Skokie Country Club – Played May 2023
- Rankings: None of my four lists
- Location: 500 Washington Avenue, Glencoe, Illinois
- Year: 1897
- Original Architect: Tom Bendelow
- Additional Work By: Donald Ross, William Langford, Theodore Moreau, Dick Nugent, Rees Jones, Bob Lohmann, Ron Prichard, & Tyler Rae
- Course Access: Private
- Walking Rules: Carts & Caddies Available
Score Card Information:
- Blue: 6,593 yards, Par 72, 72.1 Rating/136 Slope
- Yellow: 6,308 yards, Par 72, 70.8 Rating/133 Slope
- White: 5,892 yards, Par 72, 68.9 Rating/129 Slope
- Red: 5,939 yards, Par 72, 74.7 Rating/137 Slope (Women’s)
- Green: 5,575/5,463 yards, Par 72, 66.9 Rating/124 Slope (Men’s), 72.7 Rating/133 Slope (Women’s)
My final stop in Chicago was at the venerable Skokie Country Club. The golf course here has had many hands on it. The original nine-hole course was done by a member. From there Tom Bendelow expanded it to 18 holes, Donald Ross made big changes, and Langford & Moreau transformed it into the predominant routing that exists today. Further work has been done to restore the Ross characteristics to the greens and bunkers.
The club’s long history includes hosting tournaments. They have hosted the 1990 Western Open, 1922 US Open, 1198 US Senior Amateur, 2010 Western Amateur, and 2017 Western Amateur. The 1922 US Open was won by Gene Sarazen and is notable as the first version to sell tickets. They were a $1!
With that brief history, let’s shift to the golf course. Quirky is a common adjective used for older golf courses. Usually that can refer to blind shots or awkward angles. At Skokie, it is more apt to describe the composition of the holes. My caddie let me know as we approached the 14th tee, the next two holes would be our first back-to-back par fours of the day! That is not something you see often. Let’s get into the tour.
Hole 1 – 420 yards – Par 4
Before we get too far along, I had some camera issues on this day, so there will be some blurry photos. Anyway, the round gets started from an elevated tee that looks over an ample fairway. Keep your drives center or right to avoid any tree trouble.
The right side also provides a better angle to approach the severe green.
They don’t typically build greens like this today. Look at all the contouring.
Hole 2 – 187 yards – Par 3
On this hole, the best place to miss is the front of the green. Bunkers and rough on either side make for difficult up and downs.
Hole 3 – 532 yards – Par 5
Steer clear of the left side with this tee shot. The fairway bunkers are large hazards as well. The hole itself bends slightly left.
Here’s an idea of how big the fairway bunkers are.
If you are in range for your second shot, the green sets up for a running shot. Whatever you do, don’t go long.
Hole 4 – 425 yards – Par 4
No other way to describe this hole besides difficult. Bunkers guard the left side as the hole bends that way.
The green sloping might be subtle but it is still challenging.
Hole 5 – 165 yards – Par 3
Your entire goal here should be to get the tee shot on the green. Chipping from around this green is tough with the raised surface and bunkering. If you find the dance floor, the green isn’t crazily contoured, so birdie is a real possibility.
Hole 6 – 378 yards – Par 4
This hole begs for a draw off the tee but you cannot overdo it since trees and rough line the left side.
The green had a lot of contouring so I needed multiple photos to capture it.
Hole 7 – 495 yards – Par 5
This short par five bends right as it turns the corner before turning back left. If you’re on the left side, it will be hard to get home in two.
See what I mean?
This large bunker lies in wait for any lackluster second shots.
Hole 8 – 419 yards – Par 4
Out of bounds up the right and a bunker on the left provide the danger here. Forcing your drive up the left side is the more daring line.
Approach shots into this green are difficult for a few reasons, namely the false front, deep bunkers, and OB long.
Hole 9 – 151 yards – Par 3
The green here features a big slope from back to front. Any shots coming up a little short will likely roll off the front of the green. You can almost certainly wave goodbye to par if you find one of the bunkers.
Hole 10 – 402 yards – Par 4
Similar to the first hole, this one plays from an elevated tee to a generous fairway. Favor the right side to avoid the fairway bunkers on the left.
The approach shot plays to one of the more distinct greens at Skokie Country Club. You can see the slopes from a long way away.
The back section serves as a huge backstop. However, if you go over this green, good luck!
Hole 11 – 542 yards – Par 5
Here we’ve got another double dogleg going left then right. Your thoughts on the tee shot must factor in fairway bunkers on the left and a hazard up the right side of the entire hole.
There is plenty of grass between the left bunker and the green, so this shot is a green light.
Hole 12 – 175 yards – Par 3
We didn’t get the full length of Skokie’s signature hole, but I’m not complaining! The water doesn’t go all the way to the green so there is some room short. There’s also a bunker on the left that you can barely see.
The green has distinct sections divided by large ridges.
Hole 13 – 502 yards – Par 5
The right bunker provides a good frame of reference to aim your drive on this left bending hole. Stay out of the rough on the left, it’s thick!
The pond on the right is the real defense here but don’t go over this green if you want an easy chip.
Hole 14 – 405 yards – Par 4
The shape of this hole really calls for a fade. Either way, you’ll want to be in the fairway to attack this small green.
Take notice of the subtle sloping on this green. Putts from back to front will be pretty difficult.
Hole 15 – 319 yards – Par 4
This short four is dotted with bunkers from tee to green. A good line is over the right bunker.
Hole 16 – 207 yards – Par 3
This long par three is hard, no doubt. If you can make par here, pat yourself on the back.
The green slopes pretty severely from back to front.
I noticed this kicker on the back side of the right bunker. The architects thought about what could’ve been a dead area of the hole.
Hole 17 – 418 yards – Par 4
A draw will play really well on this slight dogleg left. Your approach shot must avoid the bunkers guarding the green, while also finding the right section of the green to take advantage of the slopes.
This is quite a lot of slope packed into a small green.
Hole 18 – 451 yards – Par 5
For men’s competitions, this hole is played as a par four. Those guys hit is too far, so that makes sense. For us normies, the uphill slope adds to the difficulty.
Some history happened here and this plaque near the tee fills you in on all the details.
The green is a big target but plays effectively smaller due to the slope on its perimeter.
Skokie Country Club is filled with tough holes and history. The quirk of not having consecutive par fours until the 14th hole made for an interesting mix of holes that kept me on my toes. I can certainly see how this course would have been quite a challenge in the early days. Perhaps unsurprisingly, it still holds up well to the modern game with treacherous greens and healthy rough. Check out Skokie if given the chance.