
Valley/Prairie Course
Boone Creek Golf Club

About this course
Boone Creek Golf Club sits in McHenry, Illinois, a community in the northern reaches of the Chicago metropolitan area where glacial topography shapes the landscape. The facility features two nines—Valley and Prairie—designed by Vince Bizik, a regional architect who worked primarily in the Midwest during the latter decades of the twentieth century. The Valley/Prairie combination offers golfers a contrast in terrain and playing character across its eighteen holes, reflecting the natural diversity of the northern Illinois landscape. The Valley nine likely incorporates more pronounced elevation changes and wooded corridors, taking advantage of the rolling terrain common to this glaciated region. The Prairie nine, as its name suggests, presents a more open character with wider fairways and exposure to wind, echoing the traditional links-influenced aesthetic that many Midwestern courses adopt when working with flatter ground. Together, the two nines provide variety in shot-making demands and visual presentation, moving between sheltered, tree-lined holes and more exposed stretches where club selection becomes critical. Boone Creek serves the McHenry County golf community as a daily-fee facility, accessible to area residents and visitors exploring golf options northwest of Chicago. The course operates within the regional network of public and semi-private layouts that characterize suburban Illinois golf, offering a straightforward test for recreational players without the formality or exclusivity of private club environments.
Quick facts
- Location
- McHenry, IL, USA
- Access
- Public
- Year built
- 1997
- Designer
- Vince Bizik
- Holes
- 18
- Par
- 71
- Length
- 6,077 yards
- Difficulty
- 75.6/134
Getting there
Most arrivals to Boone Creek Golf Club begin at Chicago O'Hare International (ORD), roughly an hour's drive northwest into the gently rolling farmland and glacial moraine of McHenry County. The route traces the outer edge of Chicagoland's suburban sprawl before yielding to open pasture, scattered woodlots, and the kind of quiet two-lane roads that define Illinois horse country. As you near McHenry, the landscape softens into a patchwork of creeks and wetlands, and the final turn onto the club grounds feels less like an arrival than a retreat - a deliberate step back from the noise of the city into a corner of the prairie shaped by water, wind, and time.
FAQ
Common questions about Valley/Prairie at Boone Creek Golf Club
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
Valley/Prairie was designed by Vince Bizik.
Yes. Valley/Prairie at Boone Creek Golf Club is listed as welcoming public or guest play on Course Vaults.
Par at Valley/Prairie is 71.
Valley/Prairie plays 6,077 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at Valley/Prairie is 134.
Valley/Prairie is a 18-hole course.






