Invitation & Access · Fox Valley & McHenry
Rich Harvest FarmsSugar Grove
Jerry Rich's ultra-private, tournament-tested course on his Sugar Grove estate west of Chicago.
Par
72
Yardage
7,671
Rating · Slope
79.8 · 155
Holes
18
Green Fee
Members only
The Course
About Rich Harvest Farms
Rich Harvest Farms is owner Jerry Rich's private course in Sugar Grove, set, in the club's words, between wetlands, forest, farmland and Illinois prairie grass. From the Professional tees it measures 7,671 yards, rated 79.8 with a 155 slope. Play is for members and their guests, and membership is by invitation only. The club is also the home course of Northern Illinois University's men's and women's golf teams, with an indoor practice facility on site.
History
Rich Harvest Farms — History
Jerry Rich began building on his property in 1988; three holes grew to 18 over ten years, with architect Greg Martin helping on the final seven, and the course officially opened in 1999. It has since hosted the 2009 Solheim Cup, the 2015 Western Amateur, the 2017 NCAA Division I Men's and Women's Championships, the 2021 Arnold Palmer Cup and LIV Golf events in 2022 and 2023.
Design
Rich Harvest Farms — Design
Rich, who had studied Ross, Dye, MacKenzie and Dick Wilson, told Golf Course News in 1998 that he set out to be purposefully eclectic, mixing Scottish, Pine Valley and traditional looks. Martin described the goal as giving each hole its own identity on land with hardwood forest, low areas, rolling ground and two branches of Welch's Creek. The Fried Egg's 2017 preview noted tight, tree-lined driving corridors, abundant bunkering and very large green complexes.
What Sets It Apart
Why Play Rich Harvest Farms
Laid out largely by its owner, a physicist and mathematician by training, Rich Harvest Farms has hosted the 2009 Solheim Cup, the 2017 NCAA Division I Championships and LIV Golf in 2022 and 2023.
The Round
The Journey at Rich Harvest Farms
I.
The Opening
A 453-yard par 4 opens, followed by the 636-yard 2nd, the longest hole. The 388-yard 3rd is a dogleg left with big trees in the fairway; The Fried Egg's 2017 NCAA preview, which numbered the nines in reverse, put the main tree 265 yards from the back tee. At the 216-yard 4th a large tree overhangs the right side of a green sloping back to front. The 528-yard 6th is a par 4 and the No. 3 handicap.
II.
The Middle
The 241-yard 7th is the first of two par 3s over 240 yards. The 490-yard 8th, known as The Cottage and rated the hardest hole, asks for a long-iron approach over water to a green The Fried Egg measured at just 17 yards deep, split by a ridge. The 549-yard 9th closes a 3,897-yard front nine. After the 410-yard 10th and 562-yard 11th comes the 243-yard 12th, the longest par 3.
III.
The Finish
The 458-yard 13th, Devil's Elbow, is the No. 2 handicap; The Fried Egg described a tight corridor demanding a hard draw. The 191-yard 14th is Rich's answer to Augusta National's 12th; Golf Course News described its small, narrow green in 1998 as fronted by a lake and a wall of Wisconsin limestone. After the 601-yard 16th, the 445-yard 18th, the Road Hole, has two fairways and a green about 100 yards long.
How to Play It
Rich Harvest Farms — Playing Strategy
Beginner / High Handicap
Guests should play well forward: from the Professional tees the course is rated 79.8 with a 155 slope. On the 8th, laying up short of the water beats a long iron at a 17-yard-deep green. On the par-3 14th, take enough club to clear the water and the stone wall in front, and on the 3rd play short of the fairway trees rather than at them.
Intermediate / Mid Handicap
With par 3s of 241 and 243 yards at the 7th and 12th, bogey is an acceptable score, so aim for the widest part of those greens. The Fried Egg noted that the 8th green slopes back to front and punishes anyone who goes long, so err short there. On the four par 5s, all 549 yards or longer, place the layup for a full wedge.
Advanced / Low Handicap
On the 3rd, a long iron or hybrid that stops short of the big tree, 265 yards from the back tee, leaves a short-iron approach, The Fried Egg noted. The 13th asks for a controlled draw into a narrow landing area. On the 18th, choose the fairway that suits the day's pin. Par is a good score on the 528-yard 6th and 490-yard 8th.
Signature Holes
Rich Harvest Farms — Signature Holes
The Card
Rich Harvest Farms 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 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 36 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 36 | 72 |
| Yards | 453 | 636 | 388 | 216 | 396 | 528 | 241 | 490 | 549 | 3,897 | 410 | 562 | 243 | 458 | 191 | 448 | 601 | 416 | 445 | 3,774 | 7,671 |
| Handicap | 9 | 5 | 15 | 17 | 11 | 3 | 13 | 1 | 7 | — | 8 | 14 | 18 | 2 | 16 | 10 | 6 | 12 | 4 | — | — |
Good to Know
Rich Harvest Farms — questions answered
- How do I get on Rich Harvest Farms?
- Rich Harvest Farms 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 Rich Harvest Farms?
- Rich Harvest Farms was designed by Jerry Rich and Greg Martin and opened in 1999.
- What is the par and yardage at Rich Harvest Farms?
- Rich Harvest Farms plays to a par of 72 over 7,671 yards from the championship tees, with a course rating of 79.8 and a slope of 155.
- Is Rich Harvest Farms public or private?
- Rich Harvest Farms 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 Rich Harvest Farms located?
- Rich Harvest Farms is located at 7S771 Dugan Rd, Sugar Grove, IL 60554, in the Fox Valley & McHenry area of Chicagoland.
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How to Play It
How to Play Rich Harvest Farms.
Rich Harvest Farms 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.
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