485 Winchell Way
Glen Ellyn, IL 60137
(630) 469-8180
Website 

The Village Links of Glen Ellyn in my eyes is one of the best and most challenging public courses you can play in IL.  This course has almost every feature I look for when it comes to a course.  It is aesthetically pleasing, it is challenging, and in great condition.  This par 72 course plays from over 7,200 yards and a rating/slope of 74.9/138 from the men’s tees, and 6,382 yards with a rating/slope of 76.8/140 from the women’s tees.  Village Links has played host to several PGA qualifying tournaments, and continues to stand our as one of the finest layouts around.  In my opinion, the back 9 at the Village Links is one of the greatest stretches of 9 holes you will find in the Chicagoland area.   Each hole is unique and visually beautiful and you will notice more elevation changes on the back.  The course is just brilliantly mapped out, with strategically placed water hazards and bunkers that will come into playoff the tee on several holes.  The fairways are pretty tight as most holes are lined by trees, so errant shots will only make you scramble to make a good score.  The day I played the rough was also pretty long, so it was tough hacking out of there.  The greens were on the larger size, undulated, had a rather quick pace, and overall in fantastic shape.  They have  a grass driving range, short game area, and putting green.  I couldn’t recommend this course anymore to every golfer in the Chicagoland area.  You might leave a little mentally defeated, since this is a very tough course, but I know you will have enjoyed the round on one of the finer courses in the area. 

Hole by Hole descriptions:

1^st Hole:  Par 4, 380yds.  The 1st is a straight par 4, with bunkers on the right that will come into play off the tee.  Keep your tee shot right of the bunkers and you will be in good shape for your approach to a long green that slopes back to front and is guarded by three bunkers.

2^nd Hole:  Par 5, 572yds.  The 2nd is a great par 5, and one of the tougher holes on the course.  This is really a 3 shot hole to get to green.  The bunkers off the tee will come into play for the longer hitters, so taking a line just right of the trees is ideal.  The green is guarded by several bunkers, so your approach shot needs to be accurate to the slightly uphill green that slopes back to front.

3^rd Hole:  Par 3, 206yds.  The 3rd is a slightly uphill par 3 with a narrow green back to front that slopes right to left.

4^th Hole:  Par 4, 465yds.  The 4th is a long par 4 and is the #1 handicapped hole.  An accurate tee shot is vital on this straight hole, with water on the right and fairways bunkers on the left to deal with, because all come into play off the tee.  If you escape from your tee shot safely your approach is easy to a rather large green.

5^th Hole:  Par 4, 400yds.  The 5th is one of my favorite holes on the course, and driver is not necessary on this hole.  You have water right and left of the fairway, and bunkers straight away.  Hitting the ball straight on this hole is very important, so choose your club wisely.  Your approach is slightly uphill to a pretty big green guarded by bunkers front left.  A back left pin placement would not be fun.

 6^th Hole:  Par 5, 552yds.  Six is soft dog leg right par 5 that can be reached in 2 for the long hitters.  There is water along the right that will come into play off the tee, and set of bunkers on the left.  Your approach will be uphill, so make sure to add an extra club to compensate for the slope.

 7^th Hole:  Par 4, 436yds.  Seven is another tough tee shot with water on the right and bunkers on the left that will play with your mind on the tee box.  Nothing fancy on the approach, but the bunkering is really great on this hole.

 8^th Hole:  Par 3, 159yds.  Eight was a mid-length par 3 with water short left and bunker guarding the right.  The green is not very deep, so an accurate shot is necessary here.

 9^th Hole:  Par 4, 445yds.  Nine was a great finishing hole to the front nine.  This soft dog leg right has bunkers guarding your landing area in the fairway on both sides, so accuracy is essential here.

 10^thHole:  Par 4, 384yds.  The 10th starts one of the best set of 9 holes in the Chicagoland area.  It is a par 4, with water that you will need to carry off the tee and then on the left side of the fairway.  There is also a set of bunkers straightaway about 260 yards from the tee box.  Your approach shot will be slightly uphill to a green guarded by bunkers on both sides.

 11^thHole:  Par 3, 197yds.  11 is a great uphill par 3, with bunkers surrounding the entire green.  A left pin placement will be very challenging and intimidating to get it close to the pin.

 12^thHole:  Par 4, 346yds.  The 12th is a fantastic short par 4 with great bunkering down the left side of the fairway and water on the right that will keep you honest off the tee.  The hole doglegs to the left and your approach is to long green.

13^thHole:  Par 4, 483yds.  13 is one of my favorite holes on the course and also one of the hardest holes as well.  13 is the longest par 4 on the course and feature a tree lined rolling fairway with well placed bunkers that hug the fairway, which come into play on your tee shot.  Your approach shot is slightly uphill to a rather large green.

 14^thHole:  Par 4, 429yds.  The 14th is a fantastic hole and one of the more picturesque holes from the tee.  Unfortunately the picture doesn’t depict the hole very well since the sun was starting to go down.  The ideal line off the tee is at the 150 stick in-between the fairway bunkers that guard the landing area.  Your approach shot it up hill to a green that slopes back to front.  Male sure you take an extra club on your second shot.

This picture is a view of the 14th and 15th taken from the 11th tee box.

15^thHole:  Par 5, 574yds.  15 is the longest par 5 on the course and another great hole.  This dogleg left has trouble everywhere off the tee.  Water on the right, and OB on the left.  There are also fairway bunkers on the left that will come into play on your drive.  Your second shot should be an accurate on, whether you are laying up or going for it because there are bunkers everywhere.  The approach is uphill to a well shaped, undulated green.

16thHole:  Par 5, 554yds.  The 16th is a dogleg left par 5.  There is water left and right off the tee, but don’t be fooled on the left like I was, because I thought I hit a great drive, except my ball ended up in the rough.  Big hitters can go for this green in two, but be careful because there is water right and long of the undulated green.

17^thHole:  Par 3, 204yds.  17 was my favorite par 3 on the course.  The tee shot is over water to a slightly uphill green, The green is rather large and undulated, with plenty of landing area short of the green,

 18^thHole:  Par 4, 422yds.  18 is an interesting finishing hole.  This is one of the oddest shaped fairways I’ve seen before, which is shaped like the letter O with water in the middle…..but I kind of liked it.  You have a choice to either go left of the water, which is the safer route, or go right to a tighter landing area that requires a carry of 245 yards from the tips.  If you go right you will have a better angle to the green for you approach, but I recommend going left.  Make sure your approach shot is accurate since the green is surrounded by bunkers and there is water is on the right.

Overall, Village Links is a fantastic golf course and a true challenge.  The course is always in great condition and you will agree it has one of the best layouts around.  It is $77 (with cart) to play, which is about average for this caliber of golf, but only $43 after 2pm.  They also have an additional full length 9 hole course, which I hear is one of the best 9 hole courses around.  I highly recommend this course to everyone out there.

Tee it Up!!