Crystal Tree

Established in 1990 in Orland Park, an hour’s drive out from Chicago’s city centre, Crystal Tree Golf & Country Club offers its members a number of recreational amenities, featuring four Har-Tru Clay tennis courts, a 6,000 square-foot outdoor pool with six 75’ swimming lanes, and a Robert Trent Jones Jr-designed par 72 golf course extending to 6,850 yards.

In The American Private Golf Club Guide, Daniel Wexler writes: “like most of Trent II’s work, the sometimes-hilly track is completely modern in style, yet also interesting and in spots fairly strategic. Favourites include the 400-yard 4th (where carrying right side bunkers minimises a greenside pond on the approach) and the 494-yard 7th, a tricky, watery par five.”

The author continues: “Both back nine par three are also strong (the 148-yard 12th playing over a deep valley, the 215-yard 15th over water) as is the 421-yard 18th, a split-fairway par four upon which the more dangerous right side gains only a small advantage.”