The Glen Club – Played October 2016
- Rankings: Golf Magazine Public #72
- Location: 2901 West Lake Avenue, Glenview, Illinois
- Year: 2001
- Architect: Tom Fazio
- Course Access: Public
- Walking Rules: Carts Available
Score Card Information:
- Gold: 7,186 yards, Par 72, 75.4 Rating/142 Slope
- Blue: 6,727 yards, Par 72, 72.8 Rating/135 Slope
- Silver: 6,062 yards, Par 72, 70.2 Rating/128 Slope (Men’s), 76.1 Rating/138 Slope (Women’s)
- Red: 5,324 yards, Par 72, 72.0 Rating/129 Slope
I needed a good night’s sleep after playing Butler National. Luckily, I got it and was bright-eyed and bushy-tailed for The Glen Club the next morning. It was chilly, but I can brave a little cold for a great golf course.
The Glen Club has an interesting story regarding its construction. It used to be a Naval Air Base with a total difference in elevation a whopping three feet. It is not like that now! There are some holes with 40 feet of elevation change. Tom Fazio was a perfect choice to sculpt the land.
The club features a hotel and other amenities right on the property just outside of Chicago. It is a great piece of property. I was happy to play the course a few days before the Cubs won the World Series. They were flying the W in the parking lot for sure!
We chose to play the blue tees so all yardages are from there. Enjoy!
Hole 1 – 543 yards – Par 5
Fazio starts you off with a long hole that is difficult for most to reach in two. Luckily, the fairway is quite wide for those first tee jitters.
After a layup, you will be faced with this uphill approach to a large green. Be careful not to spin it off the front as it will gain speed down the hill.
Hole 2 – 397 yards – Par 4
This tee shot plays down the hill providing an opportunity for a long drive. The bunkers up the left side are in play.
The only trouble on the approach is the sand to the right. The margin for error is quite large on this hole.
Hole 3 – 453 yards – Par 4
A big drive is needed on this dogleg to the right. It is obvious to avoid the cluster of bunkers, but not as easy when you are trying to rip a driver.
No reprieve is given on the approach as you still have to go uphill to the green fronted by a very deep bunker.
Once on the green, the subtle contouring makes putting to certain pin positions interesting.
Hole 4 – 139 yards – Par 3
I really liked the optics of this hole. It is tucked into this little area and surrounded by the low-slung trees. You have no more than a short iron and you feel as if you can make birdie here.
The green is quite narrow in the front but widens up once you get to the midway point.
Hole 5 – 565 yards – Par 5
This is a long and tough hole that most will not be able to reach in two. The trees on the right are in play so the drive must be aimed properly.
The water is definitely a factor when going at the green as short and left are dead. There is a generous area to the right to bail out if needed.
Hole 6 – 410 yards – Par 4
This is a difficult tee shot with trouble on both sides. The fairway runs out much quicker on the left than it appears. A great line is to take it over the tree seen straightaway.
This is the view from the left rough.
Here is a look at the green.
Hole 7 – 458 yards – Par 4
This long hole requires a power fade off the tee due to the trees seen here.
The second shot plays uphill to a large green guarded by plenty of sand.
Hole 8 – 339 yards – Par 4
This hole gives you lots of options off the tee. Long hitters can go for the green, but a bailout is offered to the fairway for average length players.
The second shot has some peril with the water fronting the green. Well struck shots should not encounter any trouble.
Hole 9 – 191 yards – Par 3
The challenge is right in front of you on this hole. The green is very large commensurate with the length. A fade works best to avoid the front bunker.
Hole 10 – 302 yards – Par 4
I love a short par 4. A drive up the right side is the best line if going for the green.
There is a lot of slope towards the back of the green where this flag is located. Putts going across the green will be tough to gauge speed.
Hole 11 – 202 yards – Par 3
This hole plays long with all the trouble to the left. Bunkers can save some indifferent pulls, but wayward shots to the left will most likely end up wet.
Hole 12 – 395 yards – Par 4
The tee shot is wide open on this dogleg left. You can swing freely.
The approach shot is visually interesting with sand and trees all around.
Hole 13 – 341 yards – Par 4
So far you have probably seen that most of the fairways are well framed by the rough. The drive should be taken left of the bunker.
The approach is to a green that is quite sloped.
Hole 14 – 503 yards – Par 5
I really liked this hole. The drive is best played up the left side of the fairway. A good drive can allow you to get home in two.
The second shot plays to a green bracketed by plenty of trees.
The green is seen below.
Hole 15 – 336 yards – Par 4
This tee shot can be difficult depending on how long you want to hit it. A simple shot of 200 yards will leave you in a great position.
Hole 16 – 409 yards – Par 4
The 16th is a long and uphill hole. The bunker seen here is very much in play.
The approach plays uphill as I mentioned.
Hole 17 – 183 yards – Par 3
The last short hole is a great one. There is a bailout to the right as you can see, but plenty of trouble everywhere else. Beware of the miss left.
There is a great deal of undulation from back to front. The shot I had below broke quite a bit to the left.
Hole 18 – 561 yards – Par 5
The Glen Club is not going to give you an easy test on your last hole of the day. Instead, you get a long par 5 that is not reachable for most players. The clubhouse is a good aiming point.
Here is a look at the second shot.
The approach from this angle is very daunting. It plays over water and sand. On this cold day, it played very long. I suspect in the summer the third shot would play from much further left.
Here is the shorter approach one might face.
Despite the cold temperatures, I had a great time playing at The Glen Club. It’s always fun to see new courses and play them with a friend. Chicago has a lot to offer for public golf. I have only scratched the surface and can’t wait to get back.