Sanctuary Golf Course

Sanctuary Golf Course Overview
Owned by the New Lenox Park District, Sanctuary is a prairie links style course with lots of fans. It was built in 1996 for $4.9 million. Back then, green fees were $21 for residents, and $31 for everyone else, according to the March 31, 1996 Southtown Star. Interestingly, during course construction, remains of a Native American village were found under the property and relocated.

If you like open, unconstrained fairways, Sanctuary is the course for you. Granted, those fairways aren’t extremely wide, but most of the holes are devoid of trees. There are parallel fairways here, but there’s generally a healthy amount of space between them. Those fairways happen to be really nicely cared for, along with the greens. The venue measures 6,917 yards from the back tees, with a proper par of 72. The course rating is 72.5, while the slope is 134. Hickory Creek runs along the northern border of the property and supplies several ponds that want to rinse your golf balls. Water’s in play on at least a dozen holes here. Holes 14 and 15 actually jut out north of Hickory Creek, into a wooded area that feels different from the rest of the track. Sanctuary has nearly 70 bunkers that are to be avoided.

Helping you prepare for the challenge is Sanctuary’s solid practice facility. The driving range here has grass tees. I also commend them for putting a bunker next to the range. Rarely do golfers get to practice fairway bunker shots, but it’s possible here. There’s two practice greens to tune up your short game. The pro shop packs a lot of merch, both logo and non-logo styles. There’s a small restaurant and bar that serves classic bar food.