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4.1
483 Reviews (483)
5 Stars
153
4 Stars
224
3 Stars
61
2 Stars
19
1 Stars
26
Conditions
4.0
Value
4.1
Layout
4.0
Friendliness
4.5
Pace
3.9
Amenities
3.5
88.8%
Recommend this course
405 out of 483 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.4
23 Reviews (23)
5 Stars
11
4 Stars
10
3 Stars
2
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.3
Value
4.5
Layout
4.3
Pace
4.0
Amenities
3.9
StaffFriendliness
4.8
95.7%
Recommend this course
22 out of 23 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.2
60 Reviews (60)
5 Stars
28
4 Stars
22
3 Stars
6
2 Stars
2
1 Stars
2
Conditions
4.2
Value
4.2
Layout
4.1
Pace
3.9
Amenities
3.6
StaffFriendliness
4.7
91.7%
Recommend this course
55 out of 60 reviews
Read Reviews

About

Holes 18
Type Public
Par 72
Length 6589 yards
Slope 124
Rating 71.3

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.

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Lake Bluff Golf Club
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Course Details

Year Built 1968
Fairways Blue Grass
Greens Bent Grass
Golf Season Open: 4/01 Closed: 12/01
Architect Bob Lohmann

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes - $16
Pull-carts Yes
Clubs Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Bunker Yes
Golf School/Academy Yes
Teaching Pro Yes
Pitching/Chipping Area Yes
Putting Green Yes

Policies

Credit Cards Accepted VISA, MasterCard Welcomed
Metal Spikes Allowed No
Walking Allowed Yes
Dress code Proper attire is required.

Accolades

  • Golf Advisor: Top Courses in Illinois (2015 #21)
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Reviews

4.1
483 Reviews (483)
Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 15
Skill Intermediate
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 Good
Played On
Reviews 449
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Illinois Advisor
Top 10 Contributor
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart

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.

Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Fair
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 38
Handicap Don't know
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Cold weather
Used cart
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 8
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Walked
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 7
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

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.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 44
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Windy weather
Used cart
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Played On
Reviews 6
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

$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.

Conditions Fair
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 116
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Nice golf course and I love it

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 116
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 116
Skill Intermediate
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 Good
Played On
Reviews 14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 5
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Great Day for December, Amenities Absent

I really enjoyed the course, but during the Covid crisis I had hoped that my playing partner and I could use individual carts as we don’t live in the same place. We got a firm no-go even after offering to pay extra.

I have been playing three times a week during the pandemic and this is the first course with no indoor restrooms available, just a not very appetizing port-a-potty..

The greens and fairways were in good shape for this time of year. Many tee box markers were absent and distance markers were hit and miss. Their electric carts don’t have GPS installed.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 15
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Jim

Nice to be able to play in early December in Chicago.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 116
Skill Intermediate
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 Good
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Golf Packages

Destination Kohler - To Dye Four Golf Package

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).

Destination Kohler - Champions' Trail Golf Package

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)
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