Ruffled Feathers Golf Club

I was visiting Chicago and had the opportunity to play Ruffled Feathers Golf Club. I drove about 50 minutes out to Lemont specifically to experience the course.

At check-in, the cashier/starter informed me that some of the bunkers were very hard due to recent rain. He suggested I might want to pull the ball out and play from the grass, and mentioned the crew was out raking them and doing their best to get them back into playable condition.

A few holes into the round, I was shocked to discover there was essentially no sand in any of the bunkers. They weren’t just wet or firm — they were hard-packed dirt. Obviously the course was dealing with renovation or major washout issues, but that was never disclosed prior to play.

To be fair, the rest of the course was in pretty good shape and the staff was friendly. But paying full price and then finding the bunkers completely unplayable was very disappointing. If a major feature of the course is under repair or effectively out of service, golfers should be informed clearly before teeing off.

I left feeling like I didn’t get the experience I paid for.

Played here in 5/3/2026. All the reviews you read are correct on the terrible or abysmal bunker conditions. Can’t believe I dropped 98.00 to play on a course this bad that obviously doesn’t care about golf or their members. This is an embarrassment to call this a due course and have it in such terrible shape. The bunkers are literally mud or clay. Haven’t seen an ounce of sand or grooming in years. There are so much better courses in the area for around the same price. My local municipality course Bonnie Dundee has better conditions. For 40 dollars. The course layout could be very nice but completely spoiled by lack of maintenance.

Reviewing as 13 Index.

The bunkers are in abysmal condition. Mud, clay, and standing water, they are totally unplayable.

If that doesn’t matter to you, the greens are hard and fast, it is a Pete Dye, so the layout is fun, but the course needs love.

In my opinion, worth it to play for Spring or Fall rates, but anything $90+ is a waste of your money for the course conditions.

I’ll start by saying I agree with recent poor reviews about the status of their bunkers. Which is frustrating because the amount of bunkers throughout the course. Majority of them need a complete overhaul.

The rest of the course is in good shape especially for the time of the year and the amount of recent rain the area has received. I really enjoy the layout of the course and you get to hit a variety of shots. Greens are playing well and overall I have enjoyed both the rounds I have played there this year. Pace of play has been on point both times.

They have a hybrid tee system if you aren’t a big hitter but also too skilled to play the yellow tees throughout. The staff is great. The club house is updated and clean. Bathrooms are always pristine. No GPS in the carts but they are newer and well maintained. The practice areas are a nice touch to the facility with complementary range balls and a short game practice area.

I really hope they get the bunker situation figured out. Hard to recommend the course to others for the price point until they are cleaned up. I will be back this year in hopes they have them figured out.

Honestly I was pretty confused. We were told that the course was cart path only, however all the small tiny ponds/trenches near the greens were all dried up, so not sure why it would be cart path only when all the mud pits around the greens didn’t even have enough water to be a hazard. Or maybe my assessment of those hazards was wrong and they were intended to be sand traps- who the heck knows- they all were mud pits with tire marks and massive clumps/stones throughout. Greens were honestly the bright spot, given they were firm and had grass. However they were pretty bumpy and now at near true. I would say compared to other courses near by this should be 30$ round not 95$. But for the price they charge I would rather put a shotgun to my head then play it again. Rip Ruffeled feathers your on the never play again list.

Played RF 20 years ago, it was amazing, played it 5 years ago it was in terrible shape. Played it Wednesday and it was even worse. I had heard that they had put in a bunch of money, if they did you can’t tell. Bunkers are completely unplayable, greens are in rough shape, even for April in Chicago. Staff was mid. Free range balls we’re nice, but too many other places to play for that kind of money.

I got a great rate because it was before the season opened. The greens were slow but that was to be expected. The fairways were in really nice condition. The bunkers unplayable because of rain 2 days earlier. I will definitely come back and give this track another play.

An interesting Pete Dye design, with a few silly holes but a few beautiful ones too. But the course is in just ok shape and the bunkers are TERRIBLE. Most have 6" of water in them and the dryish ones are concrete. With Cog and Old Oak nearby, can't understand who would choose this course in the neighborhood.

Caught this on a Hot Deal on a Sunday afternoon in October. Rate of play was a bit slow but I believe it was really busy that day. Tee boxes, fairways were well maintained. Most difficult course I’ve played from a Slope perspective but still a great course to play for all handicaps

Although the course had many water hazards, it was well-maintained and had a luxurious atmosphere.