Membership to Club in Chicago

[Bay1524]

Looking for a place to call my golfing home in Chicago. I live pretty close to the Loop and am willing to drive 20-25 minutes to get somewhere. Hoping to find a private club with a junior membership or discounted rate for individuals under 30. Would love to hear what my options are!

[Tom S.]

Hey there.

Feel free to send me a PM and I can share some info.

[nuhusky41]

Olympia Fields would be a great option for you. I hear they are having some great deals on Jr. Memberships and from the loop it is usually against traffic both ways so it only takes about 25 minutes to get there. Plus, you get an amazing clubhouse and 2 USGA Tournament quality courses.

[John Kreese]

[quote name='Bay1524' timestamp='1312946593' post='3468820']
Looking for a place to call my golfing home in Chicago. I live pretty close to the Loop and am willing to drive 20-25 minutes to get somewhere. Hoping to find a private club with a junior membership or discounted rate for individuals under 30. Would love to hear what my options are!
[/quote]


Find anything?

[sleuth]

[quote name='Bay1524' timestamp='1312946593' post='3468820']
Looking for a place to call my golfing home in Chicago. I live pretty close to the Loop and am willing to drive 20-25 minutes to get somewhere. Hoping to find a private club with a junior membership or discounted rate for individuals under 30. Would love to hear what my options are!
[/quote]
I highly recommend looking for a club S or SW of the city.

Getting anywhere N, NW or W is absolutely horrible.

[cpeck12]

Butterfield Country Club in Oak Brook is a great option. They just finished redoing the course last year after being closed for a year and it's gorgeous. I know they had some members leave when they closed down for construction and I think they had a window when it was easier and cheaper to get in... not sure if they're still doing that or not.

[Tom S.]

Butterfield is one of the highest-priced memberships in Chicago, even with discounted rates.

[cpeck12]

Didn't give a price range so I was just throwing it out there since it's a great CC.

[7D2]

Chicago Highlands... Brand new country club that's trying to get the BMW in 2014

http://www.chicagohighlands.com/

[Jigga]

Surprised no one has mentioned Beverly.

[Bay1524]

Thanks for all the responses. I will definitely look into all of these. Would love to hear more suggestions as well.

Is anyone aware of any public courses that have special season passes or practice & play memberships?

[jming]

[quote name='Bay1524' timestamp='1313008243' post='3470916']
Thanks for all the responses. I will definitely look into all of these. Would love to hear more suggestions as well.

Is anyone aware of any public courses that have special season passes or practice & play memberships?
[/quote]

There's Conway Farms in Lake Forest. I believe Luke Donald is a member there.

[sleuth]

[quote name='jming' timestamp='1313013430' post='3471205']
[quote name='Bay1524' timestamp='1313008243' post='3470916']
Thanks for all the responses. I will definitely look into all of these. Would love to hear more suggestions as well.

Is anyone aware of any public courses that have special season passes or practice & play memberships?
[/quote]

There's Conway Farms in Lake Forest. I believe Luke Donald is a member there.
[/quote]

Def. a nice one but not even close to the proximity he requested. That's a good 1 - 1.5hr drive up N depending on traffic and whatnot.

[oldpalchamp]

Unfortunately, there is not much in the way of golf 20 - 25 minutes from the Loop, unless you don't mind huge initiation fees. Butterfield and Chicago Highlands charge 6 figures to join. Conway Farms is in Lake Forest surrounded by million dollar houses. Olympia Fields is not that expensive to join, but I hear the monthlies are pretty steep. One nice thing about Olympia Fields is that you can take the train from the Loop.

Bolingbrook is about 45-mins. from the loop and has annual memberships in the $5,000 range. It is always in good condition, but is pretty "quirky" (in my opinion). Many of the second and third tier clubs in the Chicago area are hurting for members and are offering deals, but they are all in the suburbs 45-60 mins. away. You can get into my old club, Aurora CC without much of an initiation. It is a great old Tom Bendelow design that is meticulously cared for, but, the dues are pretty steep as they are down to about 120 members. Nice thing about it is they don't take tee times. Just show up and play.

[Jigga]

Beverly Country Club is [i]IN[/i] Chicago and is 30 mins from the Loop. Great Donald Ross course that gets love from the USGA. Fantastic short game area with 3 or 4 greens and several bunkers. They also have a really attractive junior membership option.

[THEWOOD]

I was in your shoes up until March. The wife and I decided to join Royal Melbourne Country Club in Long Grove.

http://www.royalmelbourne.net/

Yes it is far out there, however on a Saturday/Sunday morning it takes me 36 minutes door to door. The course is in absolutely phenomenal shape and gets little play outside of peak hours 7-10am on weekends. I like you was looking for good junior memberships. Royal Melbourne is 20k initiation, payable interest free over 10 years. You can leave whenever you want and not be responsible for remainder. Also no food and beverage minimums.

If you have any questions, shoot me a PM. I looked all over the chicagoland area before I picked RMCC.

[hogans71]

[quote name='Jigga' timestamp='1313077121' post='3473484']
Beverly Country Club is [i]IN[/i] Chicago and is 30 mins from the Loop. Great Donald Ross course that gets love from the USGA. Fantastic short game area with 3 or 4 greens and several bunkers. They also have a really attractive junior membership option.



[/quote]

As of a few years ago, Beverly had a pretty decent waiting list. Believe it was $65k to join. Great golf course...

As mentioned earlier, Butterfield and Chicago Highlands check in at just over $100k and while there really is no waiting list left there, I can assure you there was NO deal going on at Butterfield.

