Which club to join? Quality / Heritage (Medinah) vs. Distance (North Shore Clubs)

[PapasFritas]

I live in the North Shore Suburbs of Chicago and considering joining a Golf Club after years of having a permanent-tee time at my nearby muni.  I know just about the same amount of people at Medinah as I do at some of the North Shore Clubs (i.e. Evanston, Glen View, Exmoor, etc.) so am conflicted whether the ~40 min drive to Medinah is worth it vs. the North Shore courses that are at most 15 mins away. I've played #3 and #1 there a few times, and am always in awe of their club house. The rich tradition of the club also brings a unique nostalgia to it when I'm there. 

 

What would you do? The cost and waiting period is just about the same for each of them. I also plan to use this club as a social hub and take my work clients. 

[Jc0]

If you want it to impress your clients you probably want Medinah because of the name. If you care more about personal use get something closer because it's easier to get out on a whim. 

[klebs01]

40 minutes is too far to use regularly. Not sure where you’re looking on the north shore, but something like Shore Acres would be more impressive than Medina. 

[StudentGolfer4]

Agreed with the two above. Medinah has great name recognition but there are many other really good clubs around chicago and especially on the north shore. To me I think it would be hard to justify the drive. You didn’t say where you live but you know as well as I do a commute of 40 mins could easily turn into 60+ at the wrong time of day. 
 

Be sure you get all of the details regarding their renovation too. That will limit access for a while and possibly increase dues or come with an assessment. 

Edited July 15, 2022 by StudentGolfer4

[psygolf]

Joining Medinah would only benefit your guests...you would be lost in the shuffle of 800+ members.

 

Evanston has a fun membership the plays hard on & off the course, club atmosphere only gets more buttoned up as your move northeast from there.

[Abh159]

Agree with the others that 40+ minutes is going to be too far for regular use (even if you don't think so initially).

 

If your primary goal is to impress guests/clients then Medinah would do that. However, if you care about your own personal use then look at something more convenient. 

[MountainKing]

Medinah is cool, but most people are fine with any invite to a decent private club.  Go for location to maximize your dollars. 

[psygolf]

Played a twilight 9 at Park Ridge CC yesterday, they’ve really done some nice work on the course the past few seasons...Billy Bunkers a year ago, greens running at a posted 12, fun to play.

Really impressed with their staff as well.

[Bexk]

Echo what others have said, 40 minutes is too far. You'll be way happier and get way more use out of a course near you. Of the ones you've mentioned, Exmoor might fit the bill the best for what you're looking for. Great course and solid social environment. 

[nuhusky41]

Even prior to the closing of #3 for renovations this fall, the few members I know at Medinah can't even play until late afternoons on the weekend. They end up playing public courses around town on weekends. Doesn't seem like that would be a worthwhile choice, especially if it's 40 mins away.

[soberD]

On 7/15/2022 at 9:53 AM, klebs01 said:

40 minutes is too far to use regularly. Not sure where you’re looking on the north shore, but something like Shore Acres would be more impressive than Medina. 

 

If you were looking to impress people who grew up in the area Shoreacres is the only answer

 

[carrera]

Yes, go local instead of "name" club 40+ minutes away.  Think about things like a spontaneous afternoon round, using the practice facilities, having a drink or two after play...none of those work with a club almost an hour away from home.

 

For sure if you can join Shoreacres do it, but Exmoor etc in your backyard is a better choice than Medinah. 

[Thunder Dan]

I'd join Exmoor or Skokie over Medinah  all day long 

[Schley]

It is location that is paramount IMO.  The NS clubs are no slouches themselves, all those mentioned. Closer is better.

[caniac6]

The closest club with the best food , and the most laid back atmosphere.

[Cubswin]

I am late to this discussion.  But, in case @PapasFritasis still looking/thinking about joining a club, I will echo what many have said about joining a NS club and add this.

