3535 Dundee Road
Northbrook, IL 60062
(847) 291-2351
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This was my first time playing Sportsman’s Country Club since the recent renovations, and I have to say they did a great job improving the aesthetic value of this course.  It used to be a run-of-the-mill type course, but now its value has increased greatly.  Originally designed by Edward B. Dearie, an apprentice of Donald Ross, but recently has been renovated by local architect Rick Jacobson.  The majority of the renovations were to the bunkering and all the greens.  I have to say the contour and undulation of the new greens was fantastic, but the day I played the conditions of the greens were not that great.  I really hope this isn’t the case on a daily basis, but I assume they are just overplayed, and the recent rain doesn’t help too.  This par 70 course played 6,278yds from the tips and had a rating/slope of 70.4/126.  This course may be short, but if you don’t hit the fairways you could be in serious trouble.  Almost every fairway is guarded by strategic bunkers, so keeping it straight off the tee is vital at Sportsman’s.  The course features beautiful mature trees throughout the course and welcomed elevation changes to this part of the North Shore.  Sportsman’s also has a nine hole course, which I haven’t played, but heard it’s one of the best around.  There is also a driving range, but mats only, which I personally hate, and nice little miniature golf course.  If you haven’t been back to Sportsman’s in a few years, or never at all, I recommend making your next tee time here, it’s a new course in my eyes.

Hole by Hole Descriptions:

1^st Hole:  Par 5, 483yds.  The 1st is a short par 5 that is reachable in two for the long hitters.  Keep your drive left of the bunkers on the right and you should be in good position for an attempt to go for the large undulated green in two.

2^nd Hole:  Par 4, 395yds.  The 2nd is a nice par 4 with trouble everywhere.  Off the tee you have water on the left to deal with and bunkers on the right.  Your approach to another large undulated green is guarded by bunkers on both sides.

3^rd Hole:  Par 3, 167yds.  The 3rd is a great uphill par 3 and probably my favorite of the 5 par 3’s.  This hole also shows off the fantastic new bunkering.

4^th Hole:  Par 4, 381yds.  The 4th is a straight par 4, so take your drive right at the 150 yard stick and you will be in good shape for your approach.

5^th Hole:  Par 4, 361yds.  Number 5 is a slight dogleg left par 4.  The tee shot is downhill, but after the 150 yard stick the hole is uphill to an undulated green that breaks from back to front.

6^th Hole:  Par 3, 152yds.  The 6th is another great bunkered par 3 with a slightly uphill tee shot.

7^th Hole:  Par 5, 487yds.  5 is another short reachable in two par 5 for the big hitters.  The tee shot is tight and there are well placed fairway bunkers that do come into play, so keep your shots on this hole straight or you could find yourself in trouble.

8^th Hole:  Par 3, 204yds.  8 is a long par 3 with water that could come into play if you are really short.  If you are long and right though there is a collection area that your ball will find.

9^th Hole:  Par 4, 451yds.  The 9th is the longest par 4 and is a straight difficult hole.  There is a well placed fairway bunker on the left that will come into play off the tee.  Your approach shot is uphill to a green guarded by bunkers front right and left.

10^th Hole:  Par 3, 169yds.  The 10th is a par 3 that is all carry over water.  There is little room to bail out on the right, but a bunker may consume your ball.  Nice par 3 to start the back nine.

11^th Hole:  Par 4, 399yds.  11 was one of my favorite holes on the course, with one of the best views from the tee box.  Your tee shot is downhill, but be careful because there are fairway bunkers that will come into play.  Your approach shot is then uphill to an undulated green, with bunkers on both sides.

12^th Hole:  Par 4, 420yds.  12 is another great par 4, with two well place fairway bunkers you will need to contend with.  Your approach shot is to one on the larger greens on the course with two bunkers, and a collection area back-left collecting errant shots.

13^th Hole:  Par 4, 363yds.  13 is a fun hole if you want to take some risk.  Big hitters can take their tee shot over the trees on this dogleg right and leave themselves with a short approach shot.  The risk comes with water on the left about 280 from the tips and a narrowing fairway past the trees.  The other option is to take a fairway wood and leave it short of the water.  This hole is a good birdie opportunity either way you go.

14^th Hole:  Par 3, 170yds.  The 13th is good par three with trouble all around the green, and one of the more undulated greens on the course.  There are three tiers to this green, with a valley in the middle that will collect most tees shots.  If you are on the wrong end of this large green, good luck getting down in two.

15^th Hole:  Par 4, 408yds.  15 is a slight left to right par 4 with a fairway bunker on the right that will come into play.  One of the tougher par 4’s on the course so par is good here.

16^th Hole:  Par 4, 298yds.  16 is the shortest par 4 on the course and driveable for the big hitters.  There is water on the left, but that really shouldn’t come into play.  Bunkers surround the green, and there is OB all along the right side, so choose your club wisely.  This hole is a definite birdie opportunity, as the green is one of the easier putting surfaces on the course.

17^th Hole:  Par 5, 544yds.  17 in my opinion is the toughest hole on the course.  Choosing the right club on this hole is very important on each shot you will make.  You have water off the tee on both sides to deal with, and fairway bunkers on both sides to try and avoid.  After your tee shot, hoping you are safely in the short grass, you are faced with a decision to layup short of the water, or fly your ball over the water and past the huge willow tree to safety.  After that it is smooth sailing, but how many shots did it take you to get the green?

18^th Hole:  Par 4, 426yds.  The 18th is a nice finishing hole with not much trouble other than some fairway bunkers to avoid off the tee.  Hit a good tee shot and give yourself a chance to end your round with a good score.

Sportsman’s has made some great updates to their course and I definitely recommend this course to every golfer in the Chicagoland area.  For $49 to walk and $67 to ride, I believe you are getting a good deal for the area.  Even though it’s a shorter course the challenge is still there, the pace of play was standard for a North Shore public course, and I know you will find the new bunkers and greens to be a pleasant surprise.

Tee It Up!!