George Dunne National Golf Course

Opened in 1982, George W. Dunne National is an 18-hole, public golf course located in Southwest suburban Oak Forest that features eight lakes which come into play on eleven of the course’s 18 holes. Originally called Forest Preserve National, the course was renamed in 1995 for former Cook County Board President George Dunne who spearheaded efforts to bring a quality county-operated course to the south suburbs.

Designed by the architectural team of Dick Nugent and Ken Killian, which also designed Kemper Lakes, George Dunne National Golf Course was once considered among the top county operated facilities in the nation. The course is now managed by Troon’s Indigo Sports, which oversees a collection of municipal, daily-fee/resort, semi-private and private facilities around the United States.

One of the most prominent aspects of the course are the massive bunkers which surround the expansive green complexes at George Dunne National. The course plays 7,262 yards from the golf tees, but the true test are cavernous sand traps that force an extremely accurate approach shot to the putting surfaces.

The downside of these outsized bunker systems is the require an enormous amount of upkeep and consequently, sometimes experience drainage issues or consistency issues with the sand. The takeaway is to avoid visiting these traps if at all possible.

The par four 454-yard finishing hole is a highlight that requires a risk/reward drive over water. A too aggressive line could find the water, while a too conservative tee ball can find a cadre of bunkers on the right side of the fairway.

The hole also plays uphill, so even reaching the raised green in two shots could be out of the question without a prodigious blast off the tee. The green is enormous and is protected by bunkers on the left.