A Rare Feat in 2006
At the 2006 Illinois State Amateur, tough conditions and an exacting layout allowed only a single player in the field to break par for the tournament, cementing Edgewood’s reputation as a shot-maker’s test.
Golf Course Review & Scouting Report
Edgewood Valley Country Club
La Grange, Illinois
Established
1926
Architect
William H. Diddel, Craig Schreiner (renovation)
Access
Private
Par
Par 72
Length
5,819 – 6,724 yds
The verdict
Classic, No-Frills Chicago Tradition
Edgewood Valley offers a timeless parkland experience with Golden Age bones and a pure, member-focused golf vibe. Long on tradition and tournament history, the course rewards disciplined strategy and thoughtful shot-making across a quietly strong layout. For those able to access it, this is authentic Chicagoland golf—polished, private, and proudly rooted.
Course DNA
Difficulty
73
Scenery65
Conditioning83
Shot Variety76
Walkability88
Green Complexity70
Wow Factor67
Design Quality73
At a glance
Quick facts
Original site move
1926
Architect
William H. Diddel
Current bunker count
88 after 2024 renovation
Tournament venues
Hosts Illinois State Amateur, Open, and Mid-Am
Clubhouse architect
Howard Van Doren Shaw (1926)
Practice facility
Expanded in 2009
Scorecard par
Par 72, 3/5 finishers on par 5s
Club founding
1910 (Edgewood Golf Club of LaGrange)
The design
The architecture
Edgewood Valley Country Club embodies classic Golden Age parkland golf: a William H. Diddel design that delivers understated strategy, walkable landscapes, and a routing that flows efficiently across rolling suburban ground. The holes offer a mix of risk/reward par 5s, stout long par 4s, and artfully contoured greens that demand thoughtful approaches. Renovations—most recently in 2024—have refined, not erased, its original identity, with restored bunkering, improved drainage, and subtle enhancements ensuring enduring playability.
Diddel’s vision endures in every line: subtle, honest golf with a timeless Midwestern parkland feel.
Defining features
- 104 original bunkers (consolidated to 88 in 2024)
- Minimal water but strategic sand and mature trees
- Traditional, varied par 3s demanding precise tee shots
- Reachable and strategic par 5s
- Subtle green contours
- Efficient, highly walkable routing
Hole by hole
Signature holes
Hole 1
Opening Dogleg Challenge
PAR
5
YARDAGE
525
This medium-length par 5 welcomes you with a gentle dogleg left and an inviting, roomy fairway, making it both a confidence-setter and a hole that immediately requests smart positioning. The green, well-guarded by bunkers, puts early focus on precise approach placement.
Play it smart
Favor the left-center off the tee to set up an unobstructed second, then play for the best angle into the subtly pitched green.
Where it bites
A drive leaked right brings tree trouble; missing long on the approach finds a challenging up-and-down from deep sand.
Course management
Shots to think about
Second shot on par-5 14th with bunkers in play
Factor wind and bunkering before committing—lay up for your best wedge if in doubt.
Approach to the short par-4 12th
In this green-light scoring zone, favor accuracy over distance; trouble lurks beyond the pin.
Club selection on long par-3 13th
Trust the yardage and play for the fat side of the green to avoid short-right sand.
Tee shot on the challenging par-4 7th
Play a controlled fade for more fairway; left-side rough is hard to recover from.
Closing drive at 18th with match on the line
Pick a confident line and avoid overreaching left—a safe fairway hit is critical.
Wedge approach after a layup on par-5 16th
Get above the hole and you’ll face a slick putt—middle green is always in play.
On the day
What to expect
Conditions
Greens and fairways are kept firm and fast, with bunker consistency enhanced by the 2024 renovation.
Pace
Pace is member-paced, often brisk and unhurried, but expect a steady flow during prime times.
Vibe
Atmosphere is distinctly classic—proprietary, understated, and tradition-driven.
Dress code
Collared shirts and traditional golf attire required; confirm with the club for specifics.
