GolfPass Icon
Rating Index Rating
Tooltip Information Icon
4.0
1 Reviews (1)
5 Stars
0
4 Stars
1
3 Stars
0
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
5.0
Value
3.0
Layout
4.0
Friendliness
4.0
Pace
4.0
Amenities
5.0
100.0%
Recommend this course
1 out of 1 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
0
5 Stars
0
4 Stars
0
3 Stars
0
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
0
Value
0
Layout
0
Friendliness
0
Pace
0
Amenities
0
0%
Recommend this course
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
0
5 Stars
0
4 Stars
0
3 Stars
0
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
0
Value
0
Layout
0
Friendliness
0
Pace
0
Amenities
0
0%
Recommend this course
Read Reviews

About

Holes 18
Type Private
Par 72
Length 7119 yards
Slope 138
Rating 75.1

Course Details

Year Built 1992
Fairways Bent Grass
Greens Bent Grass
Golf Season Year round. Weather permitting.
Architect Bob Lohmann (1992)

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes
Clubs Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Bunker Yes
Caddies Yes
Teaching Pro Yes
Pitching/Chipping Area Yes
Putting Green Yes
Practice Hole Yes

Policies

Metal Spikes Allowed No
Dress code Appropriate golf attire. Shorts must be bermuda length. No denim of any style is permitted.

Reviews

4.0
1 Reviews (1)
Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 168
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Chicago Advisor
Top 50 Contributor
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Walked

The Merit Club - Solid North Shore Private Club w/ Fantastic Practice Facility

The Good: The Merit Club is local native Bob Lohmann’s Chicagoland magnum-opus in the northern suburb of Libertyville, IL. A private club but with a warm, inviting vibe, it is an 18-hole prairieland track with an incredibly unique 3-hole practice area as well. Beautifully conditioned as you would expect, the design is fairly benign off the tee (except for the 6th and the 17th) and very playable for the mid-high handicapper. Strong set of Par-5’s and good variety in the Par 4’s & Par-3’s. Nice clubhouse and one of the best practice facilities of any course I’ve played in the Windy City area. Staff is very nice and accommodating considering I was an “outsider” via NewClub society. Superb pace of play.

The Bad: The greens were a little slow for my taste yet did not hold as well as I anticipated. The on-course service and amenities was below expectation, as there was no food & beverage service despite being a warm weekend afternoon round. No comfort stations or halfway houses available, which could have been Covid-19 related.

The Verdict: The Merit Club is another extremely fun, magnificently conditioned North Shore club that got well-deserved notoriety with hosting the 2000 U.S. Women’s Open and the 2016 International Crown. A Top 10 overall experience in Illinois that I’ve played.

Best Hole(s): The 6th hole is a short, downhill Par-4 that can be played very conservatively or provide an opportunity to hit driver over the trees on the right. Approach to a peninsula green is beautiful. The 14th is a long Par-4 with a cape-style drive over water to an uphill green that has an infinity look to it.

Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Nearby Courses
Gurnee, Illinois
Public
4.4507411765
133
Grayslake, Illinois
Public
3.3721
43
Gurnee, Illinois
Public
4.1915294118
273
Mundelein, Illinois
Public
3.1023058824
49
North Chicago, Illinois
Public/Municipal
3.6642588235
353
Mundelein, Illinois
Public
3.2073882353
290
Great Lakes, Illinois
Military
2.8515941176
149
Grayslake, Illinois
Municipal
4.4048
56
Vernon Hills, Illinois
Public
4.3439882353
164
Wadsworth, Illinois
Resort
3.7986882353
436
Lake Forest, Illinois
Private
5.0
1
Round Lake, Illinois
Public
4.2193647059
140
Golf Packages

Destination Kohler - Champions' Trail Golf Package

FROM $617 (USD)
KOHLER, WI | Enjoy 2 nights’ accommodations at The American Club or the Inn at Woodlake and 3 rounds of golf at Blackwolf Run (River or Meadow Valleys Course) and Whistling Straits (Straits or Irish Course)

Destination Kohler - To Dye Four Golf Package

FROM $557 (USD)
KOHLER, WI | Enjoy 3 nights’ accommodations at The American Club or the Inn on Woodlake and 4 rounds of golf at Blackwolf Run (River & Meadow Valley Courses) and Whistling Straits (Straits & Irish Courses).

SentryWorld Stay & Play Package

FROM $347 (USD)
STEVENS POINT, WI | Enjoy 3 nights’ accommodations at The Inn at SentryWorld and 2 rounds of golf at SentryWorld Golf Course (site of the 2023 U.S. Senior Open).

SW Michigan Golf Around Package

FROM $127 (USD)
GRAND RAPIDS/KALAMAZOO | Enjoy 3 nights’ accommodations at Quality Inn – Battle Creek and 3 rounds of golf at The Medalist Golf Club, Angel’s Crossing Golf Club, and The Grande Golf Club.

Best of Battle Creek Package

FROM $147 (USD)
GRAND RAPIDS/KALAMAZOO | Enjoy 3 nights’ accommodations at FireKeepers Casino Hotel and 3 rounds of golf at The Medalist Golf Club, Riverside Golf Club, and Binder Park Golf Course.
Now Reading