Oak Brook, Illinois
Butterfield Country Club blends nearly a century of Chicago golf tradition with a modern, historically informed restoration. The course’s rolling terrain, bold Langford features, and recent OCM work promise a fresh yet timeless challenge. If you get the invite, bring your A-game and respect for the club’s storied lineage.
Keep an eye out for restored geometric green pads subtly set off by squared mowing lines—it’s a visual throwback you won’t see elsewhere in suburban Chicago.
Butterfield Country Club stands as a showcase for William B. Langford’s Golden Age vision, now revitalized by a full OCM restoration that honors the original’s geometric, strategic style. The course flows across rolling Midwestern terrain, with dramatic green contouring, strategic bunkering, and a blend of ridges, valleys, and creeks shaping play on nearly every hole. Recent tree clearing, expanded fairways, and the restoration of historic green pads have reawakened the ground-game and approach challenges. This is classic parkland golf, modernized without losing its soul.
Langford’s original design spirit is now fully reasserted, blending historical authenticity with contemporary playability thanks to OCM’s restoration.
This demanding par 3 puts your mid-to-long iron game to the test, playing nearly 200 yards to a boldly contoured green. Missing short or left brings deep bunkers and a tough up-and-down.
Aim for the fat of the green and trust your number; flags tucked behind bunkers are best avoided unless you're swinging confidently.
Short or left brings deep sand; long leaves a lightning-quick downhill chip.
Elite private-club conditioning, with fast, firm greens and closely mown approaches now that the restoration is complete.
Member pace is steady; groups are expected to keep play moving briskly.
Traditional, refined, and quietly competitive—a classic Midwest private-club atmosphere.
Strict collared-shirt, tailored-pants policy; no cargo shorts, no denim.
Oak Brook’s weather can be volatile and isolated showers move fast—be ready.
Several key par 3s and approaches demand precise ballstriking to elevated greens.
Walkability is good, not great—light shoes make the rolling fairways more comfortable.
Tee times are strictly enforced for non-members; coordinate with your host in advance.
Club founded by Chicago-area businessmen
First nine expanded to full 18 holes
Course built out to full 27 holes
Steve Smyers completes major restoration
Butterfield’s most recent transformation drew from 1930s aerial photographs, bringing back the geometric greens, dramatic landforms, and bold bunkering that defined Langford’s design. The project has reignited the club’s classic style for a new era of members.
Butterfield began as a social outpost for west-suburban elites and evolved into a high-standard private club. Today, it balances this heritage with a forward-looking approach to architecture, hosting generations of Chicago golfers.
The club’s three-nine configuration makes Butterfield unique among its neighbors, and the flexible routing has kept the course fresh and playable. Members have long debated which pair offers the finest test.
Expanded from nine to eighteen to twenty-seven holes within a decade of opening.
The 2024 OCM restoration used 1930s aerial photos as a blueprint for design decisions.
The club’s original 1920 clubhouse helped shape the architectural code for the surrounding suburb.
A flexible three-nine layout lets members play a new combination almost every round.
Butterfield has long been considered a “hidden gem” among Chicago’s classic private clubs.
Well-kept, public-access layout just down the road—perfect for a warmup or backup round.
One of the Midwest’s best and most famous public courses, only a half hour away.
Solid, accessible public offering nearby with forgiving landing areas and a relaxed vibe.
High-caliber, municipal-access with a championship feel if you want a taste of big golf.
The gold standard for private championship golf in this region if you have the right connections.
Oak Brook, Downers Grove, or Lombard for fastest access to regional clubs and amenities.
Courses with the most similar DNA profile — matched by deviation shape across all eight playing characteristics.
Why it matches: There is real overlap here. Mossy Oak Golf Club a comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character, making it a compelling counterpart to Butterfield Country Club.
Why it matches: If Butterfield Country Club is your kind of course, Oasis Golf Club is worth a look because it a comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character.
Why it matches: There is real overlap here. Pinehurst Resort (No. 6 Course) a comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character, making it a compelling counterpart to Butterfield Country Club.
Classic Chicago golf with storied history
Classic Chicago parkland with Golden Age pedigree
Akron’s golden age tradition, tree-lined and classic.
Firm greens, tournament lore, Kentucky club pedigree
Classic Langford-era challenge in Kansas City’s heart
Community Sentiment
See something inaccurate in this listing?