Invitation & Access · West Suburbs
Butterfield Country ClubOak Brook
Three private nines in Oak Brook: William Langford's 1920 design, redesigned by Steve Smyers.
Par
71
Yardage
7,109
Rating · Slope
75.3 · 146
Holes
18
Green Fee
Members only
The Course
About Butterfield Country Club
Butterfield's golf comes in three nines, Blue, White and Red, over rolling, tree-lined ground in Oak Brook, and play is for members and their guests. The 18 on this page pairs the Blue nine with a second nine for 7,109 yards from the Black tees at par 71, rated 75.3 with a 146 slope. A caddie program, a range, putting and chipping greens and indoor simulators round out the golf.
History
Butterfield Country Club — History
Butterfield was established in 1920 by a group led by Rev. John Code, and William Langford designed and built its course. By 2008 erosion from Ginger Creek and a tributary had become a serious problem, and Steve Smyers's plan, reported that year by Golf Course Architecture, called for realigning the waterways, adding detention ponds and restoring Langford's landing areas. The redesign was completed in 2010.
Design
Butterfield Country Club — Design
Smyers said restoring Langford's landing areas, set on ridges, hillsides and small plateaus, was the most important part of the job, working from the original routing and aerial photos from the 1930s, 1950s and 1960s. LINKS Magazine reported that he also restored many of Langford's geometric greens, repositioned bunkers, added length and removed trees to open sight lines, giving the course a more open feel.
What Sets It Apart
Why Play Butterfield Country Club
Its Butterfield Invitational has drawn players from around the country each July for more than six decades, according to LINKS Magazine, on a 27-hole Langford layout restored for modern length.
The Round
The Journey at Butterfield Country Club
I.
The Opening
The Blue nine opens with par 4s of 412, 379 and 433 yards, the 3rd rated third-hardest, before the 229-yard 4th, the longest par 3 on the card. The 570-yard 5th is the longest hole, and the 170-yard 6th is the shortest par 3, so the first six holes swing between long and short.
II.
The Middle
The 547-yard 7th is a dogleg right, where Smyers extended a ridge up the left side to the green; with the land sloping left to right, LINKS notes it suits a cut second shot. The 428-yard 8th and the 458-yard 9th, the No. 1 handicap, finish a 3,626-yard Blue nine. The second nine starts with the 527-yard 10th, the last par 5, then the 193-yard 11th and the 395-yard 12th.
III.
The Finish
The closing six are mostly par 4s: the 445-yard 13th, the 430-yard 14th, rated second-hardest, and, after the 201-yard 15th, the 406-yard 16th and the 396-yard 17th. The 490-yard 18th is the longest par 4 on the card and the fourth-hardest hole, so the round ends on its sternest two-shotter.
How to Play It
Butterfield Country Club — Playing Strategy
Beginner / High Handicap
Use the club's caddie program on a first visit as a member's guest, and leave the 75.3-rated Black tees to others in favor of a shorter set. The three par 5s come early, at the 5th, 7th and 10th; play them in three and save something for a closing run of long par 4s.
Intermediate / Mid Handicap
Placement off the tee matters, since Smyers rebuilt Langford's landing areas, and the slope from the back is 146. On the 7th, LINKS notes that the land's left-to-right tilt suits a cut fairway wood for the second shot. The 9th, 14th, 3rd and 18th are the hardest holes, all par 4s of 430 yards or more; plan for bogey there and score on the 2nd, 6th and 12th.
Advanced / Low Handicap
At 7,109 yards and par 71, the scoring chances are the three par 5s, especially the 527-yard 10th, and the 379-yard 2nd. Smyers restored Langford's landing areas on ridges and plateaus, so driving to the right shelf sets up the approach, and the 458-yard 9th and 490-yard 18th demand both length and that placement.
Signature Holes
Butterfield Country Club — Signature Holes
The Card
Butterfield Country Club Scorecard
| Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Par | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 36 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 35 | 71 |
| Yards | 412 | 379 | 433 | 229 | 570 | 170 | 547 | 428 | 458 | 3,626 | 527 | 193 | 395 | 445 | 430 | 201 | 406 | 396 | 490 | 3,483 | 7,109 |
| Handicap | 7 | 15 | 3 | 13 | 5 | 11 | 17 | 9 | 1 | — | 12 | 18 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 16 | 10 | 14 | 4 | — | — |
Good to Know
Butterfield Country Club — questions answered
- How do I get on Butterfield Country Club?
- Butterfield Country Club is a private club — play is reserved for members and their guests. The only way on is a membership or a member's invitation; there is no public tee sheet.
- Who designed Butterfield Country Club?
- Butterfield Country Club was designed by William Langford; redesigned by Steve Smyers and opened in 1920.
- What is the par and yardage at Butterfield Country Club?
- Butterfield Country Club plays to a par of 71 over 7,109 yards from the championship tees, with a course rating of 75.3 and a slope of 146.
- Is Butterfield Country Club public or private?
- Butterfield Country Club is a private member club — not open to public play. Access is by membership or a member's invitation; there is no public tee sheet.
- Where is Butterfield Country Club located?
- Butterfield Country Club is located at 2800 Midwest Road, Oak Brook, IL 60523, in the West Suburbs area of Chicagoland.
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How to Play It
How to Play Butterfield Country Club.
Butterfield Country Club is a private club — play is reserved for members and their guests, with no public tee sheet. The only way on is a membership or a member's invitation.
Golf in CHI is an independent guide — we don’t sell tee times or mark them up. We map the exact way on.
Make a Day of It
Dining & nightlife around your round.
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