Ravisloe Country Club – Homewood, IL

Course Details

• Architect: Theodore Moreau & James Foulis (1901), Thomas Bendelow (1909), Willie Watson (1912), Donald Ross (1917), & David Esler (2001)
• Course Type: Public
• Par: 70
• Yardage: 6,321
• Rating: 70.8
• Slope: 127

Course Accolades

• Golf Magazine: #11 in Illinois
• Golf Week: #13 in Illinois
• Top100Courses: #36 in Illinois

Course Score

• Course Conditions: 8
• Green Complexes: 8
• Amenities: 7
• Practice Facilities: 6
• Service: 7
• Course Design: 8
• Value: 8

Total Score: 7.36

Course Review

The Good: The site of an original 9-holes designed by Theodore Moreau & James Foulis, updated by Tom Bendelow &Willie Watson, and finalized by Donald Ross in 1917, Ravisloe was one of the most respected private clubs for decades until recently going through a David Esler restoration and becoming public during the great recession. As nicely conditioned a public course in the greater Chicago area with beautiful sand bunkers that infiltrate the course and the signature Ross smallish, crowned greens that putt extremely quick and true. Compared to many other courses built in that time, there is excellent variety in the Par 4’s with several blind shots on the tee and some doglegs. Unique routing on the front nine with instances of consecutive Par 5’s and Par 3’s. The stretch of holes of 13-15 is some of the most fun I’ve played in the area. Incredible clubhouse is one of the nicest that I’ve seen for a public facility. Good practice area with small driving range, short game area and putting green. One of the better values in Chicago public golf considering conditions and history. The staff was excellent and gave me a brief history of the club when I mentioned it was my Chicago public golf “Great White Buffalo.” Pace of play was good and on-course service acceptable.

The Bad: The odd routing can cause pace of play issues. Course isn’t marked extremely well in terms of pin placements and yardages. I don’t mind blind tee shots, but there are a few too many holes in which you drive into an abyss of trees and hope that your ball finds the fairway. I suspect when I play Ravisloe again it won’t be an issue, but a bummer for a first-timer.

The Verdict: Ravisloe is an extremely fair, fun test of golf for all skill levels. Esler apparently did a superb job with the restoration, as I felt like this was a “mini-Skokie” as I was on the grounds. Easily a Top  5-10 public course in all of Chicago golf.

Best Hole(s): I really liked the tough Par-3 7th over water and the spectacular Par 5 13th. The bunkering on the 13th is as visually interesting and intimidating as any hole in the area (sans only the 11th at Skokie that I’ve played).