Prairie Isle at Prairie Isle Golf Club

Prairie Isle Golf Club sits in Prairie Grove, a small community in the far northern reaches of the Chicago metropolitan area near the Wisconsin border. The course was designed by Gordon Cunningham, a regional architect active primarily in the Midwest during the latter decades of the twentieth century. Cunningham's work typically emphasized playability for a range of skill levels while working within the natural terrain available at each site.

The Prairie Grove area features the gently rolling topography characteristic of northern Illinois, shaped by glacial activity and interspersed with wetlands and prairie remnants. Courses in this region often incorporate these natural features into their routing, with water hazards derived from existing drainage patterns and native grasses framing fairways. The relatively open landscape allows for wind to be a factor in club selection and strategy throughout much of the playing season.

Prairie Isle serves as the centerpiece of a residential community, a common development model in suburban Chicago during the period of its construction. Such courses typically balance the needs of daily-fee or member play with the integration of housing along the perimeter holes. The layout likely offers a straightforward test of golf suited to regular play, with enough variety in hole lengths and hazard placement to maintain interest for members and visitors alike.