Carriage Greens Country Club

Carriage Greens Country Club, a privately owned golf course in the southwest suburbs, opened in 1968. Though privately operated, the City of Darien provided financial support in 2019 as an economic development incentive. The course is situated adjacent to both Highway 55 and the private Brookeridge Airport. In recent years, Carriage Greens has drawn attention due to disputes between the ownership and the restaurant operator, which at one point led to a temporary loss of its liquor license. The restaurant underwent a much-needed full renovation in 2024.

I’m not gonna lie; things feel a little weird here. The course’s scorecard is the strangest I’ve ever seen, containing messages such as "Jeffrey Epstein didn't kill himself" and "Buy bitcoin today,” unnecessarily reflecting the personal views of the owners. Beyond golf, the facility places significant emphasis on non-golf events such as bingo, karaoke, and live music; in my last visit, the clubhouse featured photos of Tina Turner and Cher impersonators prominently displayed.

The club presents a challenging golf experience despite its 6876-yard maximum length, evidenced by its 74.2 rating and 134 slope, placing its difficulty on par with courses such as Makray Memorial, Prairie Landing, and Golf Club of Illinois. Course conditioning is not known to be immaculate, but water hazards are a factor on only four holes. The small green sizes contribute to the course's difficulty, as do narrow fairways that squeeze to approximately 20 yards on certain holes, offering limited margin for error. Trees are present but don’t overwhelmingly define the landscape. Residential properties line the course, with additional clusters of houses situated in the central and southern areas of the property. The course's par-70 layout includes two par-5s and four par-3s.

Unfortunately Carriage Greens doesn’t have a driving range, but it offers two practice greens, one of which includes a couple of small bunkers. During my last visit in 2022, the clubhouse and pro shop felt very dated, with the pro shop in particular feeling dark and cavernous; however, renovations have reportedly taken place since then. Some have mentioned that a free beer is included with each greens fee, though I haven’t confirmed this. The on-site restaurant, renamed On Par Sports Bar & Grill following a renovation in 2024, serves classic bar fare and frequently hosts specials and events.