Makray Memorial Golf Club
About
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.
Tee | Par | Length | Rating | Slope |
---|---|---|---|---|
Black | 71 | 6903 yards | 74.5 | 139 |
Gold | 71 | 6573 yards | 73.0 | 135 |
Silver | 71 | 6215 yards | 71.4 | 131 |
Silver (W) | 71 | 6215 yards | 71.1 | 140 |
Green | 71 | 5716 yards | 69.1 | 126 |
Green (W) | 71 | 5716 yards | 74.3 | 134 |
Bronze | 71 | 5168 yards | 66.7 | 120 |
Bronze (W) | 71 | 5168 yards | 71.3 | 128 |
Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Black M: 74.5/139 | 436 | 425 | 342 | 175 | 452 | 556 | 201 | 302 | 430 | 3319 | 468 | 471 | 314 | 189 | 355 | 562 | 426 | 244 | 555 | 3584 | 6903 |
Gold M: 73.0/135 | 418 | 407 | 347 | 155 | 433 | 540 | 190 | 298 | 414 | 3202 | 431 | 450 | 304 | 173 | 337 | 552 | 389 | 215 | 520 | 3371 | 6573 |
Silver M: 71.4/131 W: 77.1/140 | 387 | 395 | 333 | 135 | 411 | 524 | 178 | 274 | 388 | 3025 | 408 | 429 | 294 | 158 | 322 | 533 | 351 | 197 | 498 | 3190 | 6215 |
Green M: 69.1/126 W: 74.3/134 | 383 | 355 | 298 | 130 | 366 | 439 | 148 | 254 | 385 | 2758 | 376 | 366 | 288 | 140 | 318 | 480 | 347 | 145 | 495 | 2955 | 5713 |
Bronze W: 70.9/127 | 280 | 350 | 274 | 128 | 362 | 438 | 112 | 249 | 297 | 2490 | 312 | 365 | 284 | 101 | 258 | 439 | 322 | 141 | 392 | 2614 | 5104 |
Handicap | 13 | 1 | 11 | 7 | 5 | 9 | 15 | 17 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 14 | 16 | 12 | 6 | 8 | 18 | 10 | |||
Par | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 35 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 36 | 71 |
Handicap (W) | 15 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 7 | 11 | 17 | 13 | 5 | 8 | 2 | 14 | 16 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 18 | 12 |
Course Details
Rentals/Services
Practice/Instruction
Policies
Food & Beverage
Bar, GrillAvailable Facilities
Clubhouse, Banquet FacilitiesAccolades
-
Golf Advisor: Top Courses in Illinois (2016 #22)
Reviews
Reviewer Photos
-
Photo submitted by schoi4u on 05/24/2023
-
Photo submitted by u6722019 on 06/03/2021
-
Photo submitted by u314159922990 on 09/09/2020
-
Photo submitted by u314159922990 on 09/09/2020
-
#2 Par 4 Photo submitted by BryanTweed16 on 07/15/2015
-
#4 Par 3 Photo submitted by BryanTweed16 on 07/15/2015
-
#5 Par 4 Photo submitted by BryanTweed16 on 07/15/2015
-
#9 Par 4 Photo submitted by BryanTweed16 on 07/15/2015
-
#11 Par 4 Photo submitted by BryanTweed16 on 07/15/2015
-
#18 Par 5 Photo submitted by BryanTweed16 on 07/15/2015
-
Photo submitted by Fred1977382 on 07/06/2014
Beautiful golf course with inattentive staff
First off, the good. This is a beautiful golf course with a nice, challenging layout. Greens were impeccable on 5/5/18, rolling true, fast, and firm - honestly some of the best greens at a public facility. Bunkers were fantastic, firm packed and freshly raked with just the right amount of sand.
If my review was based solely on the quality of the golf course it would be 4.5 stars all day. But, as you know, your overall experience at a course can either be enhanced or diminished depending on the staff working at the course and how the property is managed.
This is where we get into the bad....
