The Glen Club - Chicago

[mci711]

What is everyone's thought on the Glen Club? Am planning on playing soon, interested in opinions. Also is it walkable?

[zer0]

live 15 miles away and work 4 miles away and have never been. Basically the unanimous opinion that I've heard/read is that its a very nice course that should cost in the $75-90 range.

[Phreddy]

I play it every June as part of a business outing. I like the course and generally it is in excellent condition. Since it is not my wallet I really don't have a clue how it fits into the Chicago cost spectrum.

 

..and yes. It is a walkable. Distance between green and tee is fine and the hills are rolling.

 

Phred

[Argonne69]

The Glen Club overtook Dubsdread as my favorite public course in Chicago last year. Yes, it is walkable. Yes, it is overpriced. In fact, it's the most expensive public course in Chicago by far. It's never cheap, but you can play it for less in the late afternoon, or in the fall.

 

It's certainly not the type of course that you'll play multiple times in a year unless you simply like spending cash, but it is worth a visit once in a while.

[geochitown]

You can get reduced greens fees there on boxgroove.

I don't even think you need to be a premium member to do so (should be free?), as it's a "boxgroove" course.

 

Looks like it's fairly walkable

 

I haven't played there, only been there to watch a tourney, nationwide tour back in the early 2000's

[zer0]

You can get reduced greens fees there on boxgroove.

I don't even think you need to be a premium member to do so (should be free?), as it's a "boxgroove" course.

 

Looks like it's fairly walkable

 

I haven't played there, only been there to watch a tourney, nationwide tour back in the early 2000's

 

do you know what the discount is on boxgroove? I just joined that site.

[geochitown]

depends day and time of day, but it was between 80-120...

 

you should be able to go to the site and look up glen club and it will show the days/times and greens fees

[zer0]

depends day and time of day, but it was between 80-120...

 

you should be able to go to the site and look up glen club and it will show the days/times and greens fees

 

Just looked, they have some great deals on Glen Club! $83 to play at 3:00 on Saturday. That's a couple hours later than I would want, but definitely do able since I go to the office (northbrook) Saturday mornings for a few hours. Also like the $75 tee times 3-6 pm weekdays, fits in perfect with the after work 4:30 tee time or even 5:00 tee time when the days are long. Prices do go up to summer rates starting late May which brings that Saturday fee to $99 and the weekday late afternoon fee to $85.

[CMCSGolf]

In my opinion, that's still too much. I'm not sure the Glen Club is all that much better than the munis in the area. It will have better conditioning than Wilmette, Sportsmans, Mount Prospect or Winnetka (all of which have good greens usually), but I'm not sure the quality of the holes is all that much better. There is nothing offensive about the Glen Club, but there is also nothing remarkable to warrant the premium they charge. They will have the service and feel of an upper class club, which I guess justifies the higher greens fee if you're into that kind of thing.

[zer0]

I just want to play it at least one time just to see it finally. At $75-$100 I'll bite the bullet, but no way I would do it at $150.

[CMCSGolf]

I just want to play it at least one time just to see it finally. At $75-$100 I'll bite the bullet, but no way I would do it at $150.

 

Yep, I fully support this. You have got to pay and see it once. You definitely won't have a bad day out there. But worth the money once you've been there? Not in my opinion.

[mci711]

Can you not book as a single on boxgroove? I have never used it before. Also thanks for all of the input everyone. A bit underwhelming sounding, but still going to give it a go.

[a-B]

Played it last year during a business outing and it is a very nice course. They cater more to their membership programs and residents receive reduced greens fees per the caddie that was assisting our group. Clubhouse and patio are very nice and they also have 2 ranges; public and members only.

[geochitown]

Played it this past saturday.

I really enjoyed the course

 

The conditioning is excellent (what one would expect)

Putting those greens was a pleasure

 

18's a great finisher!

[Phreddy]

18 is a great finishing hole, and I really like the par 3 11th.