Ridge C.C. might be an option- great conditioned golf course but a bit short and no driving range to speak of. Glen Oak, Oak Park, Riverside- all fantastic layouts and all west of the city. Couple as little as 15 miles. Park Ridge is another place just up the Kennedy. Nice place as well. I'm a member at one of those mentioned above- pm for ideas if you want a little bit more insight...

[hogans71]

[quote name='THEWOOD' timestamp='1313099308' post='3474924']
I was in your shoes up until March. The wife and I decided to join Royal Melbourne Country Club in Long Grove.

[url="http://www.royalmelbourne.net/"]http://www.royalmelbourne.net/[/url]

Yes it is far out there, however on a Saturday/Sunday morning it takes me 36 minutes door to door. The course is in absolutely phenomenal shape and gets little play outside of peak hours 7-10am on weekends. I like you was looking for good junior memberships. Royal Melbourne is 20k initiation, payable interest free over 10 years. You can leave whenever you want and not be responsible for remainder. Also no food and beverage minimums.

If you have any questions, shoot me a PM. I looked all over the chicagoland area before I picked RMCC.
[/quote]

Man, blast from the past. I remembered when that place opened- folks lived out that way and I caddied at Twin Orchards. Good times...

[JCool]

[quote name='Tom S.' timestamp='1312996525' post='3470236']
Butterfield is one of the highest-priced memberships in Chicago, even with discounted rates.
[/quote]
Any relation to Butler, the famed course which is in Oak Brook, which used to host the Western Open until they caught flack for their excusionary membership policies?
I'm not familiar with "Butterfield".

[FSCMatt]

[quote name='JCool' timestamp='1379135099' post='7848637']
[quote name='Tom S.' timestamp='1312996525' post='3470236']
Butterfield is one of the highest-priced memberships in Chicago, even with discounted rates.
[/quote]
Any relation to Butler, the famed course which is in Oak Brook, which used to host the Western Open until they caught flack for their excusionary membership policies?
I'm not familiar with "Butterfield".
[/quote]

No relation. Buttterfield is just down the road from Butler but there aren't many similarities if I'm not mistaken. I heard Butler's initiation was down recently. Not that that's any help since it was still around 100k.

[Golfinwill]

I belong to Idlewild in Flossmoor. I love it. We have a ton of members that live in the city and I believe it would take about 30mins depending on traffic. We have some fairly good deals going on right now. Feel free to PM me if you're interested.

[CrushSticks]

Idlewyld is a fantastic golf course. I have played it a number of times. I would definitely look into that as well sir.

[Walkerdb7]

I had a similar thread in the places to play thread, except I was looking NW Suburbs. I joined Kemper Lakes (Great decision).

If you look north at all, I visited and got pricing on most courses. PM me for info.

[markjinc]

[quote name='Walkerdb7' timestamp='1379366630' post='7861699']
I had a similar thread in the places to play thread, except I was looking NW Suburbs. I joined Kemper Lakes (Great decision).

If you look north at all, I visited and got pricing on most courses. PM me for info.
[/quote]

Rock star Golf Club. I used to belong there until I moved to Hawthorn Woods Country Club. Great course, pro staff, member base and history. I miss it.

[zonacats23]

Anyone know what prices are on Olympia Fields memberships are? National, regional, associate?

[CPSOX]

[quote name='zonacats23' timestamp='1379774426' post='7888617']
Anyone know what prices are on Olympia Fields memberships are? National, regional, associate?
[/quote]

Yes, PM if you have specific questions.

[Ridge]

Flossmoor near Olympia Fields was offering golf only, dues only memberships last summer. It is a very good course but not sure about the games. Oak Park CC is probably your closest option and is a really enjoyable Ross course with a nice practice facilitity. It is also a great family club if that is a consideration.

I was in the same boat a few months ago so interested to hear what you decided.

[AJ23]

When I lived in Chicago (downtown), I joined crystal tree as a junior member. It was a great deal and a good track. The clubhouse is pretty sweet. I believe it's still a good deal. Easy to get to.

[zer0]

Anyone know how much it costs to join Ridgemoor? I live on the northside so the location would be great plus I hear its a really nice course.

[Cubswin]

Interestingly, no one really commented on clubs in the northern suburbs. The ones within easy driving distance from Chicago are old-line clubs that have stiff dues (70K to 90K plus 13K-15K annual golf dues and food minimum charges) and fairly long waiting periods (Westmoreland (Wilmette), Glen View (Golf), Indian Hill (Winnetka), North Shore (Glenview) and Sunset Ridge (Northfield)) are all within 30 minutes from the Loop without traffic problems). There are also clubs in those areas that are predominantly Jewish in their membership. Generally speaking, their junior programs are not as expensive and, some say, easier to get in.

One other option is the Glen Club in Glenview. I know a few people who are "corporate" members there and quite happy. It is technically a public course although its high greens fees ($150+ and somewhat less for Glenview residents) keep most daily fee users off the course. It runs like a country club lite - it has most of the traditional country club golf events, lockers, club house, etc. on a fabulous Tom Fazio track. But, it has no tennis, pool, kiddie activities, no private facilities for wives to hang out, etc. It also accepts any folks from all walks of life who are willing to pay the low down stroke (about 15K) and the annual dues (I hear a bit less than 10K a year). This may or may not be attractive to you. In other words, it does not select its membership based on the, ahem, "character" of its prospective members.

If none is this is your cup of tea or you don't want to spend this kind of money, fortunately, Chicago is a great public golf town, especially if you drive out 30-45 minutes from the city.

Good luck.