Stonewall Orchard Golf Club

May 30, 2021

Widely recognized as one of the top golf courses in the Chicago area, Stonewall Orchard Golf Club received immediate national acclaim when it opened in 1999. Located in northwest suburban Grayslake, the course was designed by legendary golf course architect Arthur Hills. A highly respected test of golf, Stonewall Orchard has hosted US Open Sectional Qualifying as well as PGA Championship qualifying.

Stonewall Orchard Golf Club features more than 65,000 fully mature pine and oak trees to the acres and acres of rolling hills, tranquil wetlands and wildlife. Playing at 7,124 yards from the tips, this golf course has beauty and bite.

Despite its beauty, this Grayslake golf course can’t be taken lightly. The cadence of the layout changes continually, testing a golfer’s confidence by presenting a new look and a new challenge on every hole. Hills manipulates the psyche by merging wide-open opportunities to be aggressive along with many hidden dangers. The result often causes an inward questioning of one’s ability to trust their shot and their golf swing.

After a modest start, this Arthur Hills’ masterpiece begins to show its true colors on the challenging 341-yard par 4, fourth hole. An elevated tee shot over water to a right-sloping fairway presents a key tactical decision that requires patience and planning. The long, narrow green is slightly elevated and is guarded by water long and right and a hillside left. Take the wrong approach on this hole and a big number is a definite possibility.

Things don’t get any easier on the difficult 239-yard par 3 fifth hole, which requires an accurate tee shot across water. With little protection from the elements, wind is often a deciding factor in club selection and can be quite deceiving. The green on the fifth hole is large and unforgiving, so pin placement can often drastically dictate how this hole plays.

The par 5 18th is a memorable finishing hole featuring a spacious fairway that narrows uphill to a second shot guarded by two massive oak trees. A lake on the left and two bunkers right guard the smallest green on the course. The green is highly protected and once again tests a golfer’s mettle. It’s a fitting end to a highly tactical, yet thoroughly enjoyable test of golf.

An additional highlight of Stonewall Orchard Golf Club is the warm and expansive clubhouse that oversees the golf course. The large windows within the structure offer an unobstructed view of the action on the 9th and 18th holes.