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3.1
94 Reviews (94)
5 Stars
46
4 Stars
33
3 Stars
6
2 Stars
5
1 Stars
4
Conditions
4.3
Value
3.8
Layout
4.6
Friendliness
4.3
Pace
3.8
Amenities
2.8
69.2%
Recommend this course
82 out of 94 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.0
1 Reviews (1)
5 Stars
0
4 Stars
1
3 Stars
0
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.0
Value
4.0
Layout
5.0
Pace
5.0
Amenities
3.0
StaffFriendliness
5.0
100.0%
Recommend this course
1 out of 1 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.0
1 Reviews (1)
5 Stars
0
4 Stars
1
3 Stars
0
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.0
Value
4.0
Layout
5.0
Pace
5.0
Amenities
3.0
StaffFriendliness
5.0
100.0%
Recommend this course
1 out of 1 reviews
Read Reviews

About

Holes 18
Type Public
Par 72
Length 6968 yards
Slope 139
Rating 73.1

Course Details

Year Built 1995
Fairways Bent Grass
Greens Bent Grass
Golf Season Year round
Architect George Kappos (1995)

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes
Clubs Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Bunker Yes
Pitching/Chipping Area Yes
Putting Green Yes
Practice Hole Yes

Policies

Credit Cards Accepted VISA, MasterCard, Amex, Discover Welcomed
Metal Spikes Allowed No
Walking Allowed Yes

Food & Beverage

Bar

Available Facilities

Banquet Facilities, Showers, Locker Rooms

Accolades

  • Golf Advisor: Top 25 Courses for Pace of Play in the U.S. (2017 #11)
  • Golf Advisor: Top Courses in Illinois (2015 #4)

Reviews

3.1
94 Reviews (94)

What Golfers Are Saying

Course Challenges Include:
Elevation Changes 11
Bunkers 9
Water Hazards 9
This course/club is great for:
Advanced Golfers 10
Locals 8
Seniors 7
This Course's Location is:
Worth the Drive 13

Numbers based on reviews tagged with attribute.

Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 448
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Illinois Advisor
Top 10 Contributor
Previously Played

February Spring weather!!

1st Chicagoland round of 2024 is in the books for me. I had not ventured to Cinder Ridge since the 2020 season and overjoyed that I did. All kinds of positive improvements in course conditions/playability since then. Shock and awe for this flogger who's played Cinder almost since in opened in 1995. Superintendent is doing it right!!! When things green up this course will be a must play.....good sand in all of the traps and well maintained. Very friendly folks. Even this early in a season that really hasn't started yet I do not hesitate to highly recommend this course. Lot's of fun with good challenge.....and decent greens fees. Make the extra 10 minute drive south past Heritage Bluffs who fail miserably with their sand trap maintenance.....

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 18
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
1.0
First Time Playing

Poor course management

Made the turn on 9 and was confronted with two foursomes that were inserted in front of us. One group was in the fairway, just off the tee, and the other group was still waiting to go off. This inappropriate insertion of two foursomes was going to put us back by at least 30 minutes, and slow the pace of play to a crawl for us. When I asked what was going on, I was told that this group of eight showed up and wanted to play nine, so the put the in front of us in 10, again, just as we made the turn. Since, it was threatening rain, we got a raincheck instead of being frustrated by slow play created by management. In my 35 years of golf, I never had a course put two foursomes in front of me as I made the turn. And all they could say is, "I hope you understand." No I don't understand how a group of eight can just show up on a busy Sunday, and be inserted on the 10th hole as other, who had made tee times, are making the turn. Again, extremely poor course management.

Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Poor
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Great condition

This course is almost in perfect shape
Greens roll true.
Fairways perfect.
Best traps I've seen in a while.

Play here now

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 448
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Illinois Advisor
Top 10 Contributor
Previously Played

Major Upgrade - Worthy & deserving of your play in 2021

Usually I've made an annual excursion to Cinder Ridge. I enjoy the routing and challenge of the many ridge down the middle greens. Checking my records I discovered that it had been at least 3 or 4 years since my last visit. Wow....the conditioning of the course has sure has turned the corner for the better. Amazed at how well maintained the course is from my last visit. They've taken out lots of trees and brush....all making sense and letting the grass grow! Almost didn't recognize parts of the course. It's still a little pricey at $40 during the week but I felt it was a very good value given the smooth fairly speedy greens, maintained fairways and sand traps (especially around the greens) where they actually do have sand and aren't all puddle filled. Despite the overnight significant rains the course drained extremely well.....lost count of how many drains were installed in the 11th fairway which was always a swamp....but no longer. We had some slow players yesterday but all in all we had a 4.5 star experience......and that was a really nice surprise......felt the course was trending downward in my last visit....barely a 3.5 star......so the conditions at Cinder were absolutely a shocker to this bizarre 2020 season. Usually avid Chicagoland golfers heading southwest will visit Heritage Bluffs at least once a year & few venture further south of that.......pleased to report it's absolutely worth the extra 10 minute drive to visit Cinder Ridge.....nice pleasant folks, well maintained and always a grass driving range to warm up. Highly recommended.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 34
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 8
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing

Good Course

Really nice course right off the interstate. Layout is fun and challenging. Particularly if you haven’t seen the course before. Conditions were good and value is very good

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Favorite course

Played there last week greens have been showing signs of silver dollar fungus. They are on the verge of losing the greens its so bad now!

