Olympia Fields (North) - Illinois - USA

Olympia Fields (North) makes for a tough day of golf. This course in no frills; simply a collection of challenging golf holes that make you earn every par. It's a great place to host championship tournaments. However, the course lacks two things that most Top 100 level tracks possess. First, the course looks and feels like any other parkland layout you can see all over the Midwest. The only holes that standout are the 3rd and 14th. Second, from any tee you choose, between the brutal rough and elevated greens, scoring is really tough. I can't imagine anyone over a 10 handicap having much fun out there.

Plenty of history here. Has held more than one major championship and the difficulty is on par with that tradition. Huge, old clubhouse housing which I believe is the largest locker room in the world. Originally, Olympia Fields had four courses instead of two so the locker room was built to accommodate more than double the number of current numbers.

The thing that jumped out at me more than anything about the North at Olympia is how well-placed the bunkers are. Navigating them is the biggest trick to succeeding when playing here. If you get around them, the chances are you'll shoot a decent number. Even still, the greens can be lightning quick and the rough is plenty thick enough to challenge anyone. It's an unbelievably well-manicured course. I had to take a second walking down the 18th fairway to savor one last time just how perfect the grass is cut here. It's a tough track, but a good score is definitely doable. It's the first course I've played that's hosted a US Open, but based on what I've observed and studied over the years, it is one of the more forgiving and more likely for the average golfer to have success at.

I've had the honor of playing both courses at Olympia Fields during their annual National 4 ball tournament the last two years. The North couse is a true championship test. There are simply no easy shots, let alone any easy holes on this course. The course is guarded by fiendishly placed fairway bunkers, tenacious rough, and fast, sloping but fair greens. Many of the holes are tightly treee lined, although there are several more open holes throughout the course so that you never have a claustrophobic feel while playing. There are many excellent holes but #'s 3, 9, and 18 stand out above the others. The course is fun to walk, and the excellent caddies add to the enjoyment of the course. Best of the all, the members and staff have been wonderful hosts. Playing here has been a highlight for me and if you have to chance to play the North and highly underrated South course I would do so.Richard SmithKnoxville, Tennessee

One of the Grand old ladies of Chicago area golf courses. Fabulous layout that, unlike local brethren Butler and Medinah, is fun and fair for ALL levels of players. This is accomplished by firm fast greens with a lot of slope to them, as well as manly yardages. Massive old clubhouse that must be seen to be believed. Gets downgraded from 6 stars only because it gets more play than your average private club in the area.