A view of a green with water coming into play at Makray Memorial Golf Club.
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4.3
572 Reviews (572)
5 Stars
288
4 Stars
186
3 Stars
59
2 Stars
23
1 Stars
16
Conditions
4.1
Value
3.9
Layout
4.5
Friendliness
4.3
Pace
4.1
Amenities
4.4
84.2%
Recommend this course
480 out of 572 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.6
10 Reviews (10)
5 Stars
7
4 Stars
2
3 Stars
1
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.7
Value
4.3
Layout
4.7
Pace
4.8
Amenities
4.7
StaffFriendliness
4.2
90.0%
Recommend this course
9 out of 10 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.3
78 Reviews (78)
5 Stars
46
4 Stars
19
3 Stars
8
2 Stars
2
1 Stars
3
Conditions
4.1
Value
3.9
Layout
4.5
Pace
4.1
Amenities
4.5
StaffFriendliness
4.3
83.3%
Recommend this course
65 out of 78 reviews
Read Reviews

About

Holes 18
Type Public
Par 71
Length 6903 yards
Slope 139
Rating 74.5

Makray Memorial Golf Club (formerly known as Thunderbird Country Club) is a public course that has been open since 1962. To commemorate 40 years of great golf, the course was remodeled and revamped in 2002. The renovations improved its playability and also made it more challenging. The championship-caliber layout features strategically placed bunkers, including some Scottish-style sod-faced ones, and tricky water hazards on several holes. The hilly terrain offers both challenging elevation changes and scenic views. The golf course finishes with a long par 5 that plays across a canyon of berms to a narrow fairway. Further accuracy is needed to reach the well guarded green surrounded by high berms, a pot bunker to the left, and a deep, steep bunker to the right. In addition to the course, Makray Memorial G.C. boasts an extensive practice facility with 1 1/2 acres of grass teeing ground, two putting greens, and a short-game area.

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Course Details

Year Built 1962
Fairways Bent Grass
Greens Bent Grass
Architect ILT Vignocchi (2002) Bob Lohmann

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes - $20 - $30
Clubs Yes
GPS Yes
Pull-carts Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Caddies No
Golf School Academy Yes
Teaching Pro Yes
Pitching/Chipping Area Yes
Putting Green Yes

Policies

Credit Cards Accepted Visa, Master Card, American Express, Discover
Metal Spikes Allowed No
Walking Allowed Yes
Dress code No blue jeans. Collared shirts for men, although mock turtlenecks are acceptable. Shorts no shorter then 3 inches above the knee.

Food & Beverage

Bar, Grill

Available Facilities

Clubhouse, Banquet Facilities

Accolades

  • Golf Advisor: Top Courses in Illinois (2016 #22)

Reviews

4.3
572 Reviews (572)

What Golfers Are Saying

The 19th Hole is Great For:
Drinks 25
Patio Dining 17
19th Hole Scenic Views 14
Course Challenges Include:
Undulating Greens 35
Elevation Changes 26
Bunkers 25
This course/club is great for:
Advanced Golfers 34
A Weekend Splurge 13
Entertaining Clients 13
This Course's Location is:
In the 'Burbs 31
Worth the Drive 22

Numbers based on reviews tagged with attribute.

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Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Barrington gem

Good track layout with a little of everything. Very playable but get loose and you will pay for it! Fire in those greens so hit the practice green before play and adjust! Don’t miss high on hole locations or 3 putts loom in your future !

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 6
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 27
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Think Phil Mickelson, 2018 Shinnecock Hills

Nice course and amenities but the greens are way too fast for a mid or high handicapper. Pros would not have an easy time putting these greens. They were too fast. The fastest I’ve ever seen here. Everyone in our foursome struggled not to three putt on many of the greens. I could see the group in front of us was struggling as well. Chipping from above a hole was a joke. Not easy to keep the ball on the greens. I would not recommend this course to anyone but a single digit handicap or better. Reminded me of the greens at the US Open 2018 Shinnecock Hills.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 27
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

US Open 2018 Shinnecock Hills

Greens were unplayable today….., think Phil Mickelson, 2018 Shinnecock Hills. I’m a low, single digit, handicap golfer, and struggled on the greens today because of pin placement and fast firm green conditions. Fastest I’ve ever seen here. The guys I played with are mid handicapper’s and said they won’t be coming back any time soon. Why would this course do that? Too bad. There are a lot of courses in the area that are just as nice and cost much less. Hope this was just an idiot greenskeeper who was having a bad day?

Conditions Fair
Value Fair
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 15
Handicap 15-19
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Deceptively Tough Course

Makray is an outstanding of the old Thunderbird course. The course is normally in excellent condition, but this time I noticed a lot more fairway divots that were not filled with sand and unrepaired ball marks on the greens. The greens, however, were in good shape and as fast as ever. The course has several challenging holes that require excellent second shots or layups in order to avoid trouble. I like the course and look forward to playing it again. Makray probably has the best clubhouse for drinks or a meal after a challenging round of golf.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 6
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Diamond in the rough

great value on the GN app.
always look forward to the challenge of makray. Just well groomed always a pleasant cart gal. to finish off the afternoon is a great club house. It's like playing a private course.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 21
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 21
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 4
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 24
Skill Beginner
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

That was the worst ?

Hi
In Metter of fact, I was planning to call golf now. It was my son father's day treat.we were on time we got to the start there where 3 high school students had there coach with them it talks about 20 minutes to hit .I asked the starter if can start on the back nine .it too busy. And told us by the way these two some playing with you I said I do not mind. The first nine holes it talks around 3 hours.every hole the group a head of us each hitting 2 or 3 balls .and the coach let the students practice from the bankers and putting 3 to 4 balls.i call on them (let's go) he turnd toward me laughing. And the 2 student with us was one student and a coach the same situation hinting and putting. There was no ranger to talk to it getting late .finally, there was a ranger at the 10th hole. I told him what was going .and he let's go ahead of them.the golf was empty. there were two groups ahead of us, and let us play through.
I find out the kids having a high school tournament the next day .if the golf course is why we stock in the middle of this craziness. I am there to watch kids practice on my time .the course should refund my money. And an appalag.

Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Poor
Pace Poor
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Fair
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 2
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart
Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 33
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart

Greens too undulated

Terrible. The pace of play was brutal, 14 holes in 415 and walked off. greens very unfair, fast and pins on slope. Awful experience. Will never go back.

Conditions Good
Value Poor
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Poor
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Walked

NEEDS BETTER CARE

THE COURSE WAS VERY DRY. EXCUSE WAS NO RAIN. FAIRWAYS AND GREENS WERE DRY AND HARD. APPEARED AS IF IT HAS BEEN WATERED. DON'T THEY HAVE A SPRINKLING SYSTEM TO MAIN THE COURSE? GREENS WERE UNCONTROLABLY QUICK.

GREAT COURSE LAYOUT. JUST NEEDS MORE CARE.

Conditions Fair
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Easy
Played On
Reviews 20
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 184
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
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