Pine Meadows Golf Club is located in Mundelien, IL and built on a beautiful piece of property owned by the Catholic Church (Saint Mary of the Lake Seminary) and has been leased to the Jemsek family for many years (Cog Hill, St. Andrews). I am updating my review from last year to downgrade my rating because the course has become much more unplayable due to wrangly rough grass and very slow greens. As a senior I payed $88 for 18 holes and a cart on Monday morning at 10 AM, which is a ridiculous amount to pay for this course. The course is under construction on the third hole, with abbreviated tees, but they don’t tell you that before the round. The bunkers were under water and the rough is almost unplayable, not because it’s long but because the grass is too thick and firm. The greens are so slow that my group started to get pissed after several 3-putts that were hit firmly and pure but stopped before the cup. The course maintains a “keep pace” policy that they take seriously and a ranger will follow you on the course to police your pace. We always play fast but the ranger haunted us nonetheless. It was originally 9-holes designed by Cardinal Mundelien in 1927 who played in his black frock and fedora. It went to 18-holes in 1929 and that course was designed by William Flynn of Toomey and Flynn in Philadelphia. Pine Meadows has won many accolades over the years, but nothing in the last 10 years. I’m not surprised. The course is going downhill while the price is going up. There are plenty of other really nice courses for less money and a better maintenance track record. There are some pretty holes on this course but the overall value and quality of play have suffered a lot recently.

This is a very nice course and was also challenging. The only reason I gave them 4 stars is because in my opinion it was too pricey. We didn’t not wait at all for any hole and was able to get 18 finished in under 4 hours on a Friday afternoon. The practice faculty here is top notch so I was able to get plenty of practice in before the round. Probably the nicest practice facility I have ever seen at a course.

Excellent golf course. Played for the first time last weekend and will definitely be back. Course is in excellent condition, great variety of holes. The rough is tough but which puts a premium on good tee shots. Back 9 was fantastic. Highly recommend.

Pretty course with a challenging layout. Bunkers in desperate need of sand. Ridiculous that for the money they charge, they can't fill the bunkers with enough sand to keep them playable. Cart paths resemble the Ho Chi Minh trail after Nixon bombed it to hell. Pave them already. Clubhouse looks dilapidated on the outside with torn awnings to complete the look. Few after round amenities. Could be an A facility, but maintained at a C level while charging A+++ premium prices.

Course play was fine but whomever the gentleman working concessions was I believe his name was jim was awful. He just stood there. Didn’t help with the defective credit card machine that S to insert then swipe then tip. He just stood there with a smug on his face and I thought it was just me until my friend had the same experience doing a transaction right after mine. Unbelievable terrible first impression.