BARRINGTON HILLS COUNTRY CLUB

This northwest Chicago suburb sanctuary delivers surprisingly muscular golf across rolling prairie terrain that Dick Wilson sculpted with uncommon restraint in 1969. The front nine threads through mature hardwoods where elevation changes of 40 feet create natural amphitheaters around greens, while the back nine opens onto windswept meadowland that demands aerial precision into Wilson's characteristically severe putting surfaces. Members here understand that Illinois golf doesn't get much more demanding than the 210-yard 16th, where crosswinds off the prairie can turn a confident 5-iron into an exercise in humility.