Thunderhawk is a Lake County Forest Preserve course, and was designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. and plays to 7136 yards, 136 slope from the back tees. It's located in Libertyville near the Wisconsin border off I-94, and is a great golf course. The layout is forgiving wide fairways with a few good solid risk/reward type holes through the forest, marsh and meadow design. Very well conditioned, nice tree lined fairways, Half the holes wander through open meadow while the other half are carved through the trees. Plenty of challenge with water hazards, fairway bunkers, and the wide fairways that narrow to areas bordered by the long grass rough. The bunkers guard the front and sides greenside, and the greens are mildly undulating and quick. Great course, a little expensive, probably neck and neck with Pine Meadows.
Posted by: TxOutside
May 5th, 2012
Thunderhawk survived the mild winter well, and is in the best Spring condition I've seen. Greens were running moderately fast and true, fairways and rough, while a little thin were were fine, although the bunkers need some work. All in all great golf course, secluded location, upscale service, one of the best layouts for values in the northern Chicago suburbs
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Posted by: mickr
Jul 20th, 2010
This is a golf course that has gotten better with time as the fairways and greens have matured into firm yet receptive conditions across the course. It puts a premium on accuracy off the tees despite offering ample landing areas and tee placements to accommodate high and low handicappers alike. It was the first of only two courses in Illinois to achieve Audubon Signature certification so it's a good example of a first class golf experience while minimizing the damaging impacts on the local environment. Great value for the quality of the layout, and being within the Chicagoland area, excellent conditions, and a super challenging layout.
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