Glen Erin Golf Club

Based on Golf Advisor ratings, we made a weekend trip of golf courses around Rockford, IL. Glen Erin is a challenging links-style course that is in excellent condition.

CONDITIONS: Despite the drought going on in Summer 2023, the course is in excellent shape. The greens are fast but not overwhelming, and they run true. The fairways are in great shape. The fescue, your primary concerns for bad shots, is patchy and thin because of the drought… this made several errant shots possible to find. A few tee boxes were firm to the point of having difficulty putting the tee in. The bunkers are excellent.

VALUE: Was told this course has a full membership, which means public tee times may be a courtesy. Still, given the conditions, course, and service, the sting of $72 on Saturday morning wasn’t so bad.

LAYOUT: For the most part this is a links-style course… for the most part. On the back 9 there are a few very difficult tree-lined holes ready to ruin your scorecard (#12 and #15). The course has a “big” feel to it in terms of being able to move the ball off the tee and still find the fairway. And even if you miss the fairway, though it doesn’t appear so from the tee, the course can be forgiving. We played on a calm day, but I’d bet wind here substantially ups the difficulty of this course. We chose to ride this round, and even with the hills I would walk next time I play.

STAFF: Got us paid and out on the course. The starter was very helpful. The member we were paired with was a great ambassador for the course.

PACE: It was a Saturday morning on a packed course… we didn’t come in under 4 hours but had a lot of fun.

Glen Erin isn’t close to where I live… but if it was I would certainly inquire about a membership. This is a great course.

This is a personal favorite of mine and dollar for dollar one of the best courses you can play in WI. To get this for $33 on a Sunday is an absolute steal. This course I certainly worth the normal fees of $50 on a weekend as well.

The first glimpse you get of the course as you arrive is of the Par 4 6th, it is a great introduction to the course. With room off the tee, impressive bunkering, and sizable greens including undulations throughout it's tough to pick a favorite hole out there. The pro-shop is one of the better ones around and I like to make sure I get there a few extra minutes early to browse.

The front nine is certainly more "linksy" and although there are some trees framing some holes they rarely if ever come into play. One unique feature as you begin your round is the neighboring airport which provides some entertainment on the first 5 holes. The club uses shorter flagsticks and it's easy to see why. Even on a calm day there is still plenty of wind on the front nine. The entire course has really good movement and elevation changes throughout entire course. 2, 6, and 8 on the front all have different levels from tee to green. 12, 15, 17, and 18 on the back also have really good movement. Although a few holes appear to be a little tighter off the tee once you get your ball in play and look back to the tee on 12 and 15 you can see there is more room than you think. The closing stretch of 15-18 can play fairly difficult and allow for big comebacks and late collapses.

The greens are typically pretty firm and are some of the better greens you can putt on anywhere in the area. They are speedy and true, which allows the player to be confident with each stroke. The fairways are well conditioned as well, it's really tough to find anything negative to say about the course, of the club.

The patio area overlooks the 10th tee and the 18th green and is a great way to wrap up a fantastic afternoon at Glen Erin. Do yourself a favor and schedule a round out here.

Glen Erin golf course, a value like no other. Not many courses you can find for under $35 with a cart in as good of condition as this course. I was very happy with my experience from the very nice range and putting green, to the course conditions and layout, to the wonderful starter/ranger who was on his A game and I'm sure is everyday.

We started on the back nine which is the much tougher side as it is very narrow and tree lined for most of the 9. I was a big fan of holes 12 and 15 as it wasnt so much spot golf but more you better hit a great position A shot then your golden the rest of the way in. Both holes are framed nicely and as you stand on the green and look back you realize there's more space than you think off the tee. 16 is a very short par 3 with a tilted back to front green, I enjoy super short par 3s gives you a good chance to score but can also mean a bogey. Finally 18 is a great finishing hole with the beautiful banquet hall in the back around. Your approach goes very downhill but a nice bump out area on the right provides safety from going in the woods.