[rslewis13]

I really liked Glen Club when I played there two years back. My buddy and I took a caddy and walked early A.M. in the middle of a big fog. First three holes we had no idea what we were looking at off the tee, but it was still a good time (lot of interesting pictures).

 

Expensive, but I'd play there again next time I'm in Chicago. I appreciate a public course that provides caddies. Cantigny offers caddies too. Those two and Harborside are my favorite Chicago courses.

 

In Maryland/Delaware where I play most of my golf, I can't think of a public course that supports a caddy program.

[Dashfast]

Surprised this course doesn't get more love. I'm starting to think it's my favorite course in the Chicagoland area. I'd really only put Mistwood above it.

 

It's challenging, well-conditioned, walkable, and interesting. Practice facilities are nice and the hospitality is solid. Never had a bad experience there.

 

Anyone know anyone who's joined? Feel free to DM if that's easier.

[ChiTownNairnGolfer]

The Glen Club is a great championship track by Tom Fazio that many daily fee players tend to misunderstand. 

 

TGC is not a public course in the same sense that daily fee-reliant clubs like Dubsdread, Cantigny, Harborside, etc. are.  The Glen Club would have been a private course, but for the fact that it is sitting on a piece of public land.  So, it cannot be private.  It is a corporate membership club with public access.

 

It is a country club lite, and offers a full private club golf menu - multi-day member-guests, club championships, summer leagues, members' only range, short-game practice areas (not available to daily fees), winter greens, etc.  Northwestern golf teams practice and play there. 

 

I read somewhere 75% of the rounds are played by corporate members, about 15% by members' guests and less than 10% by daily fees.  So, it can and does charge a lot for public golfers who can pay the fees.  

 

I belong to a couple of clubs in the area and played nearly all of the top North Shore and western suburban privates as I do "home and home" with friends.  The only courses that I would want to play every week over the Glen Club are Skokie, Shoreacres and maybe Old Elm.  And, only Skokie and maybe Glen View have the length and difficulty needed for college tournaments.   

 

What the Glen Club charges is in line with (actually a bit lower than) what the North Shore privates charge their members for having guests out - usually between $200 to $300.  Not many daily fees get to play those courses, but, if they do, it is an open issue whether it is worth paying that much for a round at, say, Evanston, Westmoreland, Sunset Ridge, North Shore CC, etc. All well-manicured and fun tracks, but ....

 

There are reasons why the PGA Tour was considering it for the PGA-BMW before giving it to Conway Farms and why the Korn-Ferry Tour has played its Chicago event for the past 3-4 years.

 

It is a course that can be set up very tough, but also is highly accessible (as is the case with most Tom Fazio courses) for middling to high handicap golfers. No forced carry, no approach over water (unless you are going for 2 on par-5s), large 'country club speed" greens (with a lot of undulation though), large bailout areas on tough par 3s, etc.  

 

Last time I played there, they have 4 tees and the scorecard allows 5 or 6 combo tees. 

[sleuth]

On 10/17/2022 at 1:02 PM, ChiTownNairnGolfer said:

The Glen Club is a great championship track by Tom Fazio that many daily fee players tend to misunderstand. 

 

TGC is not a public course in the same sense that daily fee-reliant clubs like Dubsdread, Cantigny, Harborside, etc. are.  The Glen Club would have been a private course, but for the fact that it is sitting on a piece of public land.  So, it cannot be private.  It is a corporate membership club with public access.

 

It is a country club lite, and offers a full private club golf menu - multi-day member-guests, club championships, summer leagues, members' only range, short-game practice areas (not available to daily fees), winter greens, etc.  Northwestern golf teams practice and play there. 

 

I read somewhere 75% of the rounds are played by corporate members, about 15% by members' guests and less than 10% by daily fees.  So, it can and does charge a lot for public golfers who can pay the fees.  

