Naperbrook Golf Course - Plainfield

The "prairie links" golf course model has become quite prominent on the Windy City golf scene over the last 30 years, with such notable examples as Harborside, Golf Club of Illinois, Highlands of Elgin, Prairie Landing and Bolingbrook, to name a few, dotting the landscape.  I recently teed it up at Naperbrook, the Naperville Park District version of the prairie links, and although not as acclaimed as the previously mentioned tracks, is still a fine example of the style.

Naperbrook is located at the northeast corner of Hassert Boulevard (111th Street) and Plainfield-Naperville Road in unincorporated Plainfield, about 3 miles from the Weber Road exit on I-55.  It's a traditional 4-10-4 (pars 3-4-5) par 72 layout, with patches of thick native grasses present on most every hole.  The greens tend to be on the large side, with plenty of slope and contours (but thankfully of moderate speed).  There are 43 sand traps by my count, but 10 are found on the 16th hole, so the others average only 2 per hole, certainly not overwhelming, but the water hazards on two-thirds of the holes have score-wrecking potential.  All this adds up to a 72.0/127 rating/slope from the 6,700 yard Gold tees, and 70.5/124 from the 6,350 yard Blues I played this summer, plenty of challenge for this 20 handicapper.

The front nine is dominated by the two par 5's, as the 3rd and 7th holes are both memorable.  The former has an intimidating drive between two ponds, then a sharp turn right with the pond following to just short of the back to front sloping green, and enough 20 year old trees (the course opened in 1991) in the left rough to be a problem if you hit through the fairway like I did.  The latter ha a wide open drive over a ridge, then tightens near the green with a pond and wetlands left the last 100 yards and trees tight right and behind the slightly elevated putting surface.

The back side is 100 yards shorter than the front, but the stronger of the two, in my opinion.  The 13th, a 406 yard par 4, is a  standout, with water to the left the last 100 yards, plus a stand of two dozen stately trees (aspens, I think) off to the right that most likely date to the original Crego family farmland that the course inhabits.  The green has two big humps on the right that will make for some interesting putts, depending on the pin location.  The 10th, 11th and 17th holes are all short (327 to 367 yards) par 4's, with the 10th featuring a big two tiered green, and the 11th and 17th greens closely ringed by the native grasses, with water in play off the tee on both. 

The previously mentioned 16th hole has five fairway bunkers left, and another five scattered across the front of the heavily sloping double green that is shared with the par three 12th hole.  The 18th is a nice finish, a short par 5 just two steps past 500 yards, a good chance to end your round with par or better if you avoid the two ponds and fairway bunker, and sink a putt on the tricky green.


Naperbrook was designed by Roger Packard, who has some serious street cred with his name attached to Cantigny and the Eagle Ridge courses in Galena.  And although the par 3's and 4's on the front nine will not

stick in your head, the back nine is a solid test carved through a sea of prairie and a lot of fun, too.  There is also an extensive driving range and practice facility ideally located a few paces from the clubhouse.  The 8 minute tee time intervals are a bit tight for my liking,  and the three group back up on the par three 4th tee was annoying and unexpected on a Monday afternoon, but the course opened up afterwards and we finished in around 4-1/2 hours.  The top rate is $64 w/cart on weekends, and park district residents receive a discount, but significant deals at Naperbrook and its sister course Springbrook are hard to find, with the occasional "Hot Deal" on

Golf Now being an exception.  We saved a few dollars by walking on our visit in mid-August, and the minimal distance from green to tee and relatively flat topography makes this an easy trek.  When you compare the cost to the $100+ non-resident fee demanded by the neighboring Bolingbrook track a mile to the south, the green fees are pretty reasonable and a better value, too.  So what's the final verdict on Naperbrook?  Definitely worth an initial visit, and the back nine alone will likely warrant a return trip.

Mr Z Rating

Layout (20%) - 8
Playability (20%) - 7.5
Conditioning (15%) - 8
Aesthetics (15%) - 7
Amenities (10%) - 8
Value (20%) - 7.5

Total Score - 76.5

Naperbrook Golf Course 22204 W. Hassert Blvd, Plainfield
630-378-4215   www.golfnaperville.org
18 holes, 4 tees - 6,677 / 5,239 par 72
72.0/127 - 68.6/120 rating/slope (men)

74.1/126 - 70.2/118 rating/slope (women)
In Season Rates

M-TH $38/54 to Noon, $33/49 to 3 pm, $25/41 after 3;
F-SU $48/64 to Noon, $42/58 to 3 pm, $30/46 after 3
Seniors (60) $26/39 to Noon, $21/34 after Noon M-F
Juniors (17 & Under) $20 walk M-F, SA-SU after Noon
Resident Rates Available     Onsite Driving Range
8 minute tee time interval