Public Play · West Suburbs
The Preserve at Oak MeadowsAddison
DuPage County's rebuilt forest-preserve course in Addison, routed by Greg Martin along a restored Salt Creek.
Par
72
Yardage
6,977
Rating · Slope
74.1 · 142
Holes
18
Green Fee
$80–$140
The Course
About The Preserve at Oak Meadows
Salt Creek runs through the Preserve at Oak Meadows, a public course owned by the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County on 288 acres of woodland, wetland and prairie in Addison. Greg Martin's rebuild turned a flood-prone 27-hole site into one 18, and it measures 6,977 yards from the Tournament tees, rated 74.1 with a 142 slope. Carts keep to paths near tees and greens and on par 3s, and men need sleeved shirts.
History
The Preserve at Oak Meadows — History
Before it was the Preserve, this was Elmhurst Country Club, a 1920s Charles W. Wagstaff design where Ben Hogan won the 1941 Chicago Open. The Forest Preserve District bought it in 1985 and ran it as Oak Meadows, but Salt Creek flooded it 38 times between 2008 and 2015. Greg Martin's two-year rebuild began in July 2015 and opened for a preview season in 2017 and a full season in 2018.
Design
The Preserve at Oak Meadows — Design
Martin's brief was as much environmental as golf: two dams came out, 1.23 miles of Salt Creek were restored, about 25 acres of wetland were created and more than 100 acres of savanna and prairie restored. Tees, greens and fairways were raised and moved so the course can hold about 20 million more gallons of stormwater. Some greens doubled in size, 54 new bunkers were filled with white sand, and the creek, once hidden behind berms, is now a visible part of the design.
What Sets It Apart
Why Play The Preserve at Oak Meadows
The Preserve won a 2017 Merit Award from the American Society of Landscape Architects for pairing golf with creek, wetland and prairie restoration, on ground where Ben Hogan won the 1941 Chicago Open.
The Round
The Journey at The Preserve at Oak Meadows
I.
The Opening
The 383-yard 1st is one of two holes, with the 18th, that kept a familiar look from the old Oak Meadows layout. Then the card gets serious: the 566-yard 2nd is the longest hole and the No. 1 handicap. The 182-yard 3rd and the 342-yard 4th, the shortest par 4, ease the pace before the 531-yard 5th and the 405-yard 6th.
II.
The Middle
The 375-yard 7th is the No. 5 handicap and the 170-yard 8th the shortest par 3. The 461-yard 9th, the No. 3, closes a 3,415-yard front nine. The back nine opens unusually with a par 3, the 223-yard 10th and the longest on the card, followed by par 4s of 430 and 361 yards.
III.
The Finish
The finish is the longest stretch of the round at 2,548 yards. The 558-yard 13th, the No. 2 handicap, and the 541-yard 15th give the back two par 5s in three holes, with the 439-yard 14th between them. After the 351-yard 16th and the 197-yard 17th, rated the easiest hole, the 462-yard 18th, the longest par 4, brings the round home.
How to Play It
The Preserve at Oak Meadows — Playing Strategy
Beginner / High Handicap
A 142 slope from the Tournament tees argues for a forward set on a first visit. Carts stay on paths around tees and greens and on every par 3, so carry a few clubs to the ball. Treat the 566-yard 2nd and 558-yard 13th as three-shot holes and accept bogey on the 223-yard 10th.
Intermediate / Mid Handicap
The 531-yard 5th and 541-yard 15th are the shorter par 5s and the best birdie chances, and the 342-yard 4th and 351-yard 16th are the shortest par 4s. Some greens were doubled in size in the rebuild, to around 6,000 square feet, so lag putting and pin position matter as much as hitting the green.
Advanced / Low Handicap
At 74.1 from 6,977 yards, the Preserve leans on long par 4s: the 461-yard 9th and 462-yard 18th are among the hardest holes, and the 439-yard 14th sits between the back's two par 5s. The No. 1 and No. 2 handicaps are the 2nd and 13th, both over 555 yards, so make your birdies at the 5th and 15th.
Signature Holes
The Preserve at Oak Meadows — Signature Holes
The Card
The Preserve at Oak Meadows 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 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 36 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 36 | 72 |
| Yards | 383 | 566 | 182 | 342 | 531 | 405 | 375 | 170 | 461 | 3,415 | 223 | 430 | 361 | 558 | 439 | 541 | 351 | 197 | 462 | 3,562 | 6,977 |
| Handicap | 11 | 1 | 15 | 13 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 17 | 3 | — | 8 | 10 | 12 | 2 | 14 | 4 | 16 | 18 | 6 | — | — |
Good to Know
The Preserve at Oak Meadows — questions answered
- How do I book a tee time at The Preserve at Oak Meadows?
- The Preserve at Oak Meadows takes tee-time bookings directly on its own website. Golf in CHI links the course's booking page on this listing.
- How much does it cost to play The Preserve at Oak Meadows?
- Green fees at The Preserve at Oak Meadows are typically $80 to $140, varying by season, day of week and time. 2026 dynamic 18-hole walking rate: $80-$100 Mon-Thu, $110-$140 Fri-Sun and holidays.
- Who designed The Preserve at Oak Meadows?
- The Preserve at Oak Meadows was designed by Greg Martin and opened in 2017.
- What is the par and yardage at The Preserve at Oak Meadows?
- The Preserve at Oak Meadows plays to a par of 72 over 6,977 yards from the championship tees, with a course rating of 74.1 and a slope of 142.
- Is The Preserve at Oak Meadows public or private?
- The Preserve at Oak Meadows is open to public play. Tee times can be reserved in advance.
- Where is The Preserve at Oak Meadows located?
- The Preserve at Oak Meadows is located at 900 N. Wood Dale Road, Addison, IL 60101, in the West Suburbs area of Chicagoland.
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How to Play It
Book a Tee Time at The Preserve at Oak Meadows.
The Preserve at Oak Meadows takes its tee sheet directly — book your round on the club's own site.
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
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