Knollwood Club
Knollwood Club
1890 Knollwood Rd
Lake Forest, IL 60045-1135
United States
About
Awards
ranking history:
100 Greatest: The course was part of Golf Digest's original 200 Toughest Courses list from 1967-'68.
Best in State: Ranked inside the top 10, 1983-'85, 1989-'91, 1995-'99, 2003, 2007. Ranked inside the top 15, 1987, 1993, 2001, 2005. Ranked 18th, 2013-'16. Ranked 19th, 2017-'18. Ranked 20th, 2011-'12, 2021-'22. Ranked 22nd, 2019-'20. Ranked 23rd, 2023-'24. Ranked 24th, 2025-'26.
Previous ranking: 23rd.
2025-'26 ranking: 24th.
Panelists
Ratings from our panel of 1,900 course-ranking panelists
100 GREATEST/BEST IN STATE SCORES
Shot Options
Character
Challenge
Layout Variety
Fun
Aesthetics
Conditioning
Reviews
Review
“A great mixture of long forgiving holes with shorter holes with challenging features. Several of the par 3's can get you with carries over water where the water creeps close to the green on the sides of the green. The par 5's are shorter with bridie opportunities. The first hole is a straight par 4 with length but no trouble in front of the green so you can run it up if necessary. The greens are in excellent condition and roll great. The autonomous mowers are out taking care of the rough so the rough is a consistent height. A great private club that should be on your list to play. The outside service staff was super friendly and the caddies extremely knowledgeable."
Read More2026
Review
“This classic parkland layout was originally designed by C.H. Alison featuring his signature strategic bunkering. A recent and extensive restoration by architect Drew Rogers has reclaimed the initial Alison style, enhancing the landscape and bringing the iconic bunkering and prairie aesthetic back to the fore. Also, new green complexes relocated on a few holes bring a modernization to the club typical of today's game."
Read More2025
Review
“Excellent conditioning on sometimes treacherous greens. Bunkers guard most fairways and greens."
Read More2023
Review
“Very playable. Can fly shot to most greens or you can run it up on most holes. Big bunkers"
Read More2023
Review
“This one great club and a wonderful course. Colt and Alison did a masterful job routing this course on terrain that is particularly compelling. The course is fun and challenging. It would be a great place to be a member."
Read More2021
Review
“Good variety at this old, private course. Plenty of ways to score on many holes, while some elevated greens can present real challenges to players of all levels."
Read More2019
Review
“Some of the fastest greens ever played."
Read More2018
