Highlands of Elgin

It's a great course taken care of well only down fall was sand was not great but other than that it's a tough course but not unfair you will need every shot in ur bag type course

Been playing The Highlands since it was Spartan Meadow and every year they continue to update the course and keep up with the conditions. Played my first round of the season there yesterday and very excited for the upcoming season at The Highlands.

Course was in great shape for a November day in Illinois. The lunch in the grumpy goat tavern was excellent. Great value for a fun course.

This is my first time playing the course this year.
It took us over 5 hours to play, waiting on every shot.
In the past, even on crowded days it usually took 4 to 4.5 hours to play and things moved along. They need a pace of play policy and then enforce it. I single foursome should not make it miserable for everyone behind them.

I had read great reviews for this course and it lived up to all of the accolades.

I showed up as a single and I was paired with a couple of local golfers. We had a great time and I enjoyed being paired up with these two.

The starter was full of good information and he seemed to know many of the golfers that passed through. All the people I encounter at this facility were very helpful and accommodating.

The course was in excellent shape and there were many holes that stood out to me. The fairways are generous but trouble can be found if you try and play aggressive shots. The best advice I can offer off the tee is to aim at the middle and not take on any of the hazards or extreme carries.

I like the Par 3s a great deal. All of them were "signature hole" worthy.

I think, as a group, we probably played the wrong tees. The wind was up and not really in a favorable direction. I seldom felt downwind. The wind was a constant 10-15 mph and it felt like it gusted to 25 mph. Although the fairways are generous make sure you pick the right tees. There are some short holes on the course that makes that distance seem shorter than it really plays. The par 5s were very long from the mixed tees.

If you are in the NW Suburbs then give The Highlands of Elgin a try. It's one of the 20 best golf courses that I have played.

One of my favorite courses. About an hour drive with bad traffic but well worth it. Greens are fast and true with only a few silly pin placements. Lots of options off the tee with plenty of safe plays along with risk reward teases. Great par 3's with long short and mid length holes. It can get windy because it is very exposed so check the weather before booking a tee time. Beautiful to the eye and challenging but fair with nice greens means this is a 5 star course.

Highlands of Elgin really impressed me. Panoramic views over a quarry. Long carries that reward risk but also give an out to the shorter hitter. Tiered greens that offer large targets to the average player and smaller targets that are not unfair and challenge the good/great player. Par 5's that played from the up tees give you a change to get home in two. A fantastic Prairie Style clubhouse that doesn't overwhelm the course. This course has it all. My absolute favorite part of this course is the back 9 where you have a par 5 (reachable in 2) par 4 (reachable off the tee) and a par 5 (reachable in 2) back to back to back that can give a good to great golfer the opportunity to make three eagles. If you are a fan of Blackstone or Golf Club of Illinois this is a must do. Sorry Bowes Creek, Highlands of Elgin is the superior golf course. It's worthy of a US Open qualifier. Also, it backs up to the Elgin Mental Hospital... I wonder if the architect did that on purpose... post a snowman then go get your treatment.

The course is tough but fair. Some very challenging holes on both front and back nine's. Bring the big stick because to get close you'll use it quite often. Holes around the old quarry are very tough with fast undulating greens. Kind of expensive round considering it's about another 10 years for this course to mature. Fairways need to be watered more in the summer months so they are more consistent.

nice view and great nature
staffs are kind. and helpful.

This is one of the better courses in the Chicagoland area. A must play for any intermediate to skilled player.

The course was in great shape and the pace was good. For two of us in a cart it took 3 1/2 hours. And we waited on a couple of holes

Tough course built around a quarry.Difficult to walk because of distance from green to next tee.Course was in great condition.Pick the correct tees or you will have a long day.Water,sand and elevation changes will challenge your game.Worth the trip to the burbs.

It is a pretty good track. The wind was brutal on the back nine. Quite a few blind shots, which is fine, this was my first time. I thought the Par 3 7th was a little excessive from the tips. 291 yards to the pin into the wind. The longest par 3 I remember playing. I would for sure come back again.

the course is very demanding (and cool looking and well kept up). you must hit it straight and there are several holes where you must carry over trouble. the rangers always seem to be hovering around "helpfully" reminding you to keep pace and to keep carts outside the stakes around the green. it was never an issue for us. The starter also mentioned the same thing. yes, we get it- keep pace, blah blah blah. it is aggravating and more than once i wanted to tell them to go away (in much more harsh terms.) beverages- limited selection and very expensive.

Great course, slow pace of play. Rangers did not do anything to speed it up. 5 1/2 hour round is absurd.

This used to be the best kept secret in the western suburbs. We played yesterday and didn't see another group until we reached 17. Great course. If you haven't played it, fit it in this year.

Finally got out for a round of golf at the Highlands!

I've played Competetive Golf for 20 yrs. The conditions here are great for the aspiring Golfer

This course is very under rated, It truly is a Gem! I highly recommend this course. Next time out I would lay off the driver, I had better 2nd shots after using a fairway or rescue for my tee shot. Course Management is key here, the greens are fast and unsuspecting last second turns!

Having played many courses in Chicagoland, this place cannot be beat in terms of bang for your buck. Competes with many of the $$$ courses in the area (like Dubs) for a fraction of the cost. They have something special. Played a Saturday afternoon round in 4:30. Bring lots of balls if the wind is up. Only major knock is that it isn't closer to the city.