Bolingbrook Golf Club burst onto the Midwest golf scene in 2002 with a grand vision: transform a humble stretch of flat prairie into a world-class venue.
From the moment you glimpse the palatial 76,000-square-foot clubhouse—fondly dubbed the “Rog Mahal” by locals—you’ll suspect this place is out to make a statement. And you’d be right.
Much of the buzz traces back to the Village of Bolingbrook’s no-holds-barred approach to building this public gem.
Cost figures floated around the $35–36 million mark, a lofty sum that covered everything from the marble finishes to the private VIP lounges inside the castle-like clubhouse.
Former mayor Roger Claar’s philosophy, “If you’re not going to do it first class, don’t do it,” set the tone—and oh, did it ever deliver.
A Bold Start with Major Ambitions
Renowned golf architect Arthur Hills, partnering with Steve Forrest, gave the course its links-style bones.
Rolling terrain, large mounds for visual drama, and a handful of ponds that put your heart in your throat combine to create an 18-hole romp that can stretch beyond 7,100 yards from the tips.
“The course is a real gem,” observes one detailed review, pointing to the balanced mix of long, short, and water-guarded holes.
Right from the start, Bolingbrook Golf Club turned heads and attracted accolades. Golf Magazine named it among the “Top Ten You Can Play” not long after opening.
Over the years, it has hosted everything from American Junior Golf Association events to Illinois state championships, reinforcing its reputation as a top-tier municipal course.
Signature Holes and Links-Style Dares
If you ask regulars which hole best captures Bolingbrook’s spirit, odds are good they’ll point to the par-3 15th.
Set at a menacing 156 yards, it’s a “true” island green that’s a thrilling combination of fear and fun.
Standing on that tee box, it’s just you, your club, and a small patch of turf surrounded by enough water to make a lifeguard jittery. Miss short or wide, and say hello to the drink.
From there, the closing stretch grows no less dramatic. The final holes (15, 16, 17, 18) trace a lake along the right side, forcing players into a nervy dance with water-hugging fairways.
Hole 18 in particular demands a closing flourish: water looms starboard, while bunkers perched on the left stand ready to gobble any timid shots.
All in all, it’s a finishing sequence that can turn your comfortable round into a nail-biter in minutes.
Bolingbrook also lays claim to one of the biggest clubhouses in Illinois—a three-story behemoth that can host 800-plus guests.
Locals describe stepping inside as akin to entering a “castle,” complete with a two-story stone fireplace in the foyer.
You’ll find the event spaces, an upscale steakhouse (The East Room), and the well-loved Nest Bar & Grill, plus enough parking to accommodate daily play and the occasional tournament throng.
The staff rightly boasts that you can have your round of golf, then stay for a swanky dinner without ever needing to leave the property.
A Gateway for Golf Thrill-Seekers
Strategically located in Bolingbrook, Illinois—about 35 miles southwest of downtown Chicago—this course straddles the line between city convenience and a relaxing suburban escape.
Drivers can hop on Interstate 55 and reach Bolingbrook Golf Club in roughly 40–50 minutes, give or take Chicago traffic.
Once you arrive, the sense of space is immediate. You’re far enough from the urban bustle to feel a little serenity, but close enough to enjoy a day trip or weekend visit without a major haul.
Naturally, a place of this scale also boasts an expansive practice facility. Over 50 hitting stations on natural grass, target greens for dialling in approach shots, and a lush short-game area ensure that even the range rats among us will find plenty to keep busy.
For the short-irons fanatic, there are two dedicated practice par-3 holes—not something you see at every public track.
If that’s not enough, you’ll find the “10-acre short game area” impressive, featuring multiple putting and chipping greens plus practice bunkers.
Hosting the Pros: LIV Golf Makes an Appearance
If you think Bolingbrook was built for big-time events, you’re not alone. In 2024, the club stepped onto centre stage by hosting the LIV Golf Chicago Invitational, the season-ending individual championship for the LIV Golf League.