Before you tee off
Your game plan
01
Brush Up on Bunker Play
Bunker work is essential here—the 2024 renovation means sharp sand and strategic placement.
02
Master Club Distances
Several par 3s and short par 4s reward precise wedge and iron play over raw power.
03
Strategize for Subtle Greens
Greens rarely look extreme, but local breaks and smart leave-zones can swing a match.
The lore
How it came to be
- 1910
Club founded as Edgewood Golf Club of LaGrange
- 1926
Moves to current site; course by William H. Diddel, clubhouse by Howard Van Doren Shaw
- 1958
Hosts CDGA Amateur Championship
- 1969
Hosts Illinois Open
- 2006
Major renovation by Craig Schreiner; hosts Illinois State Amateur
- 2020
Hosts Illinois State Mid-Amateur
- 2024
Comprehensive bunker and drainage renovation
Stories & legends
What makes it special
Chick Evans Upset
In 1920, club member Dewey Weber defeated legendary amateur Chick Evans to win the Chicago District Amateur—a triumph still recounted in clubhouse lore.
Clubhouse Heritage
The 1926 Tudor-style clubhouse, designed by noted architect Howard Van Doren Shaw, frames the first tee and speaks to the enduring roots and traditions of the club.
Modern Tradition
Edgewood Valley recently undertook a 2024 course renovation, consolidating bunkers and improving drainage, all while protecting Diddel's original design character.
For the group chat
Fun facts
1
Founded in 1910—but moved to present site in 1926.
2
Site of Dewey Weber’s famous 1920 victory over Chick Evans.
3
Tudor-style clubhouse designed by Howard Van Doren Shaw.
4
2024 renovation brought the bunker count to 88.
5
Only one player broke par at the 2006 Illinois State Amateur here.
Build the trip
If you're making a west suburban Chicago golf trip out of it
CourseAccessWhy it's on the listTrip
Cog Hill Golf & Country Club
Public
Legendary public facility with four courses, including the famed Dubsdread—test yourself where the pros once played.
Ravisloe Country Club
Public
Classic Donald Ross layout with accessible green fees and a strong design pedigree.
Medinah Country Club
Private
Major championship tradition and one of the world's best-known private-club experiences.
Olympia Fields Country Club
Private
Host to championships and a Midwest stronghold for pure, testing golf.
Butterfield Country Club
Private
Another elite west suburban option if you have connections, with a storied tournament history.
Oak Brook or Burr Ridge/Hinsdale for easy access to the best suburban golf and restaurants.
Course DNA
If You Like Edgewood Valley Country Club
Courses with the most similar DNA profile — matched by deviation shape across all eight playing characteristics.
Strong DNA Match6.3
Brookshire Golf Club
Carmel, IndianaWalkability
Why it matches: What links these two? Moves through the round with the same walkable flow — a familiar feeling, expressed in Brookshire Golf Club's own setting.
Strong DNA Match7.7
Springdale Golf Club
Princeton, New JerseyWalkability
Why it matches: There is real overlap here. Springdale Golf Club has a similarly satisfying rhythm on foot, making it a compelling counterpart to Edgewood Valley Country Club.
Strong DNA Match6.4
Lafayette Country Club
Lafayette, IndianaWalkability
Why it matches: Lafayette Country Club is a natural next stop after Edgewood Valley Country Club: it has a similarly satisfying rhythm on foot.
The architect's other work
More from William H. Diddel
Kenwood Country Club (Kendale Course)
Cincinnati, OhioClassic championship parkland with restored Golden Age flair
Brickyard Crossing
Indianapolis, IndianaWhere Championship Golf Meets Racing History
Hot Springs Country Club
Hot Springs, ArkansasStoried Southern golf with classic pedigree
Woodland Country Club
Carmel, IndianaClassic parkland golf with championship pedigree
Evansville Country Club
Evansville, IndianaA century-old club reimagined for modern play
Wichita Country Club
Wichita, KansasKansas tradition, championship pedigree, refreshed for today
Community Sentiment
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