Oak Club of Genoa

Course is in decent shape but several of the greens have winter damage. $30 or under on weekend, $25 or under on weekdays it's a good deal and the scenery/routing of this course always makes it a fun play. Course should seriously consider redesigning or at least taking out a few trees on the par 5 15th hole to make it more playable. As configured you virtually have no shot from 110 to 150 yards in from the right side of the fairway unless you can slice your ball 25 yards around the 50 foot high trees.....this is a fun/tight test and if course conditions improve would rank well above 4 stars. 3 stars because of conditions.

First time played - Booked a same day hot deal for $10 arrived a tad early and the general manager graciously allowed me to head right out due to an empty afternoon tee sheet. Thank you sir! Beverages were priced right. This course is a great value and nearer to Chicago area definitely would be a course I'd play a few times a year.

Agree with many of the previous comments made -
a) a dated but functional clubhouse (really cool looking from the front side when you drive up)
b) many sand traps that need attention and new sand
c) very short fairway grass / hard soil conditions - FAIRWAY GROUND AERATION IS NEEDED....I hope they consider doing this soon...it may not have been done in several years
d) 14th green in particular is in tough shape (winter damage/mold) but still very playable...some other greens have some very minor issues but still really playable
e) dead trees - was told this was due to the ash borer disease - makes the course look "spooky"...it's that time of the year!

But please fear not golfing souls - this track has plenty of very good pluses -
1) consistent green speeds - fairly speedy and smooth most instances - not aerated yet and really were in pretty decent shape
2) many greens are elevated or have uphill approaches and enough hills and dales throughout to keep your interest and many greens are well protected by a sand trap or two or three!
3) a neat routing - wish I could have played the original before the 11th thru 16th were re routed/changed
4) beautiful scenery (a big surprise really scenic/ very quiet it actually reminded me of being at Blackwolf Run or Northern Michigan courses played) with a river meandering through the routing and with colors just changing or about to
5) accurate driving required or you'll be punching out from the trees....some very tight driving holes/smaller width fairways and water to avoid here and there

I really enjoyed this place and it has a nice "vibe." It was fun just figuring out how to get there and then very pleasantly surprised of the overall beauty of the golf course and quality of design. I give it 3.75 stars overall...rating it "up" as a 4 because of the scenery. It would be good solid 4 star plus if some of the issues could be corrected.

A challenging course with interesting and unique play. I think twenty years ago this might have been the kind of place an amateur event could be played. But it appears years into disrepair. Dead plants, dead trees, weeds in many places. The greens on the back nine full of bare spots, and some shaved into the dirt by a mower. Very little sand in any of the many, many bunkers. It was Sunday morning and there appeared to be all of a couple dozen people on the entire course. Too challenging for beginners, not in decent enough shape for more advanced players. Would only go back for a very special price.

What a great course. It needs work on most of the sand traps, other than that, it is a great layout. The greens were consistent and rolled true . Fairways are in nice shape.. The deal from golf now was exceptional.. A MUST PLAY!!

Excellent layout. Left and right doglegs. Holes 14 and 15 very tough. A few greens need some attention - but overall this is a great value.

I play Oak Club many years ago when it was known as Ellwood Greens. This is the first time I've played it since then.

Many of the holes have challenging designs, mature trees, water, lots of sand traps. The sand is very firm and much like dirt, some traps contain gravel bits. A number of tee boxes and greens are scarred by unreplaced divots and unfixed ball marks. Some greens are dried out -and patchy.

It was worth playing once for the scenic views, but I would not play it again any time soon.

I still enjoy playing this course but the conditions are starting to change my mind about playing there!
Tee boxes and greens are in ok shape, bunkers are in fair condition, and clubhouse smells musty .
They changed some of the holes on the back and directions from 11 to 12 are not good.
There appears to be a hole that people played on Sunday that is not part of course now??

What a great course!!!! The Oak Club of Genoa is a real gem of a course. The course was in great shape (until the rains came at 13 . . . which flooded the course) . . . very scenic and challenging. We can't wait to go back and play it again so we can finish the holes we didn't get to play. A great value for the money!!!!!

Fun, with enough challenges to make it interesting. Tee boxes a little firm and a few greens and sand traps need work. Beautiful setting will come back for more play.

We played this course last weekend and found it to be in a gorgeous setting. This Kishwaukee River touches 11 holes, including crossing a few fairways along the way. It's like playing in an arboretum or state forest. The size, shape and contours of the greens are very fair. However, some of the greens have a fungus or mold, the irrigation system obviously is not being used anywhere as the ground is VERY hard and the grass is extremely short. There is no grass to support your ball above the ground. We noticed that the ground is so ridiculously hard that there were no divots taken anywhere. The sandtraps have construction grade sand for mixing concrete. Also, they are not maintained at all. In the sand? Do yourself a favor, just pick it up and keep playing. I'm not going to risk scratching my clubs in their sand traps because they won't take care of them. It's a very tired course but still beautiful. Maintenance appears to have been lacking for a few years. Having said all that, I will still go back to play. It is an interesting lay out with incredible views.

Course has some nice features and layout. Most of the bunkers did have sand, but very deep. Skip hole 14. Played early Sunday AM, pace of play very slow.

It has been a few years since I played this course. The last time the course wasn't in top condition. We were pleasantly surprised this time out. The greens were fast -- just the way I like them. It's such a pretty setting. We are sure to return. I cannot comment on food because we did not eat at the course. The staff were quite cordial.

Golfed here about 20 years ago. What a nice place to golf. Staff was great, the course was good and had fun the whole time playing. If it were closer to home, I'd play here more often. Will be back again.

Also enjoy playing here. A little slow yestersday.

Golf course greens in fair shape. Location has poor signage. In subdivision hard to locate.

Nice value. Sand traps in horrible condition. Greens nice and fairways a little hard to see and find. Worth the money though for sure.

nice course setting with old oak trees. Fairways and greens ok. sandtraps terrible condition with exposed drain tiles and cloth material. Some just dirt and mud, course not cared for at all. Club house old, dingy, dark. I did not feel welcome as a guest. would not recommend this course as a golf destination.

Great old-school course, nestled in among woods and fields. Beautiful scenery and some good challenging holes. Excellent greens. Thoroughly enjoyed it and will plan to return.

Saturday morning 7:50 tee time and we played in 3 hours. Fairways and greens are in great shape so it's no problem playing the ball down. Only thing they need to improve are the trapes. If in them give yourself a fair lie.

Mature course, greens were fast and in excellent shape, very windy during round so balls above the tree line moved a bit in the wind, pace of play was very good for a Father's Day Sunday, food and beverages were fairly priced, very nice practice and warm up area, putting greens were representative of the speed of the course. Definitely plan to return.