This was a major leap into the professional spotlight, featuring big names like Phil Mickelson, Bryson DeChambeau, Cameron Smith, Dustin Johnson, and Jon Rahm, among others.
Turning a daily-play course into a top-tier tournament venue is no small feat, but the club’s substantial footprint made it relatively seamless.
“Big golf events depend on infrastructure, and Bolingbrook offers that in spades,” explained one golf writer.
During the tournament, fans witnessed intense storylines—particularly the final surge by Jon Rahm, who arrived leading the season-long individual race.
Over three wind-swept days, he battled youngsters like Joaquín Niemann before securing the title in a memorable Sunday finish.
Spectators loved seeing DeChambeau attempt the heroics of driving par-4s over water, while Mickelson soaked up applause and reflected on playing “a course where the public can play the next week and compare their games.”
Local volunteers—proudly calling it “our course”—were out in full force, marshalling fairways and scoring for the world’s best.
The moment the winning putt dropped, Bolingbrook got its place in LIV’s record books.
Earning Its Place in Golf’s Collective Memory
Some might still call Bolingbrook “the place where The Fried Egg (Johnson’s nickname) was tamed,” referencing an AJGA event where a now-notable golf writer battled the course as a teenager.
While that’s a playful bit of trivia, the club has since stacked a resume of significant amateur and professional tournaments.
It’s no longer just a local darling; with the LIV Golf Chicago event, it became an international talking point—a fact hammered home by coverage on The CW Network and LIV Golf’s global streaming platforms.
Village officials were understandably over the moon, especially given the course’s humble beginnings. In the words of one local rep describing LIV’s initial site visit, “they liked us,” and that was all the invitation needed.
From the first-time visitor’s vantage, it’s easy to see the course’s appeal: Arthur Hills’ strategic design, wind-swept links-style holes, and water hazards that keep your blood pumping.
As the pros discovered, you can chase birdies here, but misfires might cost you dearly—particularly on that island-green 15th.
Bolingbrook’s leadership is keen to keep the good times rolling. Word on the fairways is that more high-level tournaments may be in the pipeline, continuing a trend that sees municipal golf stepping into the limelight.
If the success of 2024’s event is any indication, returning pros will find the course a blend of pure shot-making challenge and logistical ease—attributes that keep fans, players, and sponsors happy.
A Club for All
Despite its luxe reputation, Bolingbrook Golf Club remains delightfully accessible to the everyday golfer.
You can tee it up here without needing a secret handshake or membership card. In many ways, that’s the magic of public golf done right: a place where you can explore the same layout as the pros, try to replicate their heroics, or simply enjoy the scenic “castle” on the prairie.
You’ll find the staff welcoming and the atmosphere unpretentious. Even if you’re a high-handicapper, you can still savour the epic vantage points from those elevated tees—just watch out for swirling winds across those open expanses.
The wetlands, fescue, and water hazards will keep you honest, but wide landing areas on most holes mean it’s playable for a broad range of skill levels.
Meanwhile, the “all-or-nothing” par-3 15th is worth the price of admission by itself, even if it leaves your golf ball in a watery grave.
Into the Future, Still First Class
Looking ahead, there’s real excitement about what future tournaments might bring.
The course might lack the ancient lineage of a Winged Foot or the oak-lined fairways of a Southern Hills, but it’s got a fresh story all its own—and is doing so while flying the public golf banner.
As one commentator observed, “If you’re going to do a big event at a municipal course, Bolingbrook sets the bar high.”
And with so many travelling golfers keen to check off the same holes where Mickelson, Rahm, and DeChambeau have battled, that bar may rise even higher.
Ultimately, Bolingbrook Golf Club manages to pack the best of both worlds into one spectacular destination.
It greets you with a grand sense of occasion and challenges every facet of your game, yet still welcomes the casual public player.
Call me biased, but any place that can say, “Here are 600 parking spots, a luxurious clubhouse, and an island green to test your nerve,” is worth the drive—and maybe a few extra balls in the bag.
This is one “Rog Mahal” where the doors are open, and the invitation is loud and clear: come see what happens when a suburb decides to go first class all the way.