The front nine started on a tight tee shot from the box but from there is more links style golf. Minimal trees and lots of fescue, but THANK YOU Glen Erin its fescue where you can find your ball not fescue where its a lost ball. Number 6 is my favorite hole on the front, a downhill par 4 where you have to navigate some bunkers, hit a good shot and you have a chance at birdie.

All in all I was very pleased with my trip to Glen Erin. The pro shop was nice and the bar restaurant also appeared very nice. Anyone looking for a great value course gets to this place NOW.

Very unique. Narrow tree lined fairway force a straight drive. Large greens, but multi tiered make placing your chips important.

I used to be member at one time but moved away Brought in two other men They were totally impressed Very Good Job Rob and Staff We all will be back again

Course was in excellent shape. Very busy on course

Possibly one of the hardest courses I’ve played, it’s not recommended for beginners to play the white tees. Some of the fairways are narrow with plenty of fescue waiting to claim your ball. The fairways are often on rolling hills, the greens are oversized and hilly themselves, and the pot bunkers are deep and unforgiving. The two par 5s on the back 9 are over 575 yards. Many of the holes are made to deceive the eyes, right down to the half-height flags. The #2 par 3 green has five different tiers with a 30ft elevation change surrounded by large bunkers. Don’t be too disappointed with your score the first few times you play here. When you get a little more used to the layout, it can be tamed as long as you keep your drives straight.
The bar is very nice and offers several local craft beers on tap, with a full restaurant menu (but no breakfast, as I sadly discovered). The beverage cart comes around plenty often. There is a driving range, as well as a large sloped putting green which you should take full advantage of to practice your inevitable 3-putts. The prices are surprisingly decent (under $40 on weekends).
If you like Broadlands, I feel like this course is similar but much more difficult greens and deeper bunkers.

Enjoyed this course, only negative is that 5 or 6 holes butt against the airport fence and sort of ruin the look on a few holes. The other holes, especially those down in the wooded area look incredible and are laid out well. The other holes have a links look to them with fescue and forced carries. Fairways and green were in great shape, traps were better than average for the area.

The day was great, the course is in excellent condition. It's a good layout on the front nine kind of relaxes you. Then the back nine, much more challenging with the narrow fairways. I would change clubs to tee off with on a couple of holes.
Overall a wonderful course in great condition!

Our 4 some had two first time players. They both said how much they enjoyed playing this course.

What I liked the most was the fact they had the leafs cleared off the fairways. Nothing worst than trying to find your ball with fairways full of leaves. Course was also not as wet as most others in the area. Must have better drainage than most.
Sand traps had a few stones in them Overall course was in great shape.

I wish they would have told us it did not include all you can play
ended up going to Edgerton and paying another $ 30.00 since the person at Erin would not give us much options
Took the day off to play and was very diappointed
might not play there again

Larry

The course is in really good shape

Played here over 15 times. Hadn't played here in two years. Not sure what course the previous reviewers were playing but this course has really gone downhill. The conditions were not good. Fairways were burnt out in many places. Rough was really long all over. Tee boxes are beat up and unlevel. Greenskeeper either doesn't have much of a budget or they stink.

Busy day and pace of play was slow but ok. However on numerous occasions I saw guys driving way up near the greens where they shouldn't be and in one instance, literally on the fringe. Marshal just drives up and we think " oh boy, these guys are gonna hear about it". Nope. Just pretended he didn't see it because there's no way he couldn't have. Marshals need to do more than just drive around, waving at people so they can get either free or discounted golf.

Paid $30 on golf now hot deal. Felt ripped because of course conditions--even at that low of price.

Range balls WAY overpriced. $8.00 for 50 crappie pinnacles? C'mon......

This course was not all hype at all. It was like we were playing in Ireland. It was just as challenging as well. Deep rough, prairie grass past the rough, hilly and pro-style greens. The greens even the practice green was hilly and fast. Had to use good stategy to score well and of course keep it straight. Very enjoyable.