Old Elm Club

Few American clubs carry the quiet authority of Old Elm. Founded in 1913 and designed by Harry Colt — one of the most influential architects of the early 20th century — it stands as one of the rare examples of Colt's work on American soil, and that alone places it in rarefied company. The course was later refined by C.H. Alison, Colt's partner, and has been carefully stewarded ever since to preserve its classical bones: firm, fast turf, natural contours, and greens that reward intelligence over power.

Old Elm is a private members' club, and it wears that identity with conviction. There are no resort distractions here — just golf, and serious golf at that. It consistently ranks among the finest courses in Illinois and has long attracted the admiration of architects and historians who study the golden age of course design.

Highland Park sits along Chicago's North Shore, a leafy corridor of old money and deep sports culture on the western edge of Lake Michigan. The tree-lined terrain gives Old Elm genuine seclusion and a sense that the outside world has agreed to leave it alone.