 

I belong to a couple of clubs in the area and played nearly all of the top North Shore and western suburban privates as I do "home and home" with friends.  The only courses that I would want to play every week over the Glen Club are Skokie, Shoreacres and maybe Old Elm.  And, only Skokie and maybe Glen View have the length and difficulty needed for college tournaments.   

 

What the Glen Club charges is in line with (actually a bit lower than) what the North Shore privates charge their members for having guests out - usually between $200 to $300.  Not many daily fees get to play those courses, but, if they do, it is an open issue whether it is worth paying that much for a round at, say, Evanston, Westmoreland, Sunset Ridge, North Shore CC, etc. All well-manicured and fun tracks, but ....

 

There are reasons why the PGA Tour was considering it for the PGA-BMW before giving it to Conway Farms and why the Korn-Ferry Tour has played its Chicago event for the past 3-4 years.

 

It is a course that can be set up very tough, but also is highly accessible (as is the case with most Tom Fazio courses) for middling to high handicap golfers. No forced carry, no approach over water (unless you are going for 2 on par-5s), large 'country club speed" greens (with a lot of undulation though), large bailout areas on tough par 3s, etc.  

 

Last time I played there, they have 4 tees and the scorecard allows 5 or 6 combo tees. 

This reasoning makes sense. The Glen Club is obviously not hurting for business, otherwise, things would have changed. However, this isn't a relatable explanation for 95% of golfers here. I don't think anyone understands paying a 'guest' fee at a private club. Furthermore, 9/10 the member covers the guest fee. No sense going into non-member guest fees 🙃

 

Even if The Glen Club has great facilities, service, fast pace of play, etc. you will have people here saying it's not worth it.

[mci711]

3 hours ago, sleuth said:

This reasoning makes sense. The Glen Club is obviously not hurting for business, otherwise, things would have changed. However, this isn't a relatable explanation for 95% of golfers here. I don't think anyone understands paying a 'guest' fee at a private club. Furthermore, 9/10 the member covers the guest fee. No sense going into non-member guest fees 🙃

 

Even if The Glen Club has great facilities, service, fast pace of play, etc. you will have people here saying it's not worth it.

 

I have no interest in playing the Glen Club probably ever again. I have never been to a more pretentious golf course in my life. I know it probably isn't fair to lump them all together, but every "member" I interacted with there acted like they were members at Butler or Chicago not a public course. I've played those two, Evanston, Olympia, Rich Harvest, Beverly, Black sheep etc. Everyone at those courses were great. 

 

They seemed to really hate that non members play there.  I wanted to tell them all to calm down, you have a membership to a daily fee course, if you don't want non members on the course buck up and join a real club. 

 

A shame because the course is above average. 

[ChiTownNairnGolfer]

5 hours ago, mci711 said:

 

I have no interest in playing the Glen Club probably ever again. I have never been to a more pretentious golf course in my life. I know it probably isn't fair to lump them all together, but every "member" I interacted with there acted like they were members at Butler or Chicago not a public course. I've played those two, Evanston, Olympia, Rich Harvest, Beverly, Black sheep etc. Everyone at those courses were great. 

 

They seemed to really hate that non members play there.  I wanted to tell them all to calm down, you have a membership to a daily fee course, if you don't want non members on the course buck up and join a real club. 

 

A shame because the course is above average. 

I play there often enough with my member friends that I have met a fair number of the members. The guys I have met have been pretty cool.  
 

That said, like you said, some blame occasional slow play and unrepaired ball marks and unfilled divots on daily fee players.  Not sure that is entirely true.  

I jokingly tell them the same thing you said - pony up the money and join a “real private club” if you don’t want to deal with daily fee golfers.  
 

Of course, they have to pay 100k to 150k for the downstroke and 20-25k per year at least.  Glen is around 15K to 20K to join and 10k a year, I think.  
 

I still like the track a lot, and my buddies there are quite happy with the place.

 

 

 

[Chanceman]

Please excuse my ignorance but what exactly is Boxgroove??