18231 South Park Avenue
Homewood, IL 60430
(708) 798-5600
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There is nothing quite like having to stop at the front gate to a course because the only way to get the parking lot is to drive in front of the 10^th tee box.  Then kindly wait for a golfer to tee off if necessary and then you can proceed to the clubhouse.  This was my second time playing Ravisloe Country Club, and I have to say this a hidden gem of a golf course.  That is most likely due to the fact this is only the third year the course has been open to the public.  Ravisloe used to be a prestigious Country Club, but like many CC’s the economy has really taken a toll on membership.  You would expect a country club turned public would lose a lot of that country club feel and immaculate course condition, but they have really done an excellent job keeping the course well maintained.  Playing from only 6,321 yards and a rating/slope of 70.8/127, don’t let the distance of this par 70 course fool you, because there is plenty of trouble out there.  Though not the original architect, legendary architect Donald Ross was the genius behind what we see today.  At first glimpse of the fairway and bunkering around the green on #1 any serious golfer will know who designed this course.  You will also encounter back-to-back par 5’s and par 3’s, which is another component Ross is known for.  The majority of Donald Ross courses in IL are private, so this is a real treat to experience.  I highly recommend this course to Chicagoland golfers, and I am confident you will enjoy your round.  The clubhouse is great, they have a grass driving range, short game area, and practice putting green, really everything you would expect a private club to have.

Hole by Hole descriptions:

1^st Hole:  Par 4, 395yds.  The 1st hole at Ravisloe is basically a straight par 4, with two fairway bunkers on the right that could come into play off the tee.  That would take a big drive, so keep your tee shot left of these bunkers, and you should have a good lie for your approach to a green sloping back to front with “Ross” bunkers on the left.

2^nd Hole:  Par 5, 535yds.  The 2nd is one of the more difficult holes on the course.  This par 5 dogleg left is a tight hole, and an accurate drive is key here.  It is reachable in two for the longer hitters.  Keep your tee shot right of the bunker on the left and you will be in good shape for a go at the green, or a layup.  Not much to worry about for your approach other than some bunkers front right.

3^rd Hole:  Par 5, 490yds.  The 3rd is the easiest of the three par 5’s on the course and definitely reachable in two.  There is trouble though around a green that slopes heavily from back to front.  This green is also very undulated, so keep the ball below the hole.

4^th Hole:  Par 3, 181yds.  The first of the 5 fantastic par 3’s at Ravisloe, really shows off the bunkering Ross in known for.  Make sure you hit the green, because the lips around the green could cause you to rethink your sand game.

5^th Hole:  Par 4, 315yds.  The 5th is a short dogleg right and the first hole where you can leave the driver in the bag.  The choice is yours, but I used my hybrid 3 iron and hit it over the trees on the right (not by choice), and thankfully it turned out to be a great shot, leaving me right of the three bunkers in the middle of the fairway.  The fairway bunkers are easily drive-able, but to far could be troublesome.  If you did want to drive it, I would take it over the trees.  The green is surrounded by bunkers and this one the most undulated green on the course.

6^th Hole:  Par 3, 135yds.  The 6th is one of the easiest holes on the course and you experience the great bunkering once again on this short par 3.

7^th Hole:  Par 3, 203yds.  The 7th is another par 3 and a tough one at that.  Playing over 200 yards this par 3 is basically all carry over water.  There is room on the left to bail out, but come on who admittedly would do that.  Better off hitting your shot, cursing that it was a bad one, and then smile to yourself that you ended up short left.  This is also one of the bigger greens on the course.

8^th Hole:  Par 4, 390yds.  The 8th is a straight par 4, and you will want to take your drive over the fairway bunkers on the right.  That will leave you with an approach shot to a green guarded by a bunker on the left.

9^th Hole:  Par 4, 405yds.  The 9th is another straight par 4, but keep your drive right of the fairway bunker, because it will come into play.  Your approach shot will be tested by two long bunkers on each side of the green.

10^th Hole:  Par 4, 395yds.  The 10th is an elevated tee shot, but be careful you don’t hit any cars entering the course, you can see the entrance on the right (white post).  Keep the ball left of the fairway bunker on the right, and your approach is downhill to a heavily guarded green.

11^th Hole:  Par 3, 226yds.  11 is a beast if the tee is all the way back.  I took the picture from the back tee box, but that day the hole played up from around 195yds.  Still a tough par 3, with two deep bunkers on the left.

12^th Hole:  Par 4, 400yds.  The 12th is a great par 4 with a bunker in the middle of the fairway that will come into play.  There is more room to the left of said bunker, if you are just right you will still be ok.  The two bunkers on the left really shouldn’t come into play, but going long on this hole is also not a good situation, as you will be faced with a nice 5 foot wall of thick fescue.  The green also falls off on the left, but the back is worse.

13^th Hole:  Par 5, 550yds.  13 is my favorite hole on the course.  I mention aesthetic value when I rank a course, and 13 is the pinnacle of what look for.  This is a downhill dogleg right par 5 with a great rolling fairway.  You will want to take your tee shot over, or to the left of the long fairway bunker on the right.  You will then be left with the best view on the entire course, and the epitome of Donald Ross bunkering.  Your approach is downhill, and choices of where to layup.  Hope you enjoy this hole as much as I do.

14^th Hole:  Par 4, 410yds.  The 14th is another straight par 4, so keep your drive right of the bunkers on the left.

15^th Hole:  Par 3, 146yds.  The 15th is the last par 3, and another view of great bunkering.  This is a short uphill shot, and if you are long and left you might just want to end your round there, because you could be in one of the deepest bunkers I have ever seen in IL.  They don’t call this bunker “The Devil’s Bunker” for a reason.  The picture below was me in the bunker and all you can see is the top of the flagstick.  Good luck to you if end up in there.

16^th Hole:  Par 4, 390yds.  16 is a downhill straightaway par 4.  The difficulty on this hole comes on your approach shot, because the green is the smallest on the course and slopes front to back, with a collection area all around.  Reminds me of something you would see at Pinehurst #2.

17^th Hole:  Par 4, 400yds.  The 17th is a blind uphill tee shot, but be careful (not really) of the fairway cross bunker about 100yds in front of you off the tee.  This is another thing Ross was known for.  Since the tee shot is uphill, Ross put this bunker here to punish golfers that top their tee shot.  The bunker really shouldn’t come in to play, but if you hit that low line drive, thank Mr. Ross.

18^th Hole:  Par 4, 355yds.  18 is a great short par 4 to end your round.  Driver could get you into trouble off the tee, as you are faced with fantastic bunkers on both sides of the fairway only 235yds off the tee.  The green is also surrounded by bunkers, so be precise with your approach.

I highly recommend you go out and play Ravisloe.  I can’t speak for the pace of play early in the morning, but I tee’d off at noon and didn’t wait on a single shot.  The pace was very much like a country club.  If you play a lot of golf, you know how great it is to not have to wait to play your ball.  It’s $73 to walk, $89 to ride, which is a little on the high-end, but really I think the price is fair for this course.  Conditions on the course are great, and how often do you get to play a course designed by one of golf’s true legends.  Work on you bunker play, and come out and try Ravisloe, you won’t be disappointed.

Tee it Up!!