 

Skokie, Exmoor and Old Elm (men only) are all great tracks.  Shoreacres is pretty awesome, but not easy to get into.  Depending on where he lives in the North Shore,  the North Shore CC in East Glenview is also an option.  Bob O Links (men only) in Highland Park is a fun track, but is an acquired taste (think crazy frat boys from the 70s and 80s acting like frat boys in 2023). One name I didn't see above is Conway Farms in Lake Forest.  It is a great layout by Tom Fazio. I also like Glen View a lot, especially with the renovation that was done for the Western Am last year.  It is not an easy club to get into either.  Onwentsia is an old school Lake Forest club that was redesigned by Tom Doak; the membership is pretty old (your new AARP card will probably put you in the junior category there 😀).

 

I, too, have friends who are members at Medinah.  Because the membership is so huge, it has a different feel than you would at one of the NS clubs mentioned above.  I thought of getting a second membership at Olympia Fields, one course that rivals Medinah for national reputations, but the drive would have been pretty damn hard.  I just lean on my friends to invite me to play at these two places.  A few times a year is more than sufficient for me as I hate the drive.   

Edited March 29, 2023 by Cubswin

[bjorn240]

As someone who recently moved to Chicago and is seriously considering joining a club, I appreciate these posts. Thanks @Cubswin

[Cubswin]

On 3/31/2023 at 6:32 PM, bjorn240 said:

As someone who recently moved to Chicago and is seriously considering joining a club, I appreciate these posts. Thanks @Cubswin

You’re welcome.  The clubs I mentioned are all in the northern suburbs and great tracks.

 

There are other clubs in the area that are also great family clubs (if that is a consideration) even if their course layout and architecture aren’t as interesting or challenging as the ones I mentioned in the earlier post. Note that they are all in great  North Shore private club condition though.  

 

Westmoreland in Wilmette is a great family club that draws families all over the North Shore.  That said, many members are from a particular Catholic Church in East Wilmette.  Great clubhouse, a fun and relatively younger membership, and a well-conditioned course with many similar holes that is landlocked.  
 

Indian Hills CC in Winnetka is another local family club with a well-conditioned course.  One has to be a resident of Winnetka or another nearby suburb to be a member.  An old-school North Shore family club.

 

Lakeshore in Glencoe is a nice track with a predominantly Jewish membership.  
 

Sunset Ridge in Northfield has a nice, fun track with a relatively younger and fun membership.  A great family club with good guys.  Not necessarily New Money, but it doesn’t have the moldy old-money feel to it.

 

Evanston GC in Skokie is similar to Westmoreland in that the well-conditioned course is landlocked and features many similar holes with parallel fairways. The membership is relatively young and diverse (for the area), and seems like a good family club.  It is the least North Shore club in the North Shore.  Nothing wrong with that, and the members I know are great.  

 

Going west, Hinsdale GC historically is an old school social club that isn’t easy to get in and limited to Hinsdale residents. When I was there last summer, however, I saw women playing early on weekend days and younger members riding some golf board or something like that with a Bluetooth speaker.  So, things are changing there, too.

 

Ruth Lake in Hinsdale is a nice fun track that is a good family club.

 

Edgewood Valley in Lagrange is a great track with a friendly membership that doesn’t get mentioned among top privates in Chicago for some reasons.  
 

Chicago Highland is a relatively new club with a unique equity structure.  It has a links-like style course that some love and others put down as tricked up.  I happen to like design - even the upside down saucer green of the 9th hole that offers a spectacular view of the Chicago skyline even from 10-12 miles away.  

Butler is a men-only club in Oakbrook that can host a PGA tournament on very short notice.  It used to host the Western Open, but had to go coed or give up the tournament. It chose to give up the tournament.  Every member I know uses it as a second or third club.  Definitely not a country club.  This is a tough track that I think would be worthy of a major or a designated event if it ever admits women, which I don’t think will happen in my lifetime.

 

Have fun looking!

Edited April 17, 2023 by Cubswin