Knollwood Club

Detailed description of Knollwood Club

Knollwood Club is a Private 18 hole golf course located in Lake Forest, Illinois.

The Knollwood Club Golf Course first opened for play in 1925. The course was designed by Captain Charles H. Alison of the noted English firm of Colt and Alison of London

Founded in 1924, located on 240 rolling acres in Lake Forest, Illinois, Knollwood Club is one of the premier country clubs in Illinois. Captain Alison was given a topographical sketch of the property and commissioned to design the best possible course regardless of expense. It was created at a cost of approximately $10,000 per hole. The investment in building the Knollwood course was substantially higher than in other courses being developed in Chicago at that time. During the 20's, it was customary to set aside about 120 acres as sufficient for the golf course. But to avoid having greens, tees, and fairways too close together, about 175 acres were used. The course was opened for play in 1925.

The course was updated and upgraded in 1975 by Lawrence Packard. A new lake was developed on the 7th hole as the first in a series of significant changes. During late 1974 the major construction began. It included a number of new traps on the front nine, particularly around the 6th green. The 8th hole was totally rebuilt with a new tee, a new green, and new traps. The 9th hole was also changed with new lakes, new tees, and new traps. By 1975 the major work was completed and the golf course had been improved considerably.

In 1983 the golf course again enhanced when a new green was built on the 13th hole, the tee was elevated on the 14th hole and new bunkers were added on holes 6 and 16. The pond on the 7th hole was enlarged and new tees and bunkers were added. The pond behind the first hole was enlarged and dredged and the old pumping station was reactivated.

In September 1986, Knollwood hosted the Thirteenth International PGA Cup Matches. An outstanding team of American Club Professionals defeated the best that Great Britain and Ireland had to offer, 16 to 9.

Par for the course is 72. From the back tees the course plays to 6,937 yards. From the forward tees the Par is 75 and the course measures 5,760 yards. The longest hole on the course is # 10, a par-5 that plays to 571 yards. The shortest hole on the course is # 4, a par-3 that plays to 171 yards from the back tees.

Watch out for # 9, a 416 yard par-4 challenge and the #1 handicap hole on the course. The easiest hole at Knollwood Club is # 12, a 174 yard par-3.