Chapel Hill Country Club

Chapel Hill Country Club began in 1916 as a modest public daily fee course in the rural McHenry County area near Johnsburg, Illinois. A 1916 McHenry Plaindealer note reported that "the Chapel Hill Country Club has been started in good shape and is now an assured success," though it initially offered only two or three holes for play. By 1919, the course had expanded to nine holes, and it attracted notable early members including popular cartoonist Sidney Smith, creator of "The Gumps" comic strip, who became an advocate for the club. In 1925, Chapel Hill transitioned to a private club with a $100 initiation fee and $75 annual dues, though it would later return to public play sometime before 1960.

The course's unique name derives from the historic Schmitt Chapel located on its grounds, built in 1843 by German immigrant Frederick Schmitt as an offering for his family's safe passage to America during a harrowing Atlantic crossing. The interior of the small white chapel, with its hand-painted Stations of the Cross and modest wooden altar, has remained largely unchanged since the 1840s and represents a tangible link to Johnsburg's founding families. Chapel Hill expanded to an 18-hole course in 1960 according to the McHenry Plaindealer, but faced financial difficulties, with the course offered for auction in 1962. The club also became entangled in border disputes between Johnsburg and McHenry in the 1990s due to its location in unincorporated McHenry County. Ultimately, the Village of Johnsburg purchased the 100-acre property for $1.1 million in 2017, preserving both the golf course as recreational open space and ensuring the future protection of the historic Schmitt Chapel.

These days, Chapel Hill CC plays as a humble 6,113-yard, par-70 municipal course with a 68.9 rating and 120 slope from the blue tees. Course conditions reflect the Johnsburg municipal budget constraints, with manicuring and maintenance on the lower end compared to other Chicagoland courses. The wear and tear is noticeable throughout, from the aging entrance sign to the very rough tee box markers. But honestly, golfers expecting premium conditions at this price point would be setting unrealistic expectations. The course offers similar difficulty to tracks like Boone Creek, Bonnie Dundee, and Indian Boundary, though the playing conditions don't quite match those venues.

The Fox River flows to the west of the property, but water hazards are minimal with just a small pond off the 9th fairway and a tiny pond on the 14th hole. Rolling hills make for a very walkable experience, while fairways averaging 28 yards wide are separated by scattered trees, creating a variety of parallel fairway holes. The relatively small greens add to the challenge at Chapel Hill. The venue's most remarkable feature is the monster 17th hole, a 703-yard par-5 that claims the title of longest hole in the entire Chicagoland area! This massive hole accounts for nearly 12% of the course's total yardage, with golfers playing from the blue tees having the option of playing from either the full 703-yard distance or a more manageable (but still tough) 605-yard tee. The fairway narrows to just 22 yards wide along its entire length, leading to a small green with no water or bunkers to complicate matters further. Get ready.

The clubhouse reflects the course's no-frills approach, functioning primarily as a restaurant and bar with basic lounge seating including tables, chairs, and a few couches. There's no traditional pro shop, with check-in handled at the bar counter where a minimal selection of golf essentials is available for purchase. Practice facilities are equally modest, offering just one putting green next to the clubhouse with no driving range on site. Tee times are spaced at 7.5-minute intervals, which can create some pace of play challenges during busy periods. Despite these limitations, Chapel Hill provides an affordable golf experience in a historically significant setting.