Mt. Prospect Golf Club has long been one of Chicagoland’s most popular public golf facilities—a course with a rich history, a distinctive architectural legacy, and a modern identity shaped by one of the region’s most successful renovations. As the club approaches its 100-year anniversary in 2026, there’s no better moment to reflect on the deep roots of this community golf treasure and the evolution that transformed it into one of the area’s most authentic Golden Age–style public courses.
A Course Born in the 1920s
The origins of Mt. Prospect Golf Club date back to the height of the Golden Age of golf architecture. Construction began in 1926, when the property was owned and operated as the Mt. Prospect Country Club, a classic parkland layout that reflected many design philosophies of the era—strategic bunkering, interesting green sites, and a routing that worked naturally with the contours of the land.
Throughout the late 1920s and 1930s, the course grew in popularity as suburban Chicago expanded. Even then, Mt. Prospect was known for its friendly community atmosphere and walkable design—two qualities that remain hallmarks of the course today.
Becoming a Municipal Landmark
The club eventually transitioned from private ownership to municipal operation, and in the decades that followed it became widely known as Mt. Prospect Golf Course. During this era, the course served as a recreational anchor for the growing northwest suburb and welcomed generations of local golfers.
As with many public courses built before World War II, Mt. Prospect evolved through numerous small changes over the decades—bunker adjustments, tree plantings, tee expansions, and infrastructure updates. While the charm of the classic layout remained, incremental tweaks gradually softened some of the original architectural features.
By the early 2000s, it was clear the course was loved—but also in need of a comprehensive renovation that could preserve its heritage while positioning it for the next century.
A Transformative Renovation with a Classic Touch
That transformation arrived in 2015, when Mt. Prospect reopened after an acclaimed $9 million restoration led by architect David Esler. Instead of modernizing the course into something unrecognizable, Esler went in the opposite direction—leaning fully into Golden Age inspiration.
The result was a masterclass in retro-revival design, with Esler drawing cues from some of golf’s greatest architects, including Seth Raynor, C.B. Macdonald, Donald Ross, and A.W. Tillinghast.
The renovated—and newly renamed—Mt. Prospect Golf Club debuted with a collection of template-inspired holes rarely seen at a public facility:
Short – A compact par-3 featuring dramatic bunkering and a deceptively tricky green.
Punchbowl – A par-4 with a massive, gathering green reminiscent of Macdonald’s boldest work.
Biarritz – The iconic long par-3 with a deep swale bisecting a massive green surface.
Redan – A sloping, right-to-left par-3 with strategic bunkers guarding the ideal landing area.
These nods to classic templates weren’t mere replicas—they were interpretations carefully molded into the natural flow and footprint of the original property.
The renovation also included:
Significantly upgraded drainage and irrigation
Rebuilt tees, greens, and bunkers
Expanded fairways that restored strategic angles
Improved walkability and routing flow
Enhanced practice facilities
The impact was immediate. Mt. Prospect Golf Club became one of Illinois’ most talked-about public courses, drawing praise from local players and national golf architecture enthusiasts alike. Golfweek and Golf Digest both recognized the course in their lists of top municipal courses, acknowledging the renovation as one of the most successful public redesigns in the Midwest.
A Community Hub for Nearly a Century
Beyond the architecture, Mt. Prospect Golf Club is deeply woven into the life of the suburb it serves. Generations of golfers have learned the game here—from juniors participating in summer clinics, to high school tournaments, to adults rediscovering their love for the game.
The clubhouse, rebuilt and modernized, remains a popular gathering space for leagues, outings, and community events. The staff has cultivated a reputation for being friendly, professional, and deeply proud of the course’s heritage.
Even as the game evolves, Mt. Prospect maintains a timeless feel. It’s walkable. It’s playable for all skill levels. It’s strategic enough to keep better golfers coming back. And it has character—something that can’t be manufactured in today’s era of laser-leveled designs.
Looking Ahead to the 100-Year Celebration in 2026
Reaching 100 years is a significant milestone for any golf course, but for Mt. Prospect Golf Club, it’s particularly meaningful. The club’s century-long journey—from a 1920s country club, to a beloved municipal course, to a celebrated Golden Age revival—tells the story of public golf in America.
What makes Mt. Prospect’s centennial exceptional is the rare combination of past and present—historic roots preserved through modern craftsmanship.
A Century of Golf, A Future of Possibility
Mt. Prospect Golf Club stands today as one of Chicagoland’s most engaging public golf experiences—a place where classic design meets modern accessibility, and where history shapes every round.
As it marks 100 years in 2026, the course continues to prove that great public golf doesn’t require vast land, elite membership, or luxury amenities. What it requires is authenticity, thoughtful design, strong stewardship, and a connection to the community it serves.
Mt. Prospect has all of that—and has for nearly a century.