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 4
Handicap Don't know
Skill Intermediate
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

We'll Be Back

We're glad to have found this gem! We heard that Cinder Ridge was closed, that wasn't the case. Our local course had significant changes which took us here, and happy it did!.
The course was in great shape, along with the layout. Friendly atmosphere, all around. We'll definitely be back!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 26
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Excellent conditions, course & staff!!

This was third time playing here in the last month. Excellent conditions continue, sand bunkers full of sand, greens rolling FAST, fairways excellent shape, course just extremely well maintained! And a fun golf challenge with several strategic holes. The 13th hole par 3 is fun huge downhill 110-145yd challenge as well as semi-island green 16th hole par 3 (140 yds).

Golf shop people were super super nice. Personally called me to help me move up tee time just a little to avoid an outing later in afternoon. To me, that’s a very kind courtesy to me/golfers. It helps me to enjoy a much faster round (only took 2.5 hours!!). Think about that, they are cognizant of helping golfers and how to ensure we get in an enjoyable and faster round. Super super kind, genuine and nice people.

We will be back and back and back again!

Thank you Cinder Ridge golf course & staff!!!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

GolfNow Customers Not Welcome !

Long line waiting to tee off on first hole. No starter. No ranger on the course. We asked if we could perhaps play the back nine first to speed things up. They asked if we had a GolfNow tee time and told us that the course makes nothing on GolfNow tee times. We had to wait 45 minutes on the first hole alone, on a Wednesday afternoon. The course is nice and was in good shape but we definitely did not feel welcome. I have played the course many times before but won't again. I'm guessing that the course agreed to whatever deal they have with GolfNow. If that's the way all GolfNow customers are treated then they got what they deserved for our round.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Poor
Pace Poor
Amenities Average
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Default User Avatar
Commented on 08/07/2019

Eeks, sorry to hear this. My experience has been the exact opposite and thus, I wanted to add some commentary. I’ve played here three times in the last month and each time booked through Golfnow ‘hot-deals’ and every time the pro-shop staff has treated me like family. Honestly, I’ve always felt extremely welcomed at this golf course. Hit em long and straight my fellow golfer!!

Played On
Reviews 6
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Hot, Windy and Great Fun

We played on a hot and windy afternoon just after it had rained. We found the course to be very challenging although not long. Precise shot placement was necessary. Large fast bowl shaped greens. Pace of play was excellent And the staff was very accommodating and friendly.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 20
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing

Some Quirky Holes, but Solid Overall

Went to Cinder Ridge and teed off at 5:45 AM on a Saturday morning. I brought my push cart & walked 18. Cinder Ridge is not the easiest course to walk, but as a 23 year old former collegiate athlete, I was fine. The front 9 features some really quirky holes that have blind tee shots. However, the back 9 was absolutely fantastic. I appreciate the uniqueness of the course design, even though there are a few holes that are bizarre. The course was in fantastic shape (other than the 18th fairway on other side of water.... Think sprinklers were left on way too long). The bunkers are in impeccable shape, which you don’t see at my public courses in the area. I’d definitely recommend playing at least once. Not everyone’s cup of tee, but it’s good to get out of your comfort zone every now and then.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 48
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Issuing our cart..

Enjoyed the course.. but I just bought new irons and wanted to spend some time on the practice range hitting my new clubs.. got there an hour early before our tee time and they would not give us a cart until 20 minutes before our tee time. I play a lot of golf and never had that happen to me.. Plus the driving range was not very close to the club house.. Ridiculous!!! That is the kind of stuff that would keep me from playing there again..

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 92
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 500 Contributor
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Cinder Ridge - Always a great course to play

Despite all of the wet weather this course has been in the best overall condition of all the courses I played in during April, May and June. It is always well manicured and with sand in the traps. There are challenges in playing here with blind shots off s few tees and precision required. I just love this course even though I usually only score in the 90's. I score in the 80's at times on easy courses at times.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser

Great shape and layout

COURSE IS in great shape especially with all the rain we’ve had. The layout is fair and challenging. It’s a golf shot making course, not a bomb and wedge to the green. Love that about Cinder.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 92
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 500 Contributor
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Cinder Ridge - Very well maintained course

We have had almost daily rain it seems in May. Of all the courses I have played Cinder Ridge had maintained the course to the highest standards! Fairways are very nicely manicured (you can always find your ball). Off the fairway is also cut and easily playable. The greens are also in wonderful condition. Congrats to the head groundskeeper and crew! The staff is always very pleasant. This is a top course and has many challenges due to its layout. You will enjoy this course immensely.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 4
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
1.0
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Good Coarse...Terrible staff.

Owners and staff are openly hostile to Golfnow people! Will never play there again.

Conditions Fair
Value Poor
Layout Fair
Friendliness Poor
Pace Fair
Amenities Poor
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
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