Urbana Country Club
Urbana Country Club
100 E Country Club Rd
Urbana, IL 61801
United States
Overview
Tom Bendelow designed the original course at Urbana Country Club in central Illinois in 1922. It aged into a basic design with narrow holes and small, round greens, but when Shad Khan, owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars, acquired the club in 2008 he initiated a long-range property-wide program to bring it up to modern standards from the clubhouse to the service to the course and practice areas. Drew Rogers was tabbed to revitalize the golf side of the equation and completed a major renovation of the core course in 2024. Rogers was able to broaden the playing corridors and give the holes more shape. He created an entirely new slate of greens, varying them wildly in size, shape and orientation, and rebunkered each hole to introduce new strategic lines and decisions. Several holes play across and alongside canals that command attention, and the par-4 fourth and par-3 13th play into a shared, crescent shaped green. Urbana’s property still feels established, but the golf is entirely new and energetic.
About
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
“"The biggest gap I've had from expectations to experience in a long long time. The renovation has taken a course from what I assume was extremely bland and mediocre to excellent and really enjoyable. The green complexes were well done and provided tons of interest with slopes and angles. Off the tee the course was fairly mundane, but still provided challenge without being overly narrow or overly wide. There was good use of doglegs on a few holes, and then holes in the middle of the back nine that could have been up and back were well done, especially the greens - the first is a great opener and sets the tone, with a semi-punchbowl green - 6 - 9 are pretty weird being butted up right next to the interstate, but it's interesting land and utilized well - the dual green on 4 & 13 is really well done and actually makes sense - the home stretch of 16 - 18 is quite good and challenging, bu the driveable par 4 17th is a standout on a course the really had quite the makeover""
Read More2025
Review
“Conditioning was very good - fairways were firm and fast, greens held a good shot and rolled true, though were a bit slow. Layout variety - other than the par threes, there were nine straight holes, 4 doglegs left, and only one dogleg right. There was some elevation change. There were short and longer par 4's and 3's. The double green for #4 and #13 was fun and aesthetic, and the large Biarritz-like double green on hole #17 created a very interesting and fun short par 4. Shot options are good with a variety of options into the green and around the greens. It is a fair course and not real challenging due to the lack of length of the course due to apparent space limitations. I would definitely go back and play again."
Read More2025
Review
“Conditioning was very good - fairways were firm and fast, greens held a good shot and rolled true, though were a bit slow. Layout variety - other than the par threes, there were nine straight holes, 4 doglegs left, and only one dogleg right. There was some elevation change. There were short and longer par 4's and 3's. The double green for #4 and #13 was fun and aesthetic, and the large Biarritz-like double green on hole #17 created a very interesting and fun short par 4. Shot options are good with a variety of options into the green and around the greens. It is a fair course and not real challenging due to the lack of length of the course due to apparent space limitations. I would definitely go back and play again."
Read More2025
Review
“Shahid Khan invested $50 million in transforming Urbana Country Club, according to General Manager Chris Harder, and the results are striking. Based on photos Harder shared during my visit, the transformation is remarkable. Shot Options: The course is open and plays long, rewarding driver on most holes. However, the 4th, 9th, 10th, 12th, and 17th offer strategic variety from the tee, allowing players to choose different clubs and approaches. On approach shots, most greens are accessible by air, though players can run the ball onto many greens given the open fronts and surrounding run-off areas. The trees present the greatest challenge, forcing occasional adjustments to trajectory and club selection to work the ball onto or near the green. Challenge: The course isn't a pushover, but it's not particularly demanding either. Keep the ball in play and navigate the undulations around and on the greens, and scoring opportunities are plentiful. I shot 76 without prior knowledge of the layout, which speaks to its accessibility. Layout Variety: This is where UCC falls short. By my count, 10 holes play straight and seven move left. More variety in hole direction would strengthen the routing. The elevation changes are better—nine holes feature combinations of uphill, downhill, or flat terrain, which adds interest. There's also good balance in hole length, with a healthy mix of medium and long par 4s compensating for shorter par 3s and par 5s. A significant investment was made to build up some holes, and these elevation changes add an intriguing wrinkle to the design. Previously, the greens seen in photos Harder shared were circular, tipped front to back, and lacked character. Now they feature varied slopes, contours, and shapes that enhance both interest and challenge. Aesthetics: Holes 1 through 4 and 13 through 18 are gorgeous—the topography, surrounding landscape, and hole contours create beautiful vistas as the holes run side-by-side. Holes 5 through 12 border a cemetery, Interstate 74, and an apartment complex, which detract from the experience, though none intrude directly on play. The stunning clubhouse, which you pass during the round, helps elevate the overall character of the property. Conditioning: Very good during my round. The rough was lush and thick, the fairways played firm and fast, and the greens were receptive to good shots with true rolls. Character: While the golf course may be the crown jewel of UCC, it's just one part of the club. The staff proudly showcased amenities including a pool, an elaborately decorated clubhouse, and a game room. These features affirm that UCC is a community hub and destination for those seeking a comprehensive club experience in an otherwise modest, rural setting. Golf is clearly a priority here, but it's not the only one—members come for the restaurant, the pool, the game room, and the social opportunities as much as the course itself. Fun: UCC is a fun course with a nice combination of scorable and challenging holes amid good playing conditions. If I lived in Urbana, it's a course I'd happily play regularly."
Read More2025
Review
“The uphill par 3 5th and short par 4 17th are exceptional golf holes, the options into that dog leg left biarritz (borderline double plateau) green and the dry creek hugging the right are outstanding. Ultimately the 4 th hole and a few filler holes hold it back. Very enjoyable"
Read More2025
Review
“A course that has been transformed from "tree-bound claustrophobic" to wonderfully open and enjoyable. The tree thinning left a wealth of specimen samples for viewing enjoyment and some punishment for errant shots. A wonderful double green has been added and, when completed, the new entrance driveway will eliminate shots being played over the current road. For a course in central Illinois, there are a surprising number of elevation changes that add considerable interest, and tilted fairways enhance the challenge. The "double-raised" 17th green is a treat. Sufficient challenge for better players while playable for the less skilled. Solid in every way."
Read More2025
Review
“Really remarkable transformation from a worn out mundane 1920’s course. This should be a case study for the hundreds of old country clubs that need refreshed. Greens are modern but with some older template like features, large, changing shape sizes and contours. Great conditioned greens and fairways. Bunkers are added in great positions off tees and green sides. Bunkers are world class conditioned. Some fun holes, one unique almost quirky hole by the entrance. The rough around the greens improves the challenge factor. Par 3s are all framed well. Really liked the shared fairway with trees splitting the holes on 9 and 10, nice element you don’t see often."
Read More2025
Review
“Really remarkable transformation from a worn out mundane 1920’s course. This should be a case study for the hundreds of old country clubs that need refreshed. Greens are modern but with some older template like features, large, changing shape sizes and contours. Great conditioned greens and fairways. Bunkers are added in great positions off tees and green sides. Bunkers are world class conditioned. Some fun holes, one unique almost quirky hole by the entrance. The rough around the greens improves the challenge factor. Par 3s are all framed well. Really liked the shared fairway with trees splitting the holes on 9 and 10, nice element you don’t see often."
Read More2025
