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Rating Index Rating
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3.8
363 Reviews (363)
5 Stars
109
4 Stars
172
3 Stars
46
2 Stars
15
1 Stars
21
Conditions
3.8
Value
3.9
Layout
3.9
Friendliness
4.1
Pace
3.9
Amenities
3.3
78.6%
Recommend this course
298 out of 363 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.4
11 Reviews (11)
5 Stars
5
4 Stars
5
3 Stars
1
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.2
Value
4.4
Layout
4.3
Pace
4.5
Amenities
4.0
StaffFriendliness
4.6
90.9%
Recommend this course
10 out of 11 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
3.9
61 Reviews (61)
5 Stars
17
4 Stars
27
3 Stars
14
2 Stars
2
1 Stars
1
Conditions
3.9
Value
4.1
Layout
3.9
Pace
3.9
Amenities
3.4
StaffFriendliness
4.2
83.6%
Recommend this course
51 out of 61 reviews
Read Reviews

About

Holes 18
Type Public
Par 72
Length 6589 yards
Slope 124
Rating 71.3

Situated on Chicago's scenic North Shore, Lake Bluff Golf Club has become a "must-play" destination in the area. First opened in 1968, the course has a classic layout with front and back nines that are very different. The front nine provides a gentle start. The terrain is mostly flat and the holes are straightforward. As you move onto Lake Bluff's back nine there is more up and down and consequently the challenges are greater. Don't get too comfortable on the first half of the golf course because you'll need your wits about you for the second. Trees line the narrow fairways and the tricky greens all slope in one direction or another. Accuracy is essential. Water doesn't come into play but the doglegs and strategically placed bunkers provide plenty of challenges.

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Lake Bluff Golf Club
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Course Details

Year Built 1968
Fairways Blue Grass
Greens Bent Grass
Golf Season Open: 4/01 Closed: 12/01
Architect Bob Lohmann

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes - $16
Clubs Yes
Pull-carts Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Bunker Yes
Golf School Academy Yes
Teaching Pro Yes
Pitching/Chipping Area Yes
Putting Green Yes

Policies

Credit Cards Accepted VISA, MasterCard Welcomed
Metal Spikes Allowed No
Walking Allowed Yes
Dress code Proper attire is required.

Accolades

  • Golf Advisor: Top Courses in Illinois (2015 #21)

Reviews

3.8
363 Reviews (363)

What Golfers Are Saying

The 19th Hole is Great For:
Patio Dining 7
Course Challenges Include:
Bunkers 11
Thick Rough 11
Undulating Greens 11
This course/club is great for:
Locals 18
Walkers 14
Beginners 10
This Course's Location is:
In the 'Burbs 19
Worth the Drive 16
Convenient to the City 7

Numbers based on reviews tagged with attribute.

Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 13
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Just like most reviews said

Tee time was 20 minutes behind,no food was ready at turn,did have to wait for carts! Coarse was in great condition and had a great time otherwise.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 88
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 1000 Contributor
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Fair
Amenities Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 5
Handicap Don't know
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 2
3.0
Previously Played

Very wet conditions. Course does not drain well even 2 days after rain. Would wait for dryer conditions before playing again.

Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Very Average

Very average course and amenities with below average pace of play. I struggled to get 9 homes in when I started at 5:30

Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 115
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Used cart

good day

saw a deal on golf now, signed up and had a great day on the course.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Would like to see better directions/signage on the course to direct golfers to the next hole. Since it was our first time at the course, it was quite confusing at times.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Fair
Value Fair
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 40
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Windy weather
Used cart
Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 8
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Needs Improvement

I played on Sunday at 12:20 with my son. There were no carts available for the several people waiting at the tee box. We did finally tee off 30 minutes later. Strike one. The round was moving nicely, and we watched the cart girl drive by a few times with a friend in the cart and music playing. When she finally did stop, she had no ice tea, lemonade, no real food. We got water. At the turn, how about a golf club that actually has a couple of hot dogs premade, as to not make us stand there for 10 minutes while it is being cooked. Strike two. The range is a complete embarrassment, crap old balls, and a great for practicing area for hitting from out of bounds or maybe out of the rough. Strike three. I'm out.

Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Fair
Pace Good
Amenities Poor
Difficulty Fairly Easy
Played On
Reviews 10
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Lk Bluff

Course does not drain well after rain but its a good value.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 7
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Can be slow

Too many hackers and couples and retirees looking to bird watch or whatever they are doing that takes forever to get from shot to shot. Pace of Play is a great equalizer to lack of skill and something my group relies on to keep things moving WITHOUT HURRYING. Folks here are concerned about nothing including their pace. Course is fun but too many people have picked up the game without learning the game…

Conditions Good
Value Fair
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Poor
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 448
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Illinois Advisor
Top 10 Contributor
Previously Played

It's your typical mini - nothing special

No real surprises at Lake Bluff it's a mundane muni with a few quirky holes. The greens are a bit larger than most but they are seem to be similar...you have to have course knowledge to learn which side of the green to hit to so your ball so it may roll in the proper direction. And it's very rare that your putt doesn't have a decent size break....a straight putt is hard to come by on this course. The grounds crew wasn't in a good mood and a number of flags were placed in areas that definitely slowed play. .

They run out of carts frequently and you can get behind some very slow play. Conditions are fine.....course does drain extremely poorly after any rain. What cracks me up is that there's never a starter - if the first tee is empty recommend you just drive out to the tee box even if your tee time is much later. Prior to anyone else pulling up look at your watch and subtract 5 or 10 minutes if you're asked what time you have. Last two times we've played here we've teed off a 1/2 hour early (both times with packed/full tee sheet) and no one even questioned us.

Lake Bluff has been part of our GolfVisions players pass book for a few years now. For our group it's one and done each season - plenty of other courses with more interest. No real inkling to return again until next year if Lake Bluff continues with Golf Visions. Has a range usually off mats that doesn't allow woods. A solid 3 stars and but major downgrade as there are many holes including several dog leg holes where the trees dictate play - it's kind of like a better maintained White Pines but a tad less tree claustrophobic. In better than average shape recommend except you have to gird for slow play, a possible wait for a cart and the crap shoot of when you should tee off.

Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 88
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 1000 Contributor
First Time Playing
Hot weather
Used cart

Wet Course

Course have a nice layout. Unfortunately it had rained a lot the night before so the fairways had lot of water. It was very crowded so the ace was a little slow. However, the round was still enjoyable.

Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 2
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 59
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 3
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 53
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Hot weather
Walked
Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Fair
Pace Fair
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Moderate
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