14 | 2 | 18 | 10 | 12 | |||
| Par | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 36 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 36 | 72 |
| Handicap (W) | 13 | 1 | 5 | 17 | 7 | 15 | 3 | 11 | 9 | 14 | 12 | 2 | 18 | 8 | 4 | 16 | 6 | 10 |
Course Details
Rentals/Services
Practice/Instruction
Policies
Accolades
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Golf Advisor: Top Courses in Illinois (2015 #21)
Reviews
Reviewer Photos
Lake Bluff
They just have to put a little bit more money into it.
No ball washers, rakes, drinking water. Noodles in cups need to go. To scared of COVID
Skip’s Play
Bought 4 for 18 holes, but only two showed and we played just 9. Asked LB if they’d comp us for a second 2 player round of 9. Will GolfNow? I was a major contributor two years ago to keep course open, a senior, and ex-military. Course in great shape -/ would like to return.
Nice conditions fairly flat cookie cutter 60's course
See my review of 7/6/20 below. 3rd year playing this track with our Golfvisions players passbook. Pretty straightforward but way too tight and tree lined in places. Some of the greens are absolutely huge....course defense are the greens which were in nice shape but there are a few where if you get above the hole you have virtually no chance to keep it close. The back right flags on the 6th & 12th were especially heinous. Group in front of us sprayed a slice at us from 7th tee and hit me on the 6th.......first time
I've ever been hit - unscathed for 50 years. Course knowledge helps a lot at this place to route tee shots into some extremely tight fairways.....and know how the ball will react on approach shots and where a good miss is. No beverage cart and so everything has to be purchased prior or at turn.... clubhouse very rudimentary.....bathroom was a mess.....you'd expect more being in Lake Bluff. Has driving range to warm up. Mat and grass - grass tee is incredibly uneven & divot laced....close half of it and repair please! Course greens fee is very overpriced for the overall experience. $57 during the week and even more on weekends......recommend but it's really easy just pass by Lake Bluff.....much better courses in that area to play.....for less money! A $40 course at best....get a hot deal if you can. Enjoyable but just not all that memorable. Once a year is enough for me. 3.25 stars.
Woodland Maze
Played on what ended up being one of the coldest days of April to our surprise, considering it was the 25th. This course was in very good condition for this early in the season. Looked like they were cleaning out some large trees that were past their prime. Hard to image the course with more trees, as there were quite a few as it were and some tight fairways in between many lines of trees. Greens were rolling well and bunkers were groomed near perfection. We got a steal of a deal to play this course, so for the basically 50% discount it was an absolute value for the money and I wouldn’t mind at all paying the normal weekend rates to play again. There were just a few negatives that I would like to point out just to be completely transparent for anyone reading this that may be between two courses trying to make a decision. The carts are. Little dated and ours specifically, had some trouble starting back up half the time. In addition, their clubhouse was dated along with the restrooms(men’s) were not great and lacked cleanliness. It was very windy on the course and I would assume that is somewhat a factor everyday, considering the location near Lake Michigan. Wind was a large factor the entire day.
Overall and very nice course and a unique design. Very little water and out of bounds areas, so very friendly to all skill levels. I will be back to see how great the course looks and plays mid season.
$68 really?
First time playing here, there was no markers for the tee boxes, no starter everyone for them selfs, no drink cart person, the course looks like it has not been maintained, paying full price for a course that’s not ready to be open it’s not right. It should have been half price. Guys get your stuff together.
Beautiful course
Went on a Wednesday and they started us off on the back nine. It was busy for a weekday and our round took about 4.5 hours. We waited a bit on each hole. Stay on the fairway as the rough is long.
