Invitation & Access · West Suburbs
Ruth Lake Country ClubHinsdale
A 1922 Hinsdale club with a Langford and Moreau course and a par-3 finish.
Par
71
Yardage
6,681
Rating · Slope
73.1 · 134
Holes
18
Green Fee
Members only
The Course
About Ruth Lake Country Club
Founded in 1922, Ruth Lake is a private country club in Hinsdale in the west suburbs, for members and their guests, with clubhouse dining, a caddie program, a full range and a separate short-game area. Its par-71 course, by William Langford and Theodore Moreau, measures 6,681 yards from the tees listed here, rated 73.1 with a 134 slope, and finishes on a par 3.
History
Ruth Lake Country Club — History
Nine golfing businessmen founded Ruth Lake in 1922, and the club's timeline marks its 18 holes complete in 1923. Arthur Hills/Steve Forrest and Associates renovated and restored the course in 2005, in a project planned to build eight new green complexes and add about 300 yards. A full bunker renovation and a redesigned 18th green followed in 2019, and a bridge at the 18th crossing was finished in 2021.
Design
Ruth Lake Country Club — Design
The club says the 2005 work was meant to showcase the course's Midwestern terrain. Plans for that renovation turned the 2nd from a par 4 into a par 5 and the 3rd from a par 4 into a long par 3, and today's card reflects both. The result is an unusual mix for a par-71 course: five par 3s, four par 5s and nine par 4s.
What Sets It Apart
Why Play Ruth Lake Country Club
Ruth Lake ends on a par 3, and the club calls that 18th its signature hole; its green complex was redesigned in 2019, and the dining patio looks over it.
The Round
The Journey at Ruth Lake Country Club
I.
The Opening
The 331-yard 1st is a gentle start, rated 16th. The 2nd became a 569-yard par 5 in the 2005 renovation, and the 238-yard 3rd, converted from a par 4 in the same work, is the longest par 3. The 452-yard 4th is the fourth-hardest hole, the 523-yard 5th the second par 5 in four holes, and the 205-yard 6th the easiest hole on the card.
II.
The Middle
The 370-yard 7th and 427-yard 8th lead to the 447-yard 9th, the No. 2 handicap, closing a 3,562-yard front nine. The back starts short: the 300-yard 10th is the shortest par 4, and the 363-yard 11th follows. The 207-yard 12th is the third par 3 of the round, with two more still to come.
III.
The Finish
The back nine packs in variety: the 525-yard 13th is the No. 1 handicap, the 140-yard 14th the shortest hole, and the 493-yard 15th the shortest par 5. The 418-yard 16th and the 463-yard 17th, the longest par 4 and third-hardest hole, lead to the 210-yard 18th, the club's signature hole, whose green complex was redesigned in 2019.
How to Play It
Ruth Lake Country Club — Playing Strategy
Beginner / High Handicap
Five par 3s put a premium on iron play, so aim at the middle of the green on the 3rd, 6th and 18th rather than at flags. From the tees listed here the course rates 73.1 with a 134 slope, and a forward set shortens it further. The 1st, 10th and 11th are short par 4s to settle in.
Intermediate / Mid Handicap
The front nine is the long half at 3,562 yards, with the 4th and 9th among the hardest holes, so par there is a gain. The back is 443 yards shorter, and the 300-yard 10th, the 140-yard 14th and the 493-yard 15th are the best birdie chances before a demanding 17th and 18th.
Advanced / Low Handicap
With par 71 and four par 5s, a good round needs birdies at the 2nd, 5th, 13th and 15th, though the 13th, the No. 1 handicap, is the one to respect. The 238-yard 3rd and 463-yard 17th are the toughest long-iron tests, and the round ends with a 210-yard par 3, so there is no closing par 5 to rescue a card.
Signature Holes
Ruth Lake Country Club — Signature Holes
The Card
Ruth Lake 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 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 36 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 35 | 71 |
| Yards | 331 | 569 | 238 | 452 | 523 | 205 | 370 | 427 | 447 | 3,562 | 300 | 363 | 207 | 525 | 140 | 493 | 418 | 463 | 210 | 3,119 | 6,681 |
| Handicap | 16 | 6 | 12 | 4 | 10 | 18 | 14 | 8 | 2 | — | 9 | 11 | 13 | 1 | 17 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 15 | — | — |
Good to Know
Ruth Lake Country Club — questions answered
- How do I get on Ruth Lake Country Club?
- Ruth Lake 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 Ruth Lake Country Club?
- Ruth Lake Country Club was designed by William Langford and Theodore Moreau and opened in 1923.
- What is the par and yardage at Ruth Lake Country Club?
- Ruth Lake Country Club plays to a par of 71 over 6,681 yards from the championship tees, with a course rating of 73.1 and a slope of 134.
- Is Ruth Lake Country Club public or private?
- Ruth Lake 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 Ruth Lake Country Club located?
- Ruth Lake Country Club is located at 6200 S Madison St, Hinsdale, IL 60521, in the West Suburbs area of Chicagoland.
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How to Play It
How to Play Ruth Lake Country Club.
Ruth Lake 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.
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