Butler National Golf Club

Oak Brook, IL • Private

4.3

Panelists

222 Reviews

1 / 5

2 / 5

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3 / 5

Courtesy of Butler National GC

4 / 5

LC Lambrecht

5 / 5

Courtesy of Butler National GC

Overview

Butler National was former tour player George Fazio’s ideal of a championship course, with 10 forced-carries over water in 18 holes. Even before it opened, it was signed to eventually serve as permanent site of the Western Open. Problem was, when it opened, it was the last cool-weather venue on the PGA Tour to utilize bluegrass rather than bent-grass for its fairway, and several prominent golfers declined to play Butler National because of potential flyer-lies from those fairways. Eventually the turf was converted, but then the Shoal Creek scandal occurred. Rather than change its restricted men-only policy, the club relinquished its role of Western Open host after the 1990 event. So why include a club on America’s 100 Greatest that won’t allow female panelists a chance to evaluate it? Because we rank golf courses, not club policies.

About

Holes 18

Length 7523

Slope 152

Facility Type Private

Year Opened 1974

Designer George Fazio & Tom Fazio

Awards

Ranking history:

100 Greatest: Ranked since 1975.
2023-'24 ranking: 75th.
Previous ranking: 49th.
Highest ranking: No. 21, 2007-'08.

Best in State: Ranked second, 2017-'22. Ranked third, 2015-'16, 2023-'24. Ranked fourth, 2011-'14. Ranked inside the top 5, 1977-2010.
2023-'24 ranking: Third.
Previous ranking: Second.

Panelists

Ratings from our panel of 1,900 course-ranking panelists

4.3

100 GREATEST/BEST IN STATE SCORES

Shot Options

7.6106

Character

7.6621

Challenge

8.1833

Layout Variety

7.52

Fun

7.1079

Aesthetics

7.3867

Conditioning

7.8864

Reviews

1 / 10

Review

“One of the most demanding tests in golf. Everything is out in front of you at Butler, however you must be accurate to avoid the penal rough and deep bunkers across the course. "

2021

2 / 10

Review

“A true championship tests that is long, with rough, and some of the fastest greens around. With all that being said I found it to be a very fair test for the low handicapper. If you execute you are able to score at Butler but you must be precise. The course felt like it could host a big tournament tomorrow. One of the better conditioned courses out there. "

2021

3 / 10

Review

“This is a big, difficult course with excellent course maintenance. The greens are small relative to how long the holes are -- arguably the correct size as I feel many newer long courses have extremely large greens. One of the few courses that I think can properly challenge the best players in the world. For a mid-aged scratch-ish player, it is extremely difficult, but not unreasonable."

2021

4 / 10

Review

“One of the toughest tests in the Chicago area--rolling terrain with holes hugging hazards and property lines, with ample trees and thick rough to punish inaccurate play."

2019

5 / 10

Review

“Butler National is an extremely tough test of golf considering there isn't much OB, no blind shots, and everything is very much in front of you. Very thick and long rough, tight driving corridors combined with narrow green targets makes the player totally control their ball. Missed Fairways and greens can lead to many bogeys. Course gets off to a rather slow start but definitely picks up in the final stretch with some great golf holes #14-18. Very well conditioned with some runout in fairways and very smooth rolling greens. Course plays long and doesn't offer up much rest, par threes are all similar, missing shorter par 4 or reachable par 5."

2021

6 / 10

Review

“Very hard, but fair course at a great members club."

2018

7 / 10

Review

“Very private, all male course. Many long and forced carries. Good course for long straight hitters. Good condition. # 8 par 3 best hole."

2018

8 / 10

Review

“A tough golf course but also very fair. Good mix of holes and always in great shape. Some holes play through mature trees while others are over land that is more exposed to the wind."

2018

9 / 10