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Rating Index Rating
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3.9
458 Reviews (458)
5 Stars
118
4 Stars
184
3 Stars
65
2 Stars
38
1 Stars
53
Conditions
3.4
Value
4.2
Layout
4.3
Friendliness
4.5
Pace
4.4
Amenities
3.4
83.3%
Recommend this course
338 out of 458 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.1
21 Reviews (21)
5 Stars
5
4 Stars
14
3 Stars
1
2 Stars
1
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.0
Value
4.5
Layout
4.1
Pace
4.0
Amenities
3.9
StaffFriendliness
4.8
90.5%
Recommend this course
19 out of 21 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.3
70 Reviews (70)
5 Stars
33
4 Stars
30
3 Stars
4
2 Stars
3
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.0
Value
4.6
Layout
4.5
Pace
4.3
Amenities
4.2
StaffFriendliness
4.9
94.3%
Recommend this course
66 out of 70 reviews
Read Reviews

About

Holes 18
Type Semi-Private
Par 72
Length 6724 yards
Slope 126
Rating 71.7

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.

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University Park Golf Club (IL)
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Course Details

Year Built 1967
Golf Season Year round
Architect Larry Packard Greg Martin (2004)

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes
Pull-carts Yes
Clubs Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Teaching Pro Yes
Pitching/Chipping Area Yes
Indoor Practice Yes
Putting Green Yes

Policies

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

Available Facilities

Clubhouse, Meeting Facilities, Conference Facilities, Banquet Facilities, Locker Rooms

Accolades

  • Golf Advisor: Top 25 Most Improved U.S. Golf Courses (2022 #3)
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Reviews

3.9
458 Reviews (458)
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Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 5
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Course condition

Terrible. I live in area and have always played here. The worse I have ever seen. Blame village mayor and trustees period. Will not go back..

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 2
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Corse is in horrible condition. Not worth the money. No tee boxes or greens should be that cut up and uneven. Also if you like looking for your ball in the fairway this course is for you. Place needs some major TLC

Conditions Poor
Value Fair
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Poor
Value Fair
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

The greens were torn up & did not look good, which made putting a little challenging. I was here a few years ago & it was much better.

Conditions Fair
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
1.0

Spare yourself

This place is severely under maintained seems like they don’t care about this place anymore.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Poor
Pace Excellent
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 8
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
4.0
Previously Played

Bring plenty of balls, lol

While I LOVE playing at the University Park course, even though it usually ‘eats my lunch’ as the saying goes, today the grass was not managed well, and even balls hit reasonably within playing areas required search and rescue operations, and still often were lost causes, so unless you were a scratch golfer capable of keeping practically EVERY shot perfectly within the recommended areas, fairways, and on greens, you spent half your day searching like an idiot, but usually giving up over fears of slowing down enough to make it inconvenient for those behind you…., and also a few greens needed maintenance as well BADLY, but still a bad day on this awesome course is better than most anywhere else, sad really cause it could have been a truly spectacular day as the weather was so accommodating!!!!

Conditions Fair
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 6
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Previously Played

The course is in terrible shape! The greed are also terrible! Their too long with weeds growing on them and a lot of burnt out areas! The fairways are like always playing in the rough! The rough is so long you are constantly trying to find your ball!

This used to be a nice course that I played all the time! I will not go back here!

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 43
Handicap 15-19
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Disaster

New management, and the maintanance staff left. Unmowed fairways, unmowed or burned greens. I don't think the course can saved without a major fixup. They better shut down and work on it before winter.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Fair
Pace Good
Amenities Poor
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
1.0
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Horrible

I have nothing else to add. Just look at the other reviews. The course is garbage. I only paid $27, and it was still a waste of money.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Fair
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Poor
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Excellent
Pace Good
Played On
Reviews 6
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Dead greens

Dead greens, not mowed for weeks. Hit balls in the middle of the fairway and lost them.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Fair
Pace Excellent
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Course conditions

This is the worst course I’ve ever played. The conditions were horrible. The roughs were awful, the fairways were burnt grass and the grass hasn’t been cuts in days. The greens you can’t even consider them greens because the grass was so high. I requested a refund because $45 for this course is insulting. I wouldn’t play here for free.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Poor
Friendliness Poor
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 8
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

LONG great day in the tall grass

While I ALWAYS Love playing University Park, it was challenging today more than most days since anything not hit directly on neatly mowed fairways was often possibly a lost ball, even ones hit in the middle of the course or after a valiant search, lol. It did grow tiresome after a while but understand the need to keep grass longer so sun doesn’t kill it! Also have never seen the greens in such poor shape, but neither prevented us from having an Awesome time out on a wonderful day at a very nicely laid out course, ran by very nice people!!!!

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 11
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Not worth playing

It took twice as long to play because the grass was so long you couldn’t find your ball even on the fairways in some spots. The fairways were in terrible shape, There were dried out bare spots all over The greens were the same. The first cut ruff areas were 6 inches long in some areas. No sand in the sand traps. It was clear that some rehabilitation work was going to start soon. But there is no reason not to cut or water the grass especially since they are charging regular prices to play a round of golf.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 1
1.0
Verified Purchaser

I would suggest to every golfer to never play this course. Every hole was in terrible condition and the staff is useless.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Poor
Friendliness Poor
Pace Average
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 2
1.0
Previously Played

Garbage

This place fell off of the quality cliff quickly. Was a great course a year ago. Now, it is absolute garbage. We played 6 holes and left. Lost countless balls, many in the fairway. Rough is over 6 inches long. Fairway and first cuts are over inches. Green is extremely slow. Tee box is even overgrown

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 20
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

how the good course has gone to pot

this used to b the premier course on the southside. all the fair ways were chopped up and not mowed.the rough is out of control the tee boxes had a inch and a half of groth.AND THE GREENS HAD NO GRASS ONLY DIRT AND WEEDS. it a shame wish i could get a refund. i will never play this course again

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Good
Friendliness Poor
Pace Good
Amenities Poor
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Course conditions

I played this course years ago and it was semi conditioned. This time playing it was by far worse. Course is not watered, groomed, or cared for in general. Pro Shop mentioned a disclaimer of broken machinery and storms while paying for the round but the course was visually not cared for. I will not return to this facility.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart

They've Given Up

I've played at University Park 10+ times over the last couple of years. This year is different. I've heard they're closing for good at the end of the season which has led them to clearly give up on all aspects of course maintenance. There is no difference between the fairway and the rough as they've essentially stopped mowing. All of the fairways are brown and dead as it doesn't seem like they've watered and the greens are overgrown. They're clearly trying to squeeze out any money they possibly can, but charging $45 for THAT should be considered robbery. Sad day as this permanently off the course rotation now.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Poor
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Amenities Poor
Difficulty Fairly Easy
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once every three months
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart
Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Moderate
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Golf Packages

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)

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).
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