Onwentsia Club


Onwentsia Club is an 18-hole golf course in the central United States, located in Lake Forest, Illinois, a suburb north of Chicago.

Course history

In Lake County, the par-71 course is from the back tees; it has a course rating of 72.8 with a slope rating of 134, on Chicago grass. Charles B. Macdonald designed the first nine holes in 1895; the second nine was designed in 1898 by Herbert J. Tweedie, James Foulis and Robert Foulis. The course was subsequently redesigned by Tom Doak.
In 1906, the club secured the services of the great Willie Anderson who had been pro at The Apawamis Club. Anderson remains the only golfer to win 3 consecutive US Opens.

1906 U.S. Open

Onwentsia Club hosted the U.S. Open in 1906, won by Alex Smith.

Tom Doak redesign

The club has panoramic views of the property at almost all points, and the Doak redesign keeps the integrity of some holes intact. The fescue and multi-tiered putting surfaces compensate for length on this gem. The name "Onwentsia" may have been inspired by the Illini name for the tulip tree, which grows in well-watered Illinois ecosystems.