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Rating Index Rating
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4.1
489 Reviews (489)
5 Stars
131
4 Stars
195
3 Stars
71
2 Stars
39
1 Stars
53
Conditions
4.0
Value
4.3
Layout
4.3
Friendliness
4.6
Pace
4.0
Amenities
4.0
86.2%
Recommend this course
363 out of 489 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.2
31 Reviews (31)
5 Stars
13
4 Stars
11
3 Stars
6
2 Stars
1
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.2
Value
4.2
Layout
4.3
Pace
3.8
Amenities
4.0
StaffFriendliness
4.5
80.6%
Recommend this course
25 out of 31 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.1
48 Reviews (48)
5 Stars
16
4 Stars
24
3 Stars
6
2 Stars
2
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.1
Value
4.3
Layout
4.2
Pace
3.9
Amenities
4.0
StaffFriendliness
4.6
83.3%
Recommend this course
40 out of 48 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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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

4.1
489 Reviews (489)

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 Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
1.0
Previously Played

Worst Place to play golf South of Chicago

The Staff in this place is the rudest I ever encountered of all the golf places I ever golf at and I've been golfing for over 15 years. They are rude and the rules they enforce are above and beyond the requirements Illinois have put in place for golf courses. If you have the option to play in Indiana, please do so. But definitely avoid this place at all cost. You will be very disappointed and super irritated.

Conditions Average
Value Poor
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Poor
Pace Excellent
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Default User Avatar
Commented on 05/11/2020

Hello, Thank you so much for the great review. We are glad you had an incredible time, and we hope to see you again soon! Thanks for choosing University Park Golf Club.

Played On
Reviews 42
Handicap Don't know
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Nice course

very nice course in good shape some very challenging holes lot of water and bunkers to deal with. Staff was very friendly and courteous.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 93
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played
Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Green conditions

We were warned about the aeration of the greens but you would think that they would have dropped the rates at least five dollars per person. They didn’t. Very disappointed.

Conditions Average
Value Fair
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
3.0

Don’t Buy Beer

I want to start off my review by saying I truly like playing here. Staff is awesome, course has come back nicely from when it was unkempt. I played today, and the greens were aerated, but that wasn’t even a big deal. I’m a business owner, so I take these reviews seriously. I checked in this morning and proceeded to the bar to get some beer and a hot dog. Was playing with my son and 2 friends. I ordered 6 Coronas and 2 hot dogs. The girl rang me up.. very nice girl, just doing her job. 51.60...51.60 for 6 beers and 2 hot dogs...an $8.90 service charge added to my cost. Now I’m not sure if this course pays their employees so horribly that they add a 20% tip to all bar orders, but this was a bit excessive. Will play here again, but will never patronize the bar.

Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played

Open Design with Plenty of Challenges

The course is maintained very well; the fairways were cut nicely and the rough was kept at around 2-3”. The fairways were open and forgiving but plenty of challenges to keep it interesting. The greens are well maintained also; no bare spots and the fringes were cut properly also. The staff was extremely friendly and helpful especially for first time visitors. The Golf Now pricing was an excellent value. This course will be in my rotation.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 4
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 4
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
1.0
Previously Played

Horrible Pace of Play

Course is always the worst for place of play. Course isn’t in good shape either. Don’t waste your time.

Conditions Fair
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Poor
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 4
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played
Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing

Hidden Gem right off I-57

This course is relatively flat but the design and hole layouts give an opportunity to use every club in your bag. Large greens really make them easier to get, but make you really rely on your putting game. It was a little wet in early May with all the rain, but dryer then a lot of other courses in south suburbs... Drainage in the course is done well into well placed water hazards throughout the course.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 7
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
4.0
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Poor
Friendliness Average
Pace Poor
Default User Avatar
Commented on 07/30/2019

Thanks for your review. Hope to see you again soon!

Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Default User Avatar
Commented on 07/30/2019

Thank you for your review. We appreciate your feedback and hope to see you again soon.

Played On
Reviews 14
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Windy weather
Used cart

There charging you good money, but nobody has even cleaned up branches or goose crap! I’ve played this course numerous times, it’s the worse I’ve ever seen it!

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Default User Avatar
Commented on 07/30/2019

Thank you for your review. We take customer feedback seriously and would like to continue this conversation. Please feel free to reach out to us at info@universityparkgolfclub.com.

Played On
Reviews 22
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
3.0
First Time Playing

5 Hour 40 Minute Round

Let me start off by saying that the employees in the pro shop & in the restaurant were very nice. Food was good also. The course itself was average to slightly above. Interesting layout that requires a fair amount of laying up. The greens were aerated a week ago so wasn’t ideal. I normally shoot in the low 90s, but seemed like every group in front of us was playing into the 150s. Hit, wait 10 minutes, hit, wait 10 minutes.... the entire day. No ranger ever came out to suggest anyone to speed up the pace. Because of the pace of play, I could never recommend this course.

Conditions Good
Value Fair
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Poor
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 12
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing
Used cart

Hidden Gem

I was staying 45 minutes south of Chicago, so I wanted a course that was closer to my hotel than traveling closer to downtown. University was directly west of my hotel, so I gave it a try. Glad I did. The staff was very friendly, and even gave a couple of tips on getting around the golf course (which I didn't follow on 10 and paid for it), and let you know it was wide open today. The layout has interesting doglegs, which give you some risk/reward options. The course is very flat, and is pretty open in case you spray a couple of shots. Greens were very receptive, and rolled nicely. I really enjoyed this track!!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Fairly Easy
Played On
Reviews 23
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Don't miss tis one

It was our first time here and we were very pleased with the whole experience. The staff at the course was very friendly and accommodating. The course was in great conditions and the greens were very true. Will definitely come back again.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
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Golf Packages

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