Public Play · Northwest Indiana
The Course at AberdeenValparaiso
Michael Hurdzan's 1997 public course in Valparaiso, Indiana, about an hour from downtown Chicago.
Par
72
Yardage
6,925
Rating · Slope
73.3 · 138
Holes
18
Green Fee
$62–$84
The Course
About The Course at Aberdeen
About an hour from downtown Chicago by the club's reckoning, The Course at Aberdeen is a public 18 in Valparaiso, laid out within a residential community and open to daily play as well as annual passholders. The club describes tree-lined fairways, preserved wetlands and rolling countryside. Four sets of tees stretch to 6,925 yards from the Black tees, and there is a driving range, a practice area and a cafe on site.
History
The Course at Aberdeen — History
Dr. Michael Hurdzan built The Course at Aberdeen in 1997, according to the club, nine years before Erin Hills opened as his co-design with Dana Fry and Ron Whitten. The course was laid out as part of a residential community, and today it is managed by OGM, selling annual passes with unlimited golf and cart alongside daily public tee times.
Design
The Course at Aberdeen — Design
Tree-lined fairways, preserved wetlands and rolling countryside make up what the club calls a traditional layout, played from four sets of tees. The card is balanced: each nine has two par 3s and two par 5s, and the nines differ by only 29 yards from the Black tees. The hardest holes by handicap are long par 4s, the 435-yard 16th and the 436-yard 3rd.
What Sets It Apart
Why Play The Course at Aberdeen
Aberdeen brings a Michael Hurdzan design to Northwest Indiana within about an hour of downtown Chicago, a 6,925-yard, 73.3/138 test from the Black tees that the public can book.
The Round
The Journey at The Course at Aberdeen
I.
The Opening
Aberdeen opens with four par 4s. The 419-yard 1st is followed by the 371-yard 2nd, the No. 18 handicap and the easiest hole on the card. The 436-yard 3rd, the No. 2 handicap, is the stiffest of the early holes, and the 410-yard 4th leads to the 540-yard 5th, the first par 5. The 174-yard 6th is the shortest par 3 on the course.
II.
The Middle
The 387-yard 7th carries the No. 6 handicap, and the 201-yard 8th is the longest par 3. The front nine closes with the 539-yard 9th, a par 5 rated No. 4, and the back nine opens with another, the 514-yard 10th, rated the easiest of the four. The 195-yard 11th is a par 3 ranked No. 3 on the handicap, and the 418-yard 12th, rated No. 5, completes a demanding middle stretch.
III.
The Finish
The 308-yard 13th is the shortest par 4 on the course, a breather before the 437-yard 14th, the longest par 4. The 543-yard 15th is the longest hole. Then comes the 435-yard 16th, the No. 1 handicap. The 186-yard 17th is the last par 3, and the 412-yard 18th, rated No. 9, brings the round home on a par 4.
How to Play It
The Course at Aberdeen — Playing Strategy
Beginner / High Handicap
Choose one of the forward tee sets; the Black tees run 6,925 yards with a 73.3 rating and 138 slope. The 2nd and 10th are the easiest holes by handicap, good places to settle in. On the four par 3s, which run 174 to 201 yards from the back, aim for the center of the green, and play the par 5s as three-shot holes.
Intermediate / Mid Handicap
The round turns on the long par 4s: the 3rd, 14th and 16th all measure 435 yards or more from the Black tees, and two of them are the hardest holes on the card. Take your chances at the 308-yard 13th and the 514-yard 10th, then protect the score through a finish that ranks the 16th as the No. 1 handicap.
Advanced / Low Handicap
From the Black tees (73.3/138), the four par 5s, all between 514 and 543 yards, are the scoring holes. The 195-yard 11th, rated No. 3, is the par 3 to respect. Drive it well on the 3rd, 14th and 16th, where long approaches decide the card, and use the short 13th to get a shot back late.
Signature Holes
The Course at Aberdeen — Signature Holes
The Card
The Course at Aberdeen 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 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 36 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 36 | 72 |
| Yards | 419 | 371 | 436 | 410 | 540 | 174 | 387 | 201 | 539 | 3,477 | 514 | 195 | 418 | 308 | 437 | 543 | 435 | 186 | 412 | 3,448 | 6,925 |
| Handicap | 8 | 18 | 2 | 10 | 12 | 16 | 6 | 14 | 4 | — | 17 | 3 | 5 | 11 | 7 | 13 | 1 | 15 | 9 | — | — |
Good to Know
The Course at Aberdeen — questions answered
- How do I book a tee time at The Course at Aberdeen?
- Find and book live tee times at The Course at Aberdeen through GolfNow — Golf in CHI links straight to its tee sheet on this listing.
- How much does it cost to play The Course at Aberdeen?
- Green fees at The Course at Aberdeen are typically $62 to $84, varying by season, day of week and time. 18 holes: $62 Mon–Thu, $71 Friday, $84 weekends and holidays. Tee sheet shows current rates.
- Who designed The Course at Aberdeen?
- The Course at Aberdeen was designed by Michael Hurdzan and opened in 1997.
- What is the par and yardage at The Course at Aberdeen?
- The Course at Aberdeen plays to a par of 72 over 6,925 yards from the championship tees, with a course rating of 73.3 and a slope of 138.
- Is The Course at Aberdeen public or private?
- The Course at Aberdeen is open to public play. Tee times can be reserved in advance.
- Where is The Course at Aberdeen located?
- The Course at Aberdeen is located at 245 Tower Road, Valparaiso, IN 46385, in the Northwest Indiana area of Chicagoland.
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How to Play It
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