Bartlett Hills Golf Club

Bartlett Hills Golf Club Overview
The Chicagoland area is rich with historic golf courses, and Bartlett’s own opened in 1924. It was designed by Charles Maddox, who was also responsible for courses at Silver Lake, Stonehenge, Eaglewood Resort, and Old Wayne Golf Club. The property was a private club for decades and fell on hard times when the village of Bartlett purchased it for $1.9 million in 1978.

The star of the show here is the hilly terrain, implied by the title of the course. The well-manicured course measures 6,478 yards from the back tees, with a par of 71, comprising three par-5’s and four par-3’s. There’s five ponds and one small creek to contend with, which contribute to a course rating of 71.7 and slope of 130. Fairways are generally about 30 yards wide, which is friendly but not overly generous. Trees line most fairways, but it’s not a forest in-between each hole like at many Chicagoland tracks. There’s hope of finding your ball quickly.

Interestingly, the final hole at Bartlett Hills is a par-3 over water. Par-3 finishers are generally frowned upon in my book. But this one redeems itself with a big patio from the restaurant overlooking the green, creating a cool stadium-like atmosphere, especially at golf outings.

A grass tee driving range is the centerpiece of the practice facility here. A large putting green helps you get tuned up for the round with an apron for chips and pitches. The pro shop at Bartlett Hills is modest, but it’s packed with as much merch as they can fit, and it even extends into the hallway. The clubhouse is modern and is happy to host your event. Bartlett’s restaurant is called the Grille Room and has standard golf course fare you’d expect.