Invitation & Access · Lake County
The Club at WynstoneNorth Barrington
Jack Nicklaus's private course on the former W. Clement Stone estate in North Barrington.
Par
72
Yardage
7,162
Rating · Slope
75.9 · 148
Holes
18
Green Fee
Members only
The Course
About The Club at Wynstone
Wynstone is a private club for members and their guests at the heart of a gated residential community in North Barrington. Jack Nicklaus routed the course through rolling hills, wetlands and mature oak stands, and the club describes elevated tees, large greens guarded by deep bunkers and big water features. Membership is by invitation and member sponsorship and is not included with a home purchase; the club also offers tennis, pickleball, a pool and dining.
History
The Club at Wynstone — History
Nicklaus signed on to design Wynstone in 1986, on land that had been Chicago philanthropist W. Clement Stone's country estate, and the course opened in 1989. A full renovation in 2015 regrassed greens and fairways, rebuilt bunker drainage and laser-leveled the tees, and a 2024 project relined the bunkers and rebuilt the practice range. In 2017 nine resident families bought the club, converting it from an equity club.
Design
The Club at Wynstone — Design
Nicklaus said Wynstone had to be a course ready to play on day one rather than after years of growing in. The club credits his respect for the natural topography, and the design leans on familiar Nicklaus elements: elevated tees, large greens protected by deep bunkers, marked elevation changes, big water features and expansive fairway and greenside bunkering. Four sets of tees run from 5,946 to 7,162 yards.
What Sets It Apart
Why Play The Club at Wynstone
Nicklaus Design described Wynstone in 2011 as the only private Nicklaus Signature course in Illinois, set within a gated community built around it on the former Stone estate.
The Round
The Journey at The Club at Wynstone
I.
The Opening
The card eases in: the 413-yard 1st is rated the easiest hole on the course. Length follows at once with the 463-yard 2nd and the 509-yard 3rd, a par 5 rated the second-hardest hole. The 204-yard 4th is the first par 3, and the 442-yard 5th and 418-yard 6th, the No. 6 and No. 4 handicaps, make a demanding pair of par 4s.
II.
The Middle
The 190-yard 7th and the 358-yard 8th, the shortest par 4, give a breather before the 553-yard 9th closes a 3,550-yard front nine. The back opens with the 431-yard 10th, the No. 1 handicap, followed by the 205-yard 11th, the longest par 3, and the 535-yard 12th.
III.
The Finish
The 373-yard 13th and 178-yard 14th are the gentlest pair on the inward nine. From there the finish stiffens: the 457-yard 15th is the No. 3 handicap, the 464-yard 16th is the longest par 4, and the 422-yard 17th rates fifth. The round ends on a last par 5, the 547-yard 18th.
How to Play It
The Club at Wynstone — Playing Strategy
Beginner / High Handicap
Wynstone's forward tees start at 5,946 yards, against 7,162 from the Black tees with their 75.9 rating and 148 slope; guests should pick a set that leaves mid-irons into the large greens. With deep greenside bunkers, an approach to the fat part of the green beats one aimed at the flag. Take the 413-yard 1st as a gentle start.
Intermediate / Mid Handicap
Birdie chances sit on the par 5s at the 3rd, 9th, 12th and 18th, though the 3rd is also the No. 2 handicap. The run from the 15th to the 17th, three par 4s between 422 and 464 yards, is where a round slips most easily, so bogey there is no disaster. On the elevated greens, a short-sided miss is hard to recover from.
Advanced / Low Handicap
Six par 4s measure 422 yards or more from the Black tees, so long-iron approaches decide the score. The 10th, the No. 1 handicap, and the stretch from the 15th to the 17th demand accurate irons into raised, bunkered greens. The 358-yard 8th and 373-yard 13th are the par 4s to attack.
Signature Holes
The Club at Wynstone — Signature Holes
The Card
The Club at Wynstone 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 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 36 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 36 | 72 |
| Yards | 413 | 463 | 509 | 204 | 442 | 418 | 190 | 358 | 553 | 3,550 | 431 | 205 | 535 | 373 | 178 | 457 | 464 | 422 | 547 | 3,612 | 7,162 |
| Handicap | 18 | 10 | 2 | 14 | 6 | 4 | 16 | 12 | 8 | — | 1 | 17 | 7 | 15 | 13 | 3 | 11 | 5 | 9 | — | — |
Good to Know
The Club at Wynstone — questions answered
- How do I get on The Club at Wynstone?
- The Club at Wynstone 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 The Club at Wynstone?
- The Club at Wynstone was designed by Jack Nicklaus and opened in 1989.
- What is the par and yardage at The Club at Wynstone?
- The Club at Wynstone plays to a par of 72 over 7,162 yards from the championship tees, with a course rating of 75.9 and a slope of 148.
- Is The Club at Wynstone public or private?
- The Club at Wynstone 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 The Club at Wynstone located?
- The Club at Wynstone is located at 1 South Wynstone Drive, North Barrington, IL 60010, in the Lake County area of Chicagoland.
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Ivanhoe Club
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Arthur Hills · Grayslake
Stonewall Orchard Golf Club
Arthur Hills' first Illinois design, a public course among mature pines, oaks and wetlands in Grayslake.
How to Play It
How to Play The Club at Wynstone.
The Club at Wynstone 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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