Highlands of Elgin Golf Course

Elgin residents should be very proud to have this gem of a muni. Work on the Highlands of Elgin began in April of 2001 and cost approximately $6 million to complete. The course opened in 2003 and has been a local favorite ever since. The clubhouse wasn’t built until 2008, and the large, stately, modern structure alone cost $3.5 million. Every year from 2012 to 2018, Highlands of Elgin was rated by Golfweek as the #2 public golf course in Illinois. And since then, it’s been in the top 4 annually. Back in 2004, the course cost $38.50 to play, about half of the 2023 price.

Elgin owns three golf courses, and they occupy different tiers of the pricing spectrum. As nice as the Highlands is, it occupies the middle spot of the three. Bowes Creek is at the top, costing about a third more than the Highlands, while Wing Park is Elgin’s 9-hole course.

This beautifully crafted track has linksy vibes, with few trees in play and lots of space between holes to spread your wings. The spacious fairways are generous, but to score well, you’ll need to attack the greens from the correct angles. Highlands of Elgin has a course rating of 73.7 and slope of 139 from the back tees, which puts it in the same league as Steeple Chase, Prairie Bluff, and Prairie Landing. The numerous bunkers on the course contribute to that rating, not to mention the tricky greens. Par is 72, with a standard two par-5’s and par-3’s per nine. The club’s 7,000 yards are hilly and well manicured. One large body of water occupies the eastern side of the venue, and numerous other ponds ramble throughout. The longest hole is the 581-yard 6th, but the toughest is the par-4 11th hole. It travels 471 yards, with a giant native area and water left, plus bunkers, and a tough green.

You won’t be disappointed with the practice facilities at the Highlands. It’s got everything you need to tune your game. The driving range has both grass tees and mats. To the left of the range is a green for chips and pitches, plus a trap for bunker practice. There’s a large putting green near the first tee. Yet another green is to the right of the driving range, but that’s for private lessons.

The aforementioned grand clubhouse has a Prairie-style feel and houses the large pro shop and restaurant. The pro shop has a solid selection of both logo and non-logo merch, plus shoes, hats, and a light selection of equipment. The restaurant here is called the Grumpy Goat Tavern, and its menu is as large as the clubhouse. You can get golf course favorites here, or even get a Tomahawk steak or lobster tail.