Bowes Creek Country Club

March 18, 2018

Located about an hour west of downtown Chicago, Bowes Creek Country Club in Elgin is a spectacular 18-hole golf facility that has it all. Designed by Jacobson Golf Course Design, the challenging 6,900 yard 18-hole golf course utilizes the rolling terrain of Elgin to provide incomparable vistas of the beautiful local scenery. In addition to the stunning visual imagery, there are five sets of tees that make the golf course welcoming for all levels of golfers.

The golf course developers definitely took great pains to environmentally integrate all the natural elements the native landscape has to offer, including Bowes Creek and the woodland and wetland areas. The course property also includes a lake, rolling farmland, stands of mature trees and scenic bluff slopes.

Along with the golf course, Bowes Creek Country Club features an expansive practice area including an elevated 30-station driving range with target greens at varying distances, putting and chipping greens, and a private lesson tee. Another highlight of the course is the large clubhouse and restaurant that is perched at a high point of the property, providing panoramic views of the golf course.

Instead of standard green fees, the club offers a “member for a day” fee as well as yearly memberships. As a “member for the day”, golfers have unlimited golf with a cart and full use of the facility. This is one golf facility where you’ll want to get to the course early to take advantage of the amenities before and after your round.

A highlight on the back nine is the par four 11th hole which features a dogleg right and plays 391 yards from the back tees. The tee box plays slightly lower than the fairway and a daunting hill protects out of bounds right, making the landing both difficult to gauge while intimidating to miss right.

Golfers who successfully navigate the tee shot can face a mid-iron into a green that is protected on the left side by two bunkers. The hole requires precision a little more than distance, because anything less than two well struck shots can lead to some difficult approach circumstances.

Despite the drive, Bowes Creek is a must for Chicago golfers. The beautifully maintained golf course, challenging layout and elite level clubhouse service makes this one of the top courses in the Chicagoland area.