Est. 1924 · C.H. Alison (Colt & Alison)
Why we love this place
We love Knollwood for its classic North Shore character: a Colt & Alison parkland course where strategic bunkering, not sheer length, sets the challenge. With a genuine championship pedigree, including a U.S. Amateur, and a careful modern restoration that honors its 1920s roots, it's the kind of understated, well-tended club that quietly earns its place among Chicago's finest.
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About Knollwood Club
Knollwood Club was founded in 1924 in Lake Forest, Illinois, on wooded, rolling terrain in the heart of Chicago's affluent North Shore. Its championship course was designed by Captain C.H. Alison of the celebrated English firm Colt & Alison, who was reportedly given a free hand to build the best course possible; the club spread the holes across roughly 175 acres to give each ample room. The parkland layout is known for Alison's bold, strategic bunkering. Knollwood has hosted significant competition, including the 1956 U.S. Amateur Championship and the first two USGA Mid-Amateur Championships, in 1981 and 1982. In recent years the club has carried out extensive restoration, including tree removal, fairway widening, native fescue areas, and green work, guided by architect Drew Rogers, while preserving several holes that trace back to Alison's original design.
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