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★ GCR Score: 4.3 / 5
Verdict: Recommended for North Shore golfers who want solid public golf with a stronger practice and instruction angle than most competitors
Best For: Local repeat players, lesson-focused golfers, juniors, seniors, and anyone who values range time and public-course convenience
Avoid If: You want a fixed public eighteen-hole rate card, the quietest weekend pace, or the cheapest cart-heavy round
Last Reviewed: July 10, 2026
The first thing I noticed at Deerfield was how hard the club pushes the learning side. That turned out to be a good sign, not a gimmick.
This Deerfield Golf Club review covers the Riverwoods public facility also known as Deerfield Golf Club and Learning Center. The golf is good, but the practice