Golf Course Review & Scouting Report

Skokie Country Club

Glencoe, Illinois

National SleeperOn the national radar, but still underrated.

Established

1897

Architect

George Leslie/H.J. Tweedie (orig.), Tom Bendelow (1904), Donald Ross (1914), William Langford/Theodore Moreau (1938), Ron Prichard (1999 restoration)

Access

Private

Par

Par 72

Length

5,463 – 7,091 yds

The verdict

A regionally elite strategic classic

Skokie Country Club is one of Chicago’s most storied private clubs, blending the legacy of four Golden Age architects into a classic parkland test. It’s a refined, tree-lined course with top-tier conditioning and a championship pedigree—including the 1922 U.S. Open. A pilgrimage for students of architecture and an essential stop for North Shore trips.

Course DNA

Difficulty

Scenery

Conditioning

Shot Variety

Walkability

Green Complexity

Wow Factor

Design Quality

At a glance

Quick facts

Major Championship Host

1922 U.S. Open (Gene Sarazen victory)

Signature Golden Age Pedigree

Design by Ross & Langford/Moreau

Course Rating/Slope

74.4 / 141 from back tees

Last Bendelow Hole

8th hole is a preserved original

Tree-Lined Parkland

Classic North Shore aesthetic

Caddies & Walking

Caddie program and easy walking terrain

Bunker Renovation

Bunkers restored to Ross-era look (2022)

Historic Naming

‘Skokie’ traces to Potawatomi for marsh

The design

The architecture

Skokie Country Club is a rare, living document of American Golden Age golf—its fairways and greens shaped by at least four iconic architects across three centuries. Donald Ross’s strategic hallmarks and domed greens blend with Langford & Moreau’s rugged, creative stretches, all meticulously restored to honor the course’s deep history. The par-72 routing flows through mature trees and gentle terrain, demanding intelligent play on every approach. Strategic bunkering, crowned putting surfaces, and a mix of original and evolved holes create a rich, ever-engaging walk that rewards thinking golfers while surrounding them in old North Shore ambiance.

Current layout integrates original work by Donald Ross and major remaking by Langford/Moreau, honored and recaptured in Ron Prichard’s restoration.

Defining features

Classic tree-lined parkland routing
Ross-style domed greens and restored bunkers
Mix of Bendelow, Ross, and Langford/Moreau holes
Positional driving and nuanced approach angles
Firm, fast playing surfaces
Strategic par 3s and dramatic finishing holes

Hole by hole

Signature holes

Hole 1

PAR

YARDAGE

420 yds

A gently elevated opening tee shot sets the tone, asking players to shape a controlled drive through a tree-lined corridor. The approach must stay below the hole on a classic, sloping green.

Play it smart

Find the short grass—accuracy outweighs distance, with a premium on opening nerves.

Where it bites

Errant drives are swallowed by mature trees and a miss long faces a tricky up-and-down.

Course management

Shots to think about

Tee shot on 1st hole

Favor control, not just distance—set up an open angle and avoid the trees early.

Approach to domed greens

Play one less club and leave your approach below the hole; putting from above is treacherous.

Second shot on par 5s

Resist temptation—lay up smartly to a number you trust for the approach.

Short par 4s like 15

Fight the urge to drive it—find your favorite wedge distance off the tee.

Uphill finish on 18th

Take extra club on the approach and trust the slope; it plays longer than yardage.

Navigating tree-lined angles

Favor a side off the tee that opens up the green rather than straight-line routes.

Tough putts on restored greens

Read for more break, and keep speed conservative from above the hole.

On the day

What to expect

Conditions

Excellent private-club standards—firm, fast, and precisely maintained.

Pace

Steady member pace; walking encouraged with available caddies.

Vibe

Traditional and classy, with a distinct North Shore patina.

Dress code

Conventional private-club standards; confirm with the club’s guest info prior to arrival.

Before you tee off

Your game plan

Brush up on approach angles

Google aerials or look at scorecard guides—the hardest holes reward smart lines, not just distance.

Practice reading domed greens

Prepare for subtle, old-school movement and strategize to leave uphill putts whenever possible.

Bring comfortable walking shoes

The course is built to walk, with caddie support and pleasant terrain—embrace the classic experience.

Double-check guest dress code

Reach out for the latest club packet to ensure you’re dressed to club standards—collared shirt, tailored pants/shorts required.

The lore

How it came to be

1897
Founding by Chicago businessmen; original 9 holes
1904
Tom Bendelow expands course to 18 holes
1914
Donald Ross redesigns the course
1922
Hosts U.S. Open, won by Gene Sarazen
1938
Langford/Moreau rework and course lengthening
1999
Ron Prichard restoration to Ross-era features
2022
Major bunker renovation completed

Stories & legends

What makes it special

championship-lore

When Sarazen Arrived

In 1922, a 20-year-old Gene Sarazen stormed to his first U.S. Open victory at Skokie, marking the start of an iconic career. Skokie’s firm greens and demanding angles left their mark on golf history as a true Open test.

architectural-heritage

The Last Bendelow Stand

Skokie’s 8th hole is a living time capsule—a lone survivor from Tom Bendelow’s original layout. Revered today as the signature hole, it’s proof that great design can outlast even radical course evolutions.

design-evolution

Four Architects, One Soul

Many clubs celebrate a single master, but Skokie’s DNA is a true amalgam—Tweedie, Bendelow, Ross, Langford/Moreau. Their eras collide seamlessly into a balanced, strategic, and living course.

closing-drama

Relentless Finisher

Visitors long remember Skokie’s closing stretch, where the tree-lined fairways tighten and the uphill 18th can shatter a good card. It’s a test of stamina and shotmaking to the very last green.

For the group chat

Fun facts

The name ‘Skokie’ is believed to mean swamp or marsh, referencing the land’s Potawatomi heritage.

The 8th hole is the last remaining Tom Bendelow original, lauded as the course’s best.

Gene Sarazen’s first U.S. Open title came at Skokie in 1922.

Crowned, domed greens here are textbook examples of Ross’s legendary style.

Four acclaimed architects have shaped the course—rare for any club in America.

Build the trip

If you’re making a North Shore golf trip out of it

CourseAccessWhy it's on the listTrip

Old Elm Club

Private

One of the area’s most storied, architecturally impressive old-guard classics.

North Shore Country Club

Private

Classic private club—elite, with great architecture pedigree.

Stonewall Orchard

Public

Championship public track north of the city, easily bookable and tests all parts of your game.

Cantigny Golf

Public

The best-maintained pure public golf in the Chicago area.

Harborside International

Public

Big-scale city golf; accessible and fun for groups.

Glencoe, Highland Park, or Evanston for shortest drives—downtown Chicago offers best dining and city experience.

Course DNA

If You Like Skokie Country Club

Courses with the most similar DNA profile — matched by deviation shape across all eight playing characteristics.

Strong DNA Match8.4

Baltimore Country Club

Lutherville-Timonium, Maryland

Why it matches: If Skokie Country Club is your kind of course, Baltimore Country Club is worth a look because it a comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character.

Strong DNA Match7.9

Flossmoor Country Club

Flossmoor, Illinois

Why it matches: Flossmoor Country Club is a natural next stop after Skokie Country Club: it a comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character.

Strong DNA Match8.9

Inverness Club

Toledo, Ohio

Why it matches: What links these two? A comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character — a familiar feeling, expressed in Inverness Club's own setting.

From the community

Community Sentiment

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