Old Elm Golf Club delivers a masterclass in classic design, recently revitalized through a full-scale restoration of bunkers, greens, and fairways. It's the type of course that rewards brains over brawn, with position, angles, and nerve decisive at every turn. Its historic architecture and newly recaptured width make it a must-play for serious students of the game in the Midwest.
A living testament to Golden Age design, Old Elm Golf Club oozes the strategic DNA of Colt and Ross—a seamless blend of broad corridors, cunningly placed torn-edge bunkers, and contoured greens that demand precise thinking. The recent restoration returned the course to its intended broad-shouldered glory: fairways now stretch across the property with tantalizing width, bunkering sharpens sightlines and decisions, and expanded, regrassed greens dial up the challenge on the approaches. The course flows effortlessly with a pace and rhythm unique to the classic era, and key features—like the famous double green and elegant bunkering—ensure this is not just good architecture, but an enduring conversation piece.
The course remains one of the most authentic Harry Colt routings on American soil, brought home by Donald Ross’s legendary touch and recently recaptured by Drew Rogers and Dave Zinkand.
A welcoming opener, this par-5 is a gentle launch with a generous fairway, letting golfers find their rhythm before the architect’s bite emerges. Position always trumps raw power here, with strategic bunkers lurking to catch the overly greedy.
Play for placement off the tee to set up the ideal angle—aggression can bring trouble if fairway bunkers are in play.
Try to overpower it and you could end up blocked by mature trees or spinning out in restored sand.
Expect firm, fast fairways and tightly mown surrounds. Greens are pure, moderately fast, and subtly contoured.
Efficient, brisk pace of play, with traditional etiquette valued by the membership.
Old-school private club—unpretentious but steeped in tradition and architectural pride.
Traditional country club attire expected—collared shirts, tailored shorts or pants; confirm with the club if unsure.
With crowned greens and short grass surrounds, recovery and touch are more vital than sheer length.
You'll be rewarded for thinking angles and placement—study Colt and Ross’s approaches if you want an edge.
The course is designed for walkers, with a caddie program that enhances the experience.
As a private club, you'll need an invitation—confirm your playing details and arrival protocol in advance.
Course laid out by Harry S. Colt; Donald Ross oversees construction on site
Old Elm Golf Club officially founded as an elite North Shore enclave
Reported inaugural season, course opens to members
Completion of comprehensive bunker, green, and regrassing restoration—including expansion to original lines
Old Elm Golf Club is the rarest of architectural unicorns: Harry Colt, the great British master, staked the design, while Donald Ross spent eight days on-site in 1913 to execute its construction—a singular collaboration never repeated elsewhere. Every round here is a brush with golf history’s dream team.
Modern restorations by Drew Rogers and Dave Zinkand peeled away decades of overgrowth, clearing hundreds of trees and doubling down on Colt’s original wide corridors. The result: restored vistas, dazzling angles, and a course that finally breathes as it was meant to in 1913.
The massive sixth and seventeenth share a single putting surface divided by a Biarritz-style swale, a sight and strategic challenge seldom seen in America. For generations, it’s been the conversation piece of North Shore golf—a green you’ll never forget.
Upon its founding, Old Elm was so exclusive that a hefty $1,500 initiation fee and no-Sunday rules set it apart from every club in the region, attracting a who’s-who of early Chicago society and cementing its place in Midwest golf aristocracy.
Colt and Ross spent just eight days together on site in 1913—never again replicated in U.S. history.
The 6th/17th double green is unique in American architecture—with Biarritz contours and massive scale.
The club once charged a $1,500 initiation fee and set the tone for Chicago’s golf elite.
Recent restorations returned the course to original 1913 corridor widths and playing lines.
Golfweek ranked Old Elm No. 3 private in Illinois and No. 56 among all classic U.S. courses after restoration.
A famed public U.S. Open and PGA Tour host, anyone can play
Top-tier daily-fee modern course just 25 minutes away
Another classic Golden Age North Shore design
Major championship colossus known the world over
Prestigious North Shore private club with a robust challenge
Stay in Highland Park or nearby Deerfield/Northbrook for easy access to Old Elm and the best North Shore options.
Courses with the most similar DNA profile — matched by deviation shape across all eight playing characteristics.
Why it matches: What links these two? Demands the same precision once you reach the putting surface — a familiar feeling, expressed in The Park West Palm's own setting.
Why it matches: Kenwood Country Club (Kendale Course) is a natural next stop after Old Elm Golf Club: it a comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character.
Why it matches: There is real overlap here. Maketewah Country Club a comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character, making it a compelling counterpart to Old Elm Golf Club.
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