Invitation & Access · North Shore
Lake Shore Country ClubGlencoe
A private North Shore club in Glencoe, with an Olmsted-era course among ravines near Lake Michigan.
Par
71
Yardage
7,000
Rating · Slope
74.0 · 139
Holes
18
Green Fee
Members only
The Course
About Lake Shore Country Club
Founded in 1908 by Chicago-area families, Lake Shore is a private, family-oriented club in Glencoe for members and their guests, about 25 miles north of the city. Its classic parkland course runs among ravines that lead to Lake Michigan, with generous but well-bunkered fairways bordered by mature oaks. Guests wear golf attire with shirts tucked; jeans, cargo pants, camouflage and metal spikes are not allowed.
History
Lake Shore Country Club — History
The Olmsted firm, with Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. most involved, planned the property from 1909, and history suggests Tom Bendelow may have helped; the course opened in 1912, per consulting architect Drew Rogers. Donald Ross drew an improvement plan around 1918 that saw limited use. Bob Lohmann and Dick Nugent worked on it in 1971, and Ron Prichard renovated it from 2004 until 2020.
Design
Lake Shore Country Club — Design
The club describes a classic parkland course among mature oaks and striking ravines, with generous but well-bunkered fairways and good sight lines. Drew Rogers, the club's consulting architect, says his aim is to preserve the innate simplicity of the site and its Golden Age qualities. Howard Van Doren Shaw's 1910 clubhouse sits across Sheridan Road facing the lake, linked to the course by a tunnel under the road.
What Sets It Apart
Why Play Lake Shore Country Club
Its pedigree runs from the Olmsted landscape firm through Tom Bendelow, Donald Ross, Lohmann and Nugent, and Ron Prichard, on a site where ravines lead down to Lake Michigan and the clubhouse looks over the water.
The Round
The Journey at Lake Shore Country Club
I.
The Opening
Lake Shore opens with five straight par 4s, all between 403 and 449 yards. The 426-yard 4th is the No. 1 handicap and the 449-yard 5th the No. 3, so the hardest pair on the card arrive early. The 177-yard 6th, the first par 3, ends the run and gives the first real breather of the round.
II.
The Middle
The 607-yard 7th, the longest hole, starts a run of par 5, par 3, par 5: the 201-yard 8th and the 569-yard 9th close an outward nine of 3,679 yards, par 36. The second nine begins with the 432-yard 10th, the 192-yard 11th and the 379-yard 12th, the shortest par 4 so far.
III.
The Finish
The inward nine is par 35 and 3,321 yards. The 520-yard 13th is its only par 5, and the 127-yard 14th is the shortest hole and the easiest by handicap. Then the card turns hard: the 436-yard 15th, the 482-yard 16th, longest par 4 and No. 2 handicap, the 324-yard 17th and the 429-yard 18th, rated fourth-hardest.
How to Play It
Lake Shore Country Club — Playing Strategy
Beginner / High Handicap
From the Yellow tees the course is 7,000 yards, rated 74.0 with a 139 slope, so most guests will want a shorter set. The opening five par 4s set the tone; a bogey on the 4th and 5th is no setback. The 127-yard 14th and 324-yard 17th are the best chances to score.
Intermediate / Mid Handicap
The fairways are generous but bunkered and lined with oaks, so the first job is keeping the ball in them. Two of the three par 5s come on the front, so the 7th and 9th are where to gain shots; play the 607-yard 7th as a true three-shotter. Save something for the finish, where three of the last five holes are long par 4s.
Advanced / Low Handicap
Par 71 at 7,000 yards puts the premium on the long par 4s: the 4th, 5th, 15th, 16th and 18th. The 520-yard 13th is the clearest chance to reach a par 5 in two, and the 324-yard 17th offers one more aggressive opportunity before the closing hole.
Signature Holes
Lake Shore Country Club — Signature Holes
The Card
Lake Shore 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 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 36 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 35 | 71 |
| Yards | 426 | 421 | 403 | 426 | 449 | 177 | 607 | 201 | 569 | 3,679 | 432 | 192 | 379 | 520 | 127 | 436 | 482 | 324 | 429 | 3,321 | 7,000 |
| Handicap | 5 | 9 | 11 | 1 | 3 | 17 | 7 | 15 | 13 | — | 8 | 16 | 12 | 10 | 18 | 6 | 2 | 14 | 4 | — | — |
Good to Know
Lake Shore Country Club — questions answered
- How do I get on Lake Shore Country Club?
- Lake Shore 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 Lake Shore Country Club?
- Lake Shore Country Club was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. and opened in 1912.
- What is the par and yardage at Lake Shore Country Club?
- Lake Shore Country Club plays to a par of 71 over 7,000 yards from the championship tees, with a course rating of 74.0 and a slope of 139.
- Is Lake Shore Country Club public or private?
- Lake Shore 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 Lake Shore Country Club located?
- Lake Shore Country Club is located at 1255 Sheridan Road, Glencoe, IL 60022, in the North Shore area of Chicagoland.
More in North Shore
More golf courses in North Shore
Donald Ross; reworked by William Langford and Theodore Moreau · Glencoe
Skokie Country Club
A Donald Ross and Langford-Moreau course in Glencoe, site of Gene Sarazen's 1922 U.S. Open.
Donald Ross · Highland Park
Northmoor Country Club
A 27-hole private club in Highland Park whose original 18 holes are by Donald Ross.
C.H. Alison (rebuilding a Donald Ross course) · Highland Park
Bob O'Link Golf Club
C.H. Alison's 1925 rebuild of a Donald Ross course, a private club in Highland Park.
How to Play It
How to Play Lake Shore Country Club.
Lake Shore 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.
Pair Lake Shore Country Club with Chicago’s best dining and table service through MyRSVP — our sister guide to Chicago dining and nightlife.
Explore MyRSVP ↗