University Park Golf Club
About
University Park Golf Club (formerly known as University Golf Club & Conference Center) boasts one of the most popular championship courses in the Chicagoland area. The golf course has been a local favorite since it first opened in 1962. The original design by Lawrence Packard received an update in 2004 by Greg Martin, but the classic character of the layout still remains. The course wanders across gentle rolling terrain, providing elevated tees and undulating fairways. Water hazards come into play on half the holes, including on the 17th, University Park Golf Club's signature hole. This intimidating par 3 requires a tough carry over water to an elevated green. Miss it and you'll be faced with the nearly impossible task of getting up and down. The difficulty doesn't let up with the final hole, an uphill dogleg par 4 with a sloped, elevated green and water on the right.
| Tee | Par | Length | Rating | Slope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 72 | 6724 yards | 71.7 | 126 |
| Gold (W) | 72 | 6354 yards | 75.8 | 131 |
| Gold | 72 | 6354 yards | 70.0 | 122 |
| Silver | 72 | 6003 yards | 68.5 | 118 |
| Silver (W) | 72 | 6003 yards | 73.8 | 127 |
| Bronze | 72 | 5208 yards | 64.9 | 109 |
| Bronze (W) | 72 | 5208 yards | 69.4 | 117 |
| Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black M: 71.7/126 | 328 | 536 | 428 | 180 | 362 | 446 | 197 | 565 | 390 | 3432 | 329 | 200 | 328 | 488 | 423 | 354 | 623 | 158 | 389 | 3292 | 6724 |
| Gold M: 70.0/122 W: 75.8/131 | 319 | 526 | 408 | 144 | 334 | 429 | 176 | 485 | 373 | 3194 | 321 | 192 | 318 | 463 | 418 | 345 | 600 | 142 | 361 | 3160 | 6354 |
| Silver M: 68.5/118 W: 73.8/127 | 308 | 506 | 396 | 124 | 320 | 401 | 146 | 462 | 356 | 3019 | 307 | 184 | 306 | 449 | 408 | 337 | 532 | 124 | 337 | 2984 | 6003 |
| Bronze M: 64.9/109 W: 69.4/117 | 294 | 417 | 261 | 119 | 311 | 291 | 131 | 411 | 251 | 2486 | 295 | 178 | 296 | 421 | 340 | 328 | 488 | 110 | 266 | 2722 | 5208 |
| Handicap | 15 | 11 | 1 | 17 | 9 | 3 | 13 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 18 | 4 | 12 | 2 | 16 | 14 | |||
| Par | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 36 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 36 | 72 |
Course Details
Rentals/Services
Practice/Instruction
Policies
Available Facilities
Clubhouse, Meeting Facilities, Conference Facilities, Banquet Facilities, Locker RoomsAccolades
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Golf Advisor: Top 25 Most Improved U.S. Golf Courses (2022 #3)
Reviews
Reviewer Photos
Grass
Nice course poor upkeep the fairway grass was almost the same length as the rough couldn't find ball on fairway because grass to long.
Maintenance is poor
Great golf course with very poor mgmt. The greens were decent but the fairways and rough were a disaster. Lost ball in fairways atrocious.
STAY AWAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If you decide to play here, bring lots of cheap colored balls ,long tees and a hammer. The rough and fairways are very bad, you will have difficulty finding your ball in the fairway and if you go in the rough plan on spending at least 10 minutes looking for your ball before you give up and just take a drop. Tee boxes are overgrown and you need long tees just to get it about even with your driver, forget about getting under your ball. On the par three's even using a tee feels like you are hitting from the rough. Bring your hammer on the greens, they are so slow and in poor conditions you have to take a full swing to get it to the cup. My advice when you finally make it on the greens, pick up and just score a 2 putt
Skip it
Conditions are horrible. Spend your money elsewhere until new ownership gets it together.
Worst track ever!
I got taken again! I played 6 holes here early last year, who ever is cutting the grass should be fired, you can’t find your ball in the fairway! So, I gave it another shot, bad move! Same story, the grass is cut but it’s still over an inch in the fairways,par 3s you have grass taller then you ball! I’m never going back,played 5 holes! The course used to be 1 of my favorites to play before Covid hit,I would play her 1-2 times a week! Never again!!!
Fore Inches (4'" long grass in the rough)
Long patches of grass in the fairways ,dandelions every where, very spotty. and if you don't hit the fairways good luck finding your ball in the rough. This new management team I think got the contract from the Village of University Park was the cheapest!
Horrible course
This used to be my go to course because it is close to home, but things have drastically changed. Last year they claimed that the equipment broke an they couldn’t properly maintain it. I decided to give them a try this year and to my surprise things haven’t changed. I would love to support a course in the area but they have to maintain it first. I won’t be going back until I see some positive reviews from other users.
Nice layout
Greens were not well maintained,, had weeds growing on most of the holes. Dirt from worms on the greens as well. Made it difficult putt .Tee boxes needed to be mowed.
Ehh
University park has gone downhill over the years. Course was not in good condition. I understand the rain will make the course wet, but if you have signs that the course is open, I assume that they have at least gone onto the greens to clean them up. There were so many dirt mounds and goose poop on the greens that they were un puttable
Did Nor Finish Back Nine
The course was not ready for play.and I was not told that it was cart path only.Sand traps are under repair. Balls plugged in the fairway and lost in the uncut rough. DNF back 9 and unable to receive a credit.that requires GolfNow approval. The course plays well under normal conditions.
What can be done for two to finish playing the back 9 under normal conditions. Thanks!
Things can be better everywhere
Everything you read in last years comments still applies except the maintenance crew was out working on the course. The big problem iare the greens, tough to putt with obstacles on every hole ( ant hills, patches of missing grass). I still had fun, and considering going again today!
Itching to Play
Been a while since I've played here. Granted for the time of the year, I didn't expect much, but it could've been a little bit better. I'm not one to give bad reviews, but if your going to be open, don't start blowing the leaves off the fairway at 1:00pm when sunset is 4:30pm. At least start it around 8:00am or 9:00am if you know you're going to be open. The greens were long. I expected that. what I didn't expect how burnt they were. Three greens looked good and the rest needed help. They said there equipment broke and hopefully they'll get it fixed or get new ones by next season. I hope so,
Worst course I ever played.
The greens were full of anthills, and the grass is always very long. Course is laughable. I have a hilarious photo but it won't let me upload it. What should be any easy 4 foot putt, was deemed impossible because there were 4 anthills in between my ball and the cup! Laughable. Every green was like that. Absolutely covered in anthill.