Oak Park Country Club

Oak Park Country Club occupies a compact site in River Grove, a western suburb of Chicago along the Des Plaines River corridor. The course was designed by Donald Ross during his prolific period of Midwestern work in the 1920s, when he laid out numerous layouts across Illinois and neighboring states. Ross adapted his design principles to the relatively flat terrain typical of the Chicago area, relying on strategic bunkering, subtle green contours, and thoughtful routing to create interest on modest topography. The layout reflects Ross's characteristic approach to parkland design: greens with deceptive slopes and false fronts that reward precise approach play, fairway bunkers positioned to challenge specific landing areas, and holes that offer multiple strategic options depending on pin placement and conditions. The property's mature tree-lined corridors frame individual holes while the generally level terrain allows for walkable golf, a hallmark of Ross's philosophy even on less dramatic sites. Oak Park Country Club has served as a traditional private club for the River Grove and broader western suburban community for nearly a century. The course represents one of many Ross designs in the greater Chicago region, part of his extensive portfolio that helped shape American golf course architecture during the golden age of design. While not among his most celebrated works, it demonstrates his ability to create engaging golf on the kind of accessible terrain common throughout the Midwest.