The best golf course layouts in Illinois
The golf courses in Illinois that Course Vaults golfers rate highest for layout: routing, hole variety, and design. Each course needs layout ratings from at least 5 different golfers who played it; 31 courses qualify.
Shoreacres Golf Club
Lake Bluff, IL, USALayout 4.8 out of 5 from 20 golfers
PrivateSeth Raynor
- 4.9Conditions
- 4.8Layout
- 4.4Scenery
- 4.2Facilities
Seth Raynor did his magic laying out this course while not placing a single hole on Lake Michigan. Holes 10-15 is one of the best stretches of holes you’ll find anywhere and the greens are lightning with much undulation. Any day at Shoreacres is a magical day.
Written by
@bdunc418
- Must play
- Pristine
- Views
Conway Farms Golf Club
Lake Forest, IL, USALayout 4.5 out of 5 from 9 golfers
PrivateTom Fazio & Andy Banfield
- 4.5Conditions
- 4.5Layout
- 4.2Scenery
- 4.7Facilities
Conway Farms definitely gives off that big time feel the second you pull up to bag drop. The staff was awesome — super friendly and welcoming right from the start.
Written by
@TGUN312
- Caddies
- Driving range
- Halfway house
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Skokie Country Club
Glencoe, IL, USALayout 4.5 out of 5 from 6 golfers
PrivateDonald Ross
- 4.8Conditions
- 4.5Layout
- 3.9Scenery
- 4.4Facilities
Skokie is a fantastic set of challenging, interesting holes. The routing is superb, with great bunkering and fantastic green complexes.
Written by
@CarsonBaugher
- Walkable
- Caddies
- Halfway house
Old Elm Club
Highland Park, IL, USALayout 4.4 out of 5 from 7 golfers
PrivateDonald Ross & Harry S. Colt
- 4.5Conditions
- 4.4Layout
- 3.9Scenery
- 4.0Facilities
The course is short but offers many risk reward opportunities from drivable par 4s and reachable par 5s.
Written by
@CTR12
- Pristine
- Must play
- Fast greens
Butler National Golf Club
Oak Brook, IL, USALayout 4.4 out of 5 from 6 golfers
PrivateGeorge Fazio & Tom Fazio
- 4.7Conditions
- 4.4Layout
- 3.7Scenery
- 4.8Facilities
One of the most difficult courses in the U.S., will absolutely beat you up. Mend only club as there’s only a few left in the country, must play for sure. Green complex and speed is hard to describe. Great finishing holes.
Written by
@Mister_Nobody
- Pristine
- Fast greens
- Challenging
Chicago Highlands Golf Club
Westchester, IL, USA
Layout 4.4 out of 5 from 5 golfers
Ruffled Feathers Golf Club
Lemont, IL, USA
Layout 4.4 out of 5 from 5 golfers
TPC at Deere Run
Silvis, IL, USA
Layout 4.4 out of 5 from 11 golfers
Fyre Lake Golf Club
Sherrard, IL, USA
Layout 4.3 out of 5 from 5 golfers
Shepherds Crook Golf Course
Zion, IL, USA
Layout 4.3 out of 5 from 6 golfers
(Gold 9/Silver 9) Rich Harvest Farms
Sugar Grove, IL, USA
Layout 4.3 out of 5 from 10 golfers
(#4 Dubsdread) Cog Hill Golf and Country Club
Lemont, IL, USA
Layout 4.3 out of 5 from 24 golfers
Beverly Country Club
Chicago, IL, USA
Layout 4.3 out of 5 from 13 golfers
(North) Olympia Fields Country Club
Olympia Fields, IL, USA
Layout 4.3 out of 5 from 15 golfers
Flossmoor Golf Club
Flossmoor, IL, USA
Layout 4.3 out of 5 from 8 golfers
(#3) Medinah Country Club
Medinah, IL, USA
Layout 4.2 out of 5 from 5 golfers
Chicago Golf Club
Wheaton, IL, USA
Layout 4.1 out of 5 from 29 golfers
The Highlands of Elgin
Elgin, IL, USA
Layout 4.1 out of 5 from 5 golfers
(3rd nine) Black Sheep Golf Club
Sugar Grove, IL, USA
Layout 4.0 out of 5 from 6 golfers
Exmoor Country Club
Highland Park, IL, USA
Layout 4.0 out of 5 from 5 golfers
Ravisloe Country Club
Homewood, IL, USA
Layout 3.9 out of 5 from 12 golfers
ThunderHawk Golf Club
Beach Park, IL, USA
Layout 3.9 out of 5 from 7 golfers
(Tournament/Baer) Schaumburg Golf Club
Schaumburg, IL, USA
Layout 3.8 out of 5 from 6 golfers
The Glen Club
Glenview, IL, USA
Layout 3.7 out of 5 from 5 golfers
(#2 Ravines) Cog Hill Golf and Country Club
Lemont, IL, USA
Layout 3.7 out of 5 from 9 golfers
How we rank
This ranking uses each golfer’s layout rating, on a 0.5–5 scale. Layout is the layout score golfers give when they log a round. Every golfer counts once per course: repeat rounds are averaged first, then the course score is the average across golfers. A course needs layout ratings from at least 5 different golfers. Ties go to the course with more golfers, then the higher Course Vaults score. Only open courses with a published Course Vaults score (at least 5 explicit ratings) are eligible, and a page is published only when at least 5 courses qualify. State pages include courses across Illinois. Rankings refresh about hourly.
FAQ
Shoreacres Golf Club is #1 on Course Vaults in Illinois at Layout 4.8/5 (20 golfers). 31 courses qualify for this list.
This ranking uses each golfer’s layout rating, on a 0.5–5 scale. Layout is the layout score golfers give when they log a round. Every golfer counts once per course: repeat rounds are averaged first, then the course score is the average across golfers. A course needs layout ratings from at least 5 different golfers. Ties go to the course with more golfers, then the higher Course Vaults score. Only open courses with a published Course Vaults score (at least 5 explicit ratings) are eligible, and a page is published only when at least 5 courses qualify. State pages include courses across Illinois. Rankings refresh about hourly.
A course appears once at least 5 different golfers have rated its layout on Course Vaults. Log your round and rate it in the app to help it qualify.
This page was last generated Nov 12, 2026, 3:42 AM EST. Scores and eligibility are recomputed about every hour.
