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Rating Index Rating
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3.8
470 Reviews (470)
5 Stars
125
4 Stars
188
3 Stars
65
2 Stars
39
1 Stars
53
Conditions
3.6
Value
4.3
Layout
4.3
Friendliness
4.5
Pace
4.2
Amenities
4.0
92.9%
Recommend this course
349 out of 470 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.5
13 Reviews (13)
5 Stars
8
4 Stars
4
3 Stars
0
2 Stars
1
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.4
Value
4.6
Layout
4.6
Pace
4.5
Amenities
4.3
StaffFriendliness
4.8
84.6%
Recommend this course
11 out of 13 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.3
82 Reviews (82)
5 Stars
40
4 Stars
34
3 Stars
4
2 Stars
4
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.1
Value
4.6
Layout
4.5
Pace
4.3
Amenities
4.2
StaffFriendliness
4.9
93.9%
Recommend this course
77 out of 82 reviews
Read Reviews
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AI summaries based on real golfer reviews
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Course Highlights
Exceptionally friendly staff and a fun, challenging layout make University Park Golf Course a standout value for golfers of all skill levels. Recent management improvements have restored the course to great shape, with well-maintained conditions that keep players coming back.

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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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

3.8
470 Reviews (470)

What Golfers Are Saying

The 19th Hole is Great For:
Drinks 14
Patio Dining 12
Brunch 11
Course Challenges Include:
Bunkers 11
Water Hazards 10
Plays Long 6
This course/club is great for:
Locals 18
Seniors 13
Beginners 11
This Course's Location is:
In the 'Burbs 16
Worth the Drive 11
Convenient to the City 8

Numbers based on reviews tagged with attribute.

Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
2.0
First Time Playing

Needs maintenance

Could be a great course but there is no difference between the fairway and the deep rough. (Grass way too long) even in the tee box

Conditions Poor
Value Fair
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 13
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
1.0
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Poor
Pace Poor
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Worst condition

Layout is awesome but there was no maintenance at all

Green was like fairway and fairway was like ruff areas,

Dont waste your money, until they have some maintenance done on course

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Poor
Pace Poor
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 1
2.0
Previously Played
Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
1.0
Previously Played
Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 4
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
2.0
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart

Course Not Perfect (still in repair) but still playable.

This course is still being groomed into better shape. I played it yesterday. The greens are cut, they play a little slower than Deer Creek. The fairways are cut but the grass is in poor condition.

THIS IS NOT A COURSE in Tournament Condition. But if you are a Beginner or want to just get out on a course that isn't crowded. It's fine.

The new management team is trying to get the course back and now has new equipment.

YOU can definitely get on.

Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Difficulty Fairly Easy
Played On
Reviews 30
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Previously Played

Need a lawn mower

One staff person said fairways were a bit long. Problem was, you cant tell the difference between fairway or rough. Person stated they were still recovering from rains. Heavy rains were at least 3 weeks ago. They must have had their mowers stolen. Because no one is tending to the course. Greens were in good shape, but really slow. Hope this isnt the norm for this course now because its a really good layout and fun to play. Have played it at least five times last year and was never like this.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
1.0
Previously Played

Don’t go

Tried giving them another chance, but again they were closed. This is the second time this has happened to me. I tried supporting my local course, after my last round, what a joke. The fairways, not rough was cut. You can lose a ball on just about every hole. The last in the office told me that they hadn’t cut the grass because their lawnmower was broken. I thought she was joking, did I find out how serious she was. It is unfortunate how bad this course has gotten

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Poor
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
1.0
Previously Played

don't go!!!

this course shouldn't be open in its current condition. I felt like someone stole my wallet on the way to the course every time I book is literally stealing money I went there on Father's Day weekend and could not have been any more disappointed. The bar is not open no golf equipment to buy in the clubhouse T's golf balls Etc they still had strict covid restrictions even though Illinois is fully opened up the fairways are as long as rough the rough it's 5 in + long in places you can lose a golf ball on almost every hole the greens were tore up.... don't go here

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Poor
Friendliness Poor
Pace Poor
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 14
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

A Course that's a shadow of its past

I learned to play golf on this course 30 years ago. It breaks my heart to see it in the condition it's currently in. The grass in the fairway is as long as the rough and the rough is more than ankle-deep. The bunkers have grass growing in them and are 50% submerged due to The recent rain. It is my hope the course will experience a comeback as it is now under new management.

Conditions Poor
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 1
1.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Poor
Value Fair
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Fair
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 138
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 1000 Contributor
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Needs TLC

I love this course and was sad to see that it was in poor shape today when we played it. The people who run the course indicated that they were having an equipment issue, and realized they have a problem, and appear to be taking steps to rectify it. I give the young man I spoke to credit for acknowledging the problems (uncut grass and general neglect), and I will definitely give the course another chance later in the year. I really want this course to be what it once was!

Conditions Poor
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Poor
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
3.0
Previously Played

Unplayable rough

Grass was extremely long. Seems like it has not been cut all year. Every hole you did not hit the fairway on you had to spend 10 minutes + trying to locate your ball in the grass. Played here many of times and the conditions are gradually getting worse. Not someone to complain but man was it rough

Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
2.0
First Time Playing

There’s potential, but very neglected.

I want to start off by saying that the staff was very friendly & welcoming, even went as far as to offer us free water bottles. The course design & layout is great with loads of potential. Unfortunately, the conditions were extraordinarily poor. The greens, fairways, & rough were not cut... they look like they haven’t been cut in sometime. The bunkers were half weeds, half sand. Many of the greens had loads of bird poop, ant hills & long grass...every inch the ball would bounce. The rough is as high 6-7 inches in some areas which can make your ball impossible to find (which also affects pace of play) & very difficult to get out. Long uncut grass makes for snail slow greens & fairways. With all that said, I still managed to have my best round of an 87. If this course put the proper TLC that it deserves then it would definitely be worth the price I paid & would definitely come back, but until then, I’ll have to pass. If you plan to golf here, call ahead & check if there roughs, greens & fairways have been cut!

Conditions Poor
Value Fair
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
2.0
Verified Purchaser

Not recommended

Very disappointed with this course. From top to bottom, this course was in terrible condition. Fairways were not cut clean. Outside of fairways were also uncut. Sand traps had over growth of weeds. Greens either had patches of dead grass or actual weeds which made every putt bounce.

Conditions Poor
Value Fair
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 56
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Course needs much attention

Although a decent layout with ample tee box choices, the course has obviously been neglected over the past year since last here. Fairway grass is long. Fairways have clover, fescue and other invasive weeds infestation. Sand traps are overrun with weeds and otherwise very “un”-sandy. Greens have weed growth, are long, and do not roll true. The rough grass is impossibly long and balls just a few feet off the fairway are buried. Finding rough balls takes forever and contributed to a much longer than necessary time of play. It’s too bad, but U.P. Is off our play list for the remainder of this year. Not worth the reasonable $24 hot deal rate.

Conditions Fair
Value Fair
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Played On
Reviews 8
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart

Hit straight

Course is in excellent condition. Greens a little too firm. Rough is challenging. New owners doing a great job with maintaining this golf course. This place deserves more play!!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 11
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played

Love this course

Absolute great course. The play is a little slow on Monday mornings because of league play...

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
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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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