Representative image Photo: Stuart Logan · CC BY-SA 2.0
Old Elm Club
Highland Park, Illinois, United States
18 Holes · Private club — no published green fee; play is by member invitation · Parkland
— About
About Old Elm Club
Old Elm Club is a private 18-hole course in Highland Park, Illinois, with an unusual pairing behind it: Harry Colt routed the course, and Donald Ross carried out the construction. The design favors strategy over punishment. Wide corridors are bordered by bunkers placed to make a player choose a line, and the bunkers now have torn, ragged edges, a look associated with Colt. The club has tended to resist heavy modernization, and recent changes have mostly been an effort to bring back what was there in the early 1900s.
- The greens are the original push-up surfaces Ross built, and they remain in play today.
- Old Elm is the only course on which Colt and Ross worked together, which makes it a one-off.
- Old Elm appears among the GOLF Magazine Top 100 courses in the United States for 2024-25.
- A project announced as complete in February 2025 regrassed the course, renewed the bunkers and reshaped six greens.
History of Old Elm Club
Old Elm Club was founded in 1913 and has kept the core of the original work ever since. Restoration began around 2010 under architect J. Drew Rogers, who took out trees, widened fairways and brought back the original character of the greens. David Zinkand helped shape the bunkers with Rogers and later completed further work through his own firm, Zinkand Golf Design.
Signature holes at Old Elm Club
The 17th is a par 3 in the redan style. Restoration work reshaped it to match Colt's concept.
When to play Old Elm Club
A round at Old Elm depends on a member's invitation rather than on a booking window. If you are invited, ask your host which weeks the course is playing firmest, since firmness changes how the bunkers and greens play. Illinois winters are cold, so the main golf season is spring through fall.
Playing Old Elm Club: tips
Old Elm is a private club with no public access and no published green fee. A round means playing as a member's guest, so the first step is finding a host. Leave time before the round to use the driving range and practice area.
Visit Old Elm Club
800 Old Elm Road, Highland Park, IL 60035
Highland Park, Illinois, United States
— Facilities
Practical Information
— FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions about Old Elm Club
How do I get a round at Old Elm?
You need a member to host you. There is no tee sheet to book, so the route is through a personal invitation.
What should I ask my host before I go?
Ask about caddies, dress and arrival times, since the club offers no published guidance for visitors.
Where is Old Elm Club, and can I warm up there?
The club is at 800 Old Elm Road, Highland Park, Illinois. It has a driving range and practice area, and lessons are offered.