Olympia Fields North
Willie Park Jr laid out the North Course at Olympia Fields in 1922, a sweeping parkland test on rolling ground south of Chicago. A par 70 of about 7,300 yards, it has hosted the 2003 U.S. Open and the PGA Tour's BMW Championship, and is widely held to be Park's finest American design.
Photo: Olympia Fields Country Club via Google.
The verdict
Willie Park Jr, the two time Open champion turned architect, routed the North Course at Olympia Fields in the early 1920s across a large, gently rolling parkland site some thirty miles south of Chicago. It opened in 1922 and is regarded by many as the best of his work in America, a long, classical examination that has aged into one of the Midwest's premier championship venues.
Mature trees, deep bunkering and the meandering Butterfield Creek frame a course that rewards length controlled by position. Mark Mungeam modernized the setup before the 2003 U.S. Open without altering Park's bones. The North has staged the 1961 PGA Championship, the 2003 U.S. Open, the 2015 U.S. Amateur and recent runnings of the PGA Tour's BMW Championship, a record that speaks to its enduring championship pedigree. It is a private club, so a round comes through a member or a select society visit.
Olympia Fields North at a glance
- Opened
- 1922
- Designer
- Willie Park Jr
- Type
- Parkland
- Par
- 70
- Yardage
- About 7,300 yds
- Green fee
- Members
Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from Olympia Fields Country Club and leading course databases. Willie Park Jr's North Course opened in 1922 and now plays as a par 70 of about 7,300 yards from the championship tees, with Mark Mungeam's pre 2003 modernization respecting the original. Olympia Fields is a private members club; visitor access is limited, so always confirm any arrangement and guest rate directly before planning.
The holes worth the trip
The North is a big, honest parkland course that asks for length and precision in equal measure. Park routed it to use the natural roll of the land, and the modern setup lengthens it to nearly 7,300 yards, but position off the tee still matters more than raw distance. Tall trees pinch the lines, the bunkering is deep and well placed, and Butterfield Creek wanders into play on several holes.
The closing holes are the signature. The par 3 over the creek and the long, uphill 18th to the grand clubhouse have decided championships, and the greens, firm and subtly sloped, demand the right shape of approach. It is a course with no weak holes and few gentle ones, a relentless examination that nonetheless rewards the player who plots a careful route.
What endures is the classical balance. There is variety in the par 3s, genuine risk in the par 5s, and a set of two shotters that stand among the best in the Midwest. The North is the kind of course that flatters good ball striking and quietly punishes everything else.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Private members club; visitor and society play is limited and arranged in advance |
| Green fee | No published public fee; any guest or society rate is arranged through the club (indicative, 2026) |
| Booking | Through a member or an approved society or corporate visit; contact the club well ahead |
| On the day | Carts and caddies available; the course walks long, so plan your day accordingly |
| Getting there | Olympia Fields, about 35 minutes south of downtown Chicago and Midway Airport |
| Best months | May to October for warm, dry conditions and the firmest greens |
Access verified June 2026; Olympia Fields is private and policies change, so always confirm directly before planning a visit through the club or your trip planner.
Where to stay nearby
Most visiting golfers base themselves in downtown Chicago, a short drive north, with its full range of grand hotels, dining and the attractions of one of America's great cities. The southern suburbs around Olympia Fields offer more convenient, quieter lodging close to the first tee.
For a golf focused trip, the wider Chicago area is rich in championship golf, from the public Cog Hill Dubsdread to the dunes of Wisconsin two hours north. Pair Olympia Fields, where access allows, with a broader Midwest itinerary and base yourself between the city and the course.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Olympia Fields North.
Build a Chicago golf trip
We help you build a trip around the championship courses of Chicago and the Midwest, securing access where it exists and arranging the lodging and logistics around it. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Olympia Fields North questions
Who designed Olympia Fields North and when did it open?
The North Course at Olympia Fields was designed by two time Open champion Willie Park Jr and opened in 1922. Mark Mungeam modernized the setup before the 2003 U.S. Open.
What is the par and length of Olympia Fields North?
The North Course is a par 70 that plays to about 7,300 yards from the championship tees, a long, classical parkland test on rolling ground south of Chicago.
What championships has Olympia Fields North hosted?
The North has hosted the 1961 PGA Championship, the 2003 U.S. Open, the 2015 U.S. Amateur and recent runnings of the PGA Tour's BMW Championship.
Can visitors play Olympia Fields North?
Olympia Fields is a private members club with limited visitor and society access. There is no public green fee; contact the club well in advance to arrange any play.
Related
The Tee Sheet
Tee time windows, course access changes and the trips worth taking. Every other week.
Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.