Exmoor Country Club

Great traditional country club track. The par 3's are very challenging. The greens were in superb shape. It is a course you could play over and over.

The Good: Exmoor CC, one of the most prestigious clubs in the North Shore Chicago suburbs and inaugural course in the Western Golf Association, is an original design from Donald Ross and restored in 2003 by Ron Pritchard; layout has Ross' traditional awesome bunkering and shell greens. Excellent Par 5's and interesting Par 3's. Fantastic course conditions and perfect greens are the highlight. The clubhouse is very impressive and looks like the White House from afar when you are playing the course. Several on-course comfort stations with staff that provide snacks and drinks. Nice driving range and several putting/short game areas. Staff is top-notch and provide a great experience.

The Bad: If there is a knock on the design, its that the Par 4's don't have that much variety and there is a lack of doglegs. Driving range doesn't have yardages. The men's locker room is a little outdated compared to the rest of the beautiful clubhouse.

The Verdict: Exmoor CC is a Top 5 Chicago area course that I've played. The view from the clubhouse porch is absolutely amazing and representative of the historic club.

Best Hole: The Par 5 6th is an awesome double dog-leg hole that requires a draw off the tee and then a cut approach to avoid a series of sand traps.

Being a very old (1896) private club in Chicago, it is not easy to get on, but as you'd expect, the course is in phenomenal shape and the amenities (huge clubhouse) are very impressive. Keep in mind I played the course in a scramble for which I did not pay, so I can't attest to the pace of play or value for the money.

Positives: great Donald Ross design features (multi-tiered rectangular greens), great bunkering, and the most pure greens I've ever putted on. There wasn't a blemish to be seen. The whole course was in terrific shape. And very nice practice facility.

Negatives: A lot of holes seem to duplicate the others. I have a hard time going back through my round and finding a true "signature" hole. Very few doglegs, almost every par 4 is dead straight. I felt like I had the exact same club into every hole.

All in all, I don't think Exmoor is worth the hefty price tag that comes with a membership, but if you get invited to play, definitely go. And make sure to have a post-round drink on the patio overlooking the 18th green. A beautiful scene.