Highland Woods Golf Course

Highland Woods Golf Course Overview
One of ten courses owned by the Forest Preserves of Cook County, Highland Woods was built in 1976 and will soon be celebrating its 50th anniversary. According to the July 8, 1976 Wheeling Herald, the course took 4 years and cost $2 million to build, and is located on the highest point in Cook County.

At 6,934 yards from the back tees, Highland Woods is one of the longer Forest Preserve tracks. The par-72 layout has the standard two par-5’s and par-3’s on the front and back. Water comes into play on 6 holes, provided by 3 ponds -- one of which is huge on the western portion of the property. One fun aspect of this venue is the hilly terrain; the elevation changes add drama and flair to the round. Another bonus here is that the holes are spread out well. There aren’t too many parallel fairways here, and those that do exist have room to breathe. The course rating is 72.5 with a slope of 124. Like some other Forest Preserve courses, the tee box markers all have the SBC Communications logo, which makes me chuckle. The company hasn’t existed since 2005, when it bought AT&T and changed its name. But hey, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

The practice facility here features a full driving range with mats. There’s also two separate practice greens. The pro shop is large and has a solid amount of merch to offer. The pro shop also doubles as a snack bar, where you can get hot dogs and such. Golfboards are available to rent here, which look really fun.