Course Details
- Architect: Robert Trent Jones, Jr. (1999)
- Course Type: Public
- Par: 72
- Yardage: 7,031
- Rating: 74.1
- Slope: 137
Course Accolades
- Golf Magazine: #8 in Illinois
- Golf Week: #24 Municipal in USA & #5 in Illinois
- Top100Courses: #30 in Illinois
- Zagat: Top-Rated Values, Top Courses in State (IL) and America’s Top Golf Courses (2012)
Course Score
- Course Conditions: 8
- Green Complexes: 8
- Amenities: 7
- Practice Facilities: 7
- Service: 7
- Course Design: 8
- Value: 8
Total Score: 7.62
Course Review
The Good: Imaginative RTJ Jr. design just south of the Wisconsin border feels more like a Northwoods Michigan track. Great course conditions and excellent, fair greens that hold well and putt true. Was particularly impressive how well the course recovered from significant rains the past few days. Beautiful layout with nice variety of holes that weave through trees and Audubon preserves. Great mixture of short Par 4’s and challenging doglegs. One of the best collections of Par 5’s in the state, if not the entire Midwest. Good practice facility with nice range and short game area. Good clubhouse and on-course restroom stations. Well-priced around $90 w/ cart during high season.
The Bad: Greens can put a little slow compared to similar caliber courses. No GPS is a negative. Course can be extremely difficult, especially when the wind blows.
The Verdict: Thunderhawk is one of the best municipal courses in the country. A course that will play different every day you tee up and is very fun to play. A Top 10 public facility in Illinois & Top 5 in greater Chicagoland.
Best Hole(s): You could pick each of the Par-5’s to be the signature, but the 18th is the best. The Par-4 9th requires a long drive into a dog leg left with an approach that must navigate large overhanging trees and a creek. Tough!
Midwest Golf Tripper 