Our foursome started our round @ 10:10am... and had a 20 minute buffer from the group in front of us (a couple of foursomes that we noticed on the 7th or 8th hole). Pace of play on the front 9 was just under 2 hours, perfectly normal and relaxing pace. Upon finishing the 9th hole @ 12pm our group stopped into the clubhouse for a beer and quick hotdog, spent 5 mins at most. As we approached the 10th tee we noticed a long backup (group on #10 green, fairway, and 2 groups waiting on the tee). This didnt make sense as we never had to wait for a shot on the front 9... on top of that, ALL of the groups in front of us were completely different groups that we had not seen previously. The course was sending groups off of #10, ahead of groups making the turn - even though the 1st & 2nd hole were wide open. By the time we finished the 10th hole it was now 1:00pm - thats right, 1 hour from the time we made the turn. 1 hour to play 1 hole.
We called into the proshop from the 11th tee box to advise them of what was happening and find out why they decided to send groups out in front of us. They offered NO assistance and the course pro actually hung up on me after our 3rd call into the shop. It took 1 hour for a ranger to come out and talk to us and when he arrived to our group he jumped out of his cart and screamed "What do you expect me to do!!!"... Really poor approach to customer service when spending $94 to play the course. He said that those groups must have stopped for lunch at the turn and that caused the backup.... no apology, no respect, nothing but a mean old man that obviously didn't care. Our back 9 took 2:50 for a total round time of 4:40.
Wont return, there are plenty of good courses out there. Take your $$$ to Cantigny, Stonewall Orchard, Thunderhawk, Prairie Landing, Shepard's Crook, Harborside, Mistwood, Seven Bridges, or Cog Hill.
Best Course in Area
Fastest greens around - long and tight - great course! My new #1
I feel good every time I come
Once you conquer the green here, other places will become easier👍
Tough ride
This course is always in great condition. The greens were smooth and extremely fast. The bunkers were in great shape - nice soft sand. A lot of shots to elevated greens. Not a lot of blind shots. I spent a lot of time in the sand today and my playing partner had his share of 3 putts. Do not leave your ball above the hole on these greens. The course beat me up today but it was an enjoyable beating from such a good course. I only wish their weekend rates were more reasonable.
Something Special
If you can't get to Wisconsin, Arizona, or California, the Makray course will feed your craving for a challenging and beautiful golf experience. Use a cart, about 3:45 hours on average, longer on weekends. Starters will get you out!
Great Course in Chicago
I love Makray. It is one of the premeir courses in Chicago. It has a great layout, really well maintained and it is run really well. The Rangers are wonderful and very friendly. .
Disappointed
I used to play here quite a bit before Covid. However, they don’t put in the effort in being friendly or taking care of the course like they used to. The greens are still lightning fast which is nice, but every tee box was two drivers wide and absolutely tore up. You couldn’t find any grass on any tee box. The guy in the pro shop also was really unhappy just at life and made that clear to the line of 10 people waiting to check in.
Great course
The course is in amazing shape. It’s a strong test of golf. Fastest greens I’ve played all year. Wide range of tee selections so the higher handicap’s can enjoy it. Would definitely recommend. Oh, and the hot dog at the turn was phenomenal!
Great track and layout
Great track. The layout is great and makes you use different clubs and not just driver and short iron. Greens not as bad as people say it is but it is very fast. Would’ve been better if people fixed their ball marks on the greens and if they had leveled tee boxes.
Only BAD thing was despite finished 18 in a little over 4 hours that we caught up to a 2 some after hole 2. They wouldn’t tee off until we finished putting the last hole. A 4some should never be waiting on a 2some with the whole front open ahead of them. Course ranger said they’re on pace so it’s ok. That’s pretty unacceptable to wait he waiting behind a pair.
Ridiculous Greens
The greens are unfare, not only are they extremely sloped, they are hard as concrete so they are fast and rough.
Awful Conditions!!!!
The greens were in terrible condition. Too hard, too much sand and ball marks all over, they need to be replaced. The price of this course is not suitable for the conditions. I will not be going back.