Est. 1905 · Thomas O'Neil (original nine holes); later revised by William B. Langford and A.W. Tillinghast
Why we love this place
We love Ridgemoor for the sense of history under your feet, a club that has welcomed golfers since 1905 and once stood in for the U.S. Open itself. The mature trees, honest bunkering, and classic Langford-and-Tillinghast bones make every round feel connected to Chicago's golden age, while the friendly, member-owned spirit keeps it warm and unpretentious.
Via Ridgemoor Country Club
About Ridgemoor Country Club
Ridgemoor Country Club traces its roots to the Irving Golf Club, founded in 1901 on Chicago's northwest side. Its original nine-hole course, laid out by Edgewater professional Thomas O'Neil, opened in 1905, and the club adopted the Ridgemoor name in 1909 as it expanded to eighteen holes. The layout was later reshaped by Golden Age architects William B. Langford and A.W. Tillinghast, giving it the tree-lined fairways, water hazards, and deep bunkering that define it today. Ridgemoor's signature moment came in 1942, when it hosted the Hale America National Open, a wartime substitute for the canceled U.S. Open. Ben Hogan won there with a total of 271, including a course record 62 in the second round, a title he long regarded as a fifth national open. A private, member-owned club near Norridge and Harwood Heights, Ridgemoor remains a fixture of Chicago-area golf.
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