Oak Park Country Club

Oak Park Country Club is a private golf facility located in River Grove, Illinois. Designed by architect Donald J. Ross in 1914, Oak Park Country Club offers an 18-hole golf course that was renovated in 2007 by architect Rick Jacobson.

The 190-acre parcel of land on which Oak Park Country Club sits was purchased in 1914 for $190,000. Elmwood Park paid the club $200,000 for 20 of those acres 41 years later so they could build Elmwood Park High School.

The par 5 first hole is a dogleg left that plays 516 yards from the black tees. A bunker is positioned 238 yards on the left side of the fairway and a second fairway bunker appears around 290 yards from the tee box. About 50 yards in front of the green is stream, leading to a raised green that is both fast and firm.

The miss on nearly every hole at Oak Park Country Club is short and below the hole. Overshooting these putting surfaces will guarantee trouble.

Horton Smith, who was a host professional at Oak Park Country Club, was the first player to win the Masters in 1934. The World Golf Hall of Fame member also won the tournament again in 1936.

Samuel Henry “Errie” Ball was head golf professional at Oak Park Country Club from 1946-1969. A competitor in the first Masters Tournament in 1934, Ball is enshrined in the PGA Golf Professional Hall of Fame and the Illinois Golf Hall of Fame.