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Rating Index Rating
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4.1
416 Reviews (416)
5 Stars
166
4 Stars
168
3 Stars
44
2 Stars
22
1 Stars
16
Conditions
3.8
Value
4.2
Layout
4.2
Friendliness
4.6
Pace
4.1
Amenities
3.7
88.6%
Recommend this course
367 out of 416 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.3
19 Reviews (19)
5 Stars
10
4 Stars
5
3 Stars
3
2 Stars
1
1 Stars
0
Conditions
3.8
Value
4.3
Layout
4.3
Pace
4.2
Amenities
4.0
StaffFriendliness
4.7
89.5%
Recommend this course
17 out of 19 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.2
37 Reviews (37)
5 Stars
17
4 Stars
14
3 Stars
4
2 Stars
2
1 Stars
0
Conditions
3.9
Value
4.4
Layout
4.3
Pace
4.1
Amenities
3.9
StaffFriendliness
4.7
91.9%
Recommend this course
34 out of 37 reviews
Read Reviews
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AI summaries based on real golfer reviews
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Course Highlights
Exceptionally friendly staff and outstanding value make this nine-hole walking course a top suburban pick. Lush fairways and a unique layout consistently reward golfers seeking a well-conditioned, uncrowded round.

About

Holes 9
Type Public
Style Links
Par 35
Length 3033 yards
Slope 118
Rating 34.2
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Willow Hill Golf Course
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Course Details

Year Built 1995
Golf Season Open: 3/01 Closed: 12/15
Architect Dick Nugent (1995) Tim Nugent (1995)

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes
Pull-carts Yes
Clubs No

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Golf School/Academy Yes - "Willow Hill Golf Academy"
Teaching Pro Yes
Pitching/Chipping Area Yes
Putting Green Yes

Policies

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

Accolades

  • Golf Advisor: Top 25 Most Improved U.S. Golf Courses (2020 #5)
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Reviews

4.1
416 Reviews (416)
Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Played On
Reviews 2
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 21
Handicap 0-4
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Previously Played

Hope for improvement!

This course could use some love from the maintenance staff. It apparently doesn't drain well. There's dandelions in the fairways. It's rough is too long. The greens are infested with poa & too long; making putting difficult. Fairways could use mowing. It's tough to hold greens due to the fact that you're hitting fliers out of the fairways. Also sandtraps need some attention. I may never get back there despite the fact that I kinda like playing the dump.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 83
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
1.0
Top 1000 Contributor
Previously Played

Course extremely bad condition

I loved this course but they haven’t done any maintenance Probably since last year. Dandelions on the tee box’ and fairways. Had to hit my ball between dandelions on the fairway. You Would think that they would have done some maintenance during the two months the course was closed. Extremely disappointed. .

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 2
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Walked

Poorly conditioned greens

Fun, challenging course with scenic views of northern suburbs and even downtown Chicago. Greens need a lot of work.

Conditions Fair
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Standing Sunday round

You get what you pay for. A quick 9 hole close to the house. The fairways are in poor shape but greens were acceptable. It works when you just want to play a quick round of golf. Just wish it was taken care of more

Conditions Poor
Value Good
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
1.0
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Zero Course Maintenance.

The course looks like it was not mowed in weeks. There are dandelions on the tee box fairways and greens. The rough is easily 10''. And fairways probably about 5". I've came here before but clearly they don't care anymore. Do not play here.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Difficulty Fairly Easy
Played On
Reviews 137
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
1.0
Top 250 Contributor
Previously Played

Needs work

Hardest course there is to find the ball rough needs to be seriously cut extremely high a lot of weeds management does not care at all about the course lady at the desk was very friendly

Conditions Poor
Value Fair
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 3
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Fair
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

What happened to this place?

My first time back in about 4 years. Always loved playing this course because of it’s layout and links course feel.

When I arrived 45 minutes early, I immediately went to purchase range balls. I was informed that they were out of balls and the range was closed. Spent about a half hour chipping and putting on mediocre practice greens. When I finally teed off I was amazed at how many weeds were on the course. The fairways and greens were always in pristine shape, but at some point over the last few years they stopped caring apparently. Even the clubhouse looked run down. Was very disappointed I chose to play this course. Could have gone somewhere much nicer for a few bucks more. Will not be returning.

Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 8
Skill Beginner
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Average
Value Fair
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Good course, mediocre maintenance

This is a links style course with zero trees on the layout. It is fun to play with a fair amount of up and down and a very interesting and not hugely challenging design. No water hazards unless you include several of the "sand" traps which tend to fill up with water after even a moderately heavy.rain. But the price is quite humane - around $26 with driving cart for 9 holes and the course is rarely crowded. There is a well designed practice area and a couple of large practice putting greens (which are in better shape than the greens on the course itself). Maintenance could be better but it is a quite enjoyable experience to play this course.

Conditions Fair
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 7
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
1.0
Previously Played

Time hasn't been kind to Willow Hill

I played this course for the first time in ten years. I was stunned to see the state of disrepair that this place is in. I stopped trying to play here years ago because it was so popular with youth players and office leagues. It was a ghost town when we played. The greens are abysmal and the bunkers were positively unplayable (mud or water filled pits 60 hours after the most recent rain). Two of the nine flags would not stay screwed at the top of the stick.....it was comical. I can only assume that it's closing or going up for sale soon. It's tragic because the views from the hill are unrivaled and the design of the course is rock solid. It's like Missoin Hills west.....

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Walked

hidden gem

Played a quick nine in the fall. Not a long course, but you have to be able to make "shots", with wind and some slopes.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Difficulty Moderate
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