INDIAN HILL GOLF CLUB
🇺🇸 Winnetka, IL, USA
Designed by Donald Ross




Indian Hill Golf Club sits in Winnetka on Chicago's affluent North Shore, occupying gently rolling terrain characteristic of the lakefront suburbs. Donald Ross designed the course in the 1920s during his most prolific period, bringing his signature design principles to a property that allows for strategic variety within a relatively compact routing. The layout reflects Ross's preference for elevated, contoured greens that demand precise approach play and reward players who understand how to use ground contours.
The course moves through mature tree-lined corridors with modest elevation changes that create natural definition between holes. Ross's green complexes remain the central feature, with subtle breaks and false fronts that make distance control and angle of approach critical considerations. The bunkering follows his characteristic style—strategically placed rather than abundant, often greenside and positioned to penalize poor execution while offering recovery options for skilled players. The property's scale suits walking, and the routing maintains a traditional out-and-back flow.
Indian Hill functions as a private club serving an established membership drawn from Winnetka and surrounding North Shore communities. The club maintains a low profile consistent with the understated character of many Chicago-area private clubs from this era. While not a tournament venue or nationally ranked course, it represents a well-preserved example of Ross's work in the Midwest, offering members a straightforward test of golf that emphasizes shot-making over length and rewards familiarity with the greens' nuances.
Reviews
FAQ
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
Indian Hill at Indian Hill Golf Club has a Course Vaults score of 7.4 out of 10 based on 8 explicit golfer ratings.
Indian Hill was designed by Donald Ross.
Indian Hill at Indian Hill Golf Club is listed as private on Course Vaults; guest access is typically restricted.
Par at Indian Hill is 71.
Indian Hill plays 6,329 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at Indian Hill is 126.