Downtown Chicago Country Clubs Accesibility

[murph9095]

Hey guys-

 

It's been quite a while since I last posted on here... it's good to be back.

 

Anyway, I've seen a few discussions out there but they seem a bit outdated- does anyone have any good recommendations for country clubs for those of us living downtown. Specifically, I'm looking for a country club that is easily accessible (probably by train?). I'm a former college golfer so looking to join one with some serious golfers and am always looking to play in some competitive games. In terms of price I'm looking for one with a reasonable initiation for younger adults. I figured I can't be the only avid golfer living downtown Chicago so would love to hear any suggestions or stories from others that live down here.

 

Thanks for reading and I appreciate your feedback!

[geochitown]

Flossmoor

[ldchristopher]

The closest country club to downtown that's a good course is Beverly CC, but I don't know what the situation is there regarding waiting list, initiation fee, dues, etc. Evanston CC is also close. It's a drive and it's all-male but Black Sheep has a really good deal for young adults. It also doesn't have the usual country club amenities like a swimming pool or tennis courts. It's a 27 hole facility that's way out in Sugar Grove but the course is supposedly awesome. Flossmore CC is literally across the street from Idlewild and all those South Suburban clubs are struggling for members except for Olympia Fields.

[murph9095]

Thank you for this! Have heard nothing but great things on Black Sheep even though location would not be convenient. Any experiences on that course?

[ldchristopher]

I’ve never played it. I live in the city as well but play at a bunch of different public courses. I occasionally mooch private club rounds off relatives but that’s about it. A couple people on the “Where Are You Playing Tomorrow Chicago?” really wanted to join Black Sheep but one person’s fiancé vetoed it and another couldn’t justify the drive. I hear the course is awesome though. Hopefully they chime in on this thread.

[mci711]

Blacksheep is amazing. I was the vetoed fiance lol. It is really fun golf, no frills or amenities, what I like. If you are really thinking about going out this way you can check out Naperville CC, they have the best deal I have heard when it comes to young adults or "jr members". Course is good not great, treelined, old not too long good shape. Not really sure of anywhere you can jump off the train and be at the course, other than Ravisloe (which is an awesome public course). Living in the city, without a car, is not conducive to playing a lot of golf. I may be wrong about this, but I am pretty sure that means taking a decent length train, probably south (Flossmoor, which someone mentioned, is an awesome deal and there are other clubs begging for members), you'll then have to uber/taxi to the club from there.

 

Move to the Burbs if golf is really important, that's what we did.

 

[mci711]

double posted.

 

[oldpalchamp]

Olympia Fields CC has a train stop basically at its door. Two great courses, and a host of excellent players.

[mci711]

> @oldpalchamp said:

> Olympia Fields CC has a train stop basically at its door. Two great courses, and a host of excellent players.

 

OF is $10-15k to join plus $600+ monthly dues plus $500 a quarter food minimums and then monthly capital dues all for young adults (30s). Unless that has changed the past year or so. Not crazy expensive, but you are looking between $20-25k when all said an done.

 

Not sure what kind of deals they are running and if they are trying to add members. Others may know better, I looked to join a couple of years back and have family there.

 

Compared to others OF is actually a really good deal for its quality.

 

[coachgp]

Black Sheep is a hike, like 1hr without traffic. Beverly probably the best bet?

[geochitown]

I think Beverly might be the best golf, but price and accessibility might be on the high, tough side.

Olympia Fields would be pretty awesome.

Flossmoor is a very solid historic course that had a great renovation done a decade back by Ray Hearn.

You owe it to yourself to play a round at Flossmoor and check it out (could take the train to the club).

I think Idlewild is likely a large step down from the three above.

[Shriner]

There actually is one private course at a train stop: Itasca CC is walking distance from the Itasca Metra stop. However, I believe they are still full and not adding members; you would have to give them a call and see if that has changed. Extremely affordable...

[Schley]

You can PM me for OF info.

[Argonne69]

Actually, I believe Ridgemoor is the closest country club to downtown. I looked into it a few years back, and it was fairly reasonably priced. 'Not sure what they're charging these days. There's also Ridge CC, Riverside CC, and Oak Park CC. I don't know a lot about them, but they're all less than 15 miles from downtown. All four are a short Uber from the nearest Metra station.

[ldchristopher]

Bryn Mawr Country Club is the closest to the city but I don't think the course holds up to the others that are relatively close. A bunch of the country clubs off Route 41 are near Metra stops as well.

[matt70286]

Have a co worker who’s a member at Beverly. Course will close in August for renovations and they filled out all their junior member quotas so a wait list is accumulating (at least that’s what he told me when I inquired).

[John Kreese]

Good suggestions above, but the reality is that there aren't any really great options if you live downtown. Struggled with this same issue for 12 years. Chicago is an awesome city, but the tradeoff for living down there is that you're just not going to have easy/affordable options for a private club (public is tough too). You have to be willing to spend some time on trains, sitting in traffic and will not be able to just get out for some golf on weekdays (unless you are able to leave work by 3 and not have any expectations of getting back into the city at a reasonable time).

 

Harborside is solid, but not private. Not sure what a pass costs there these days.

[John Kreese]

> @Argonne69 said:

> Actually, I believe Ridgemoor is the closest country club to downtown. I looked into it a few years back, and it was fairly reasonably priced. 'Not sure what they're charging these days. There's also Ridge CC, Riverside CC, and Oak Park CC. I don't know a lot about them, but they're all less than 15 miles from downtown. All four are a short Uber from the nearest Metra station.

 

Last I heard initiation for Ridgemoor was $75,000.00!

[Argonne69]

> @"John Kreese" said:

> > @Argonne69 said:

> > Actually, I believe Ridgemoor is the closest country club to downtown. I looked into it a few years back, and it was fairly reasonably priced. 'Not sure what they're charging these days. There's also Ridge CC, Riverside CC, and Oak Park CC. I don't know a lot about them, but they're all less than 15 miles from downtown. All four are a short Uber from the nearest Metra station.

>

> Last I heard initiation for Ridgemoor was $75,000.00!

 

Wow. It wasn't anywhere close to that when I inquired a few years back. I guess they were hurting after the Great Recession.

 

[TerrapinGolfer]

Flossmoor for sure great course bunch of young people who are also great golfers, and super friendly people all around

[matt70286]

> @Argonne69 said:

> > @"John Kreese" said:

> > > @Argonne69 said:

> > > Actually, I believe Ridgemoor is the closest country club to downtown. I looked into it a few years back, and it was fairly reasonably priced. 'Not sure what they're charging these days. There's also Ridge CC, Riverside CC, and Oak Park CC. I don't know a lot about them, but they're all less than 15 miles from downtown. All four are a short Uber from the nearest Metra station.

> >

> > Last I heard initiation for Ridgemoor was $75,000.00!

>

> Wow. It wasn't anywhere close to that when I inquired a few years back. I guess they were hurting after the Great Recession.

>

I inquired about a junior / associate membership at Ridgemoor last year and it was $50k over 5 years (also asked if there was any flexibility on that and they said nope).

 

I think Evanston Golf Club is similar too, maybe $10k cheaper on the initiation if I recall correctly. I was a member at Flossmoor a few years back and it is a spectacular course with perhaps the best greens in the state of IL (the members are awesome too).