My relationship with the Bloomingdale Golf Club (www.bloomingdalegc.com) goes back to the early 90’s when the course was still called Glendale, as the company I work for held its annual golf outing there several times, and I’ve continued to play there in various outings and events over the years. So I’m very familiar with what the course was and what it now is, and what it is now is a lot better than what it was! The Village of Bloomingdale took over the course in the mid 90’s, and a several million dollar renovation brought a beautiful new banquet facility and clubhouse and the updating of several holes that transformed the course to a nice, sporty par 71 layout.
The 1st hole that caught my eye is #4, a 420 yard par 4 with a tee shot over a ridge and down to the green. But probably the best 3 hole stretch on the course is holes 7 thru 9. #7 is a 390 yd par 4 with a fairway trap and patches of prairie grass, and a nicely bunkered, elevated green. #8 (my favorite) is a monster 575 yd par 5, a slight dogleg left with a tee shot up a hill through the trees to the bend, and then back down to a sloped green with water in play on the right. And #9 is a long par 3 to an elevated green that normally plays into the wind.
The back nine starts out with a fun little par 4 (282 yds) that plays downhill (and often down wind), with a little turn right at the green. Under the right circumstances (a bounce off a sprinkler head, perhaps), even I might be able to drive this green and be putting for an eagle! The 11th is the course signature hole, a beautiful 190 yd par 3 over water. This hole was once a par 4, and the redesign has done wonders in improving the pace of play. The 14th hole is a short par 5 that is reachable in 2, as long as you are able to avoid the lake on the left and the trees on the right. The 15th is another of the redesigned holes, a slight dogleg right par 4 with a mound that fronts the green and makes for a mostly blind approach to a big bowl shaped green. 17 is a 362 yd par 4 dogleg left which runs uphill and requires another tricky approach shot. And the 18th hole is a good finisher, a par 5 where a solid tee shot up a hill and through the trees offers a potential long fairway wood into the heavily bunkered green and another chance to be putting for eagle. (Just don’t go too far left with your tee shot, or you’ll be startling drivers on Glendale Road…).
Bloomingdale is very convenient to get to, about 3 miles west of I-355 on Lake Street and right across the street from the Chicagoland mecca of country club golf, Medinah. Now nobody in their right mind will ever confuse the two facilities (especially the old bluegrass fairways at Bloomingdale), but the redesign did give a course on life support a much needed aesthetic boost (especially with holes 8 & 11). Every course has its purpose, and at a max price of $57 w/cart and a slope rating around 115, Bloomingdale provides higher handicap golfers with a skill appropriate, reasonably priced 18 hole round with a few high end touches. Plus the view of the course from the balcony as you enjoy your after-round drink is pretty nice, too!
Mr Z Rating
Layout - 7
Playability - 7.5
Conditioning - 6.5
Aesthetics - 6.5
Amenities - 8
Value - 7
Total Score - 70.5
I would add that the practice facility is one of the nicest around with target greens and greenside bunkers which simulate playing conditions quite nicely. The course was designed by Tom Bendelow architect of the original Medinah No. 3 course which you can see in green approach at Hole No. 2 previous a very long par 4 now a 540 yard par 5, and at the Par 4 4rth Hole a 440 yard par 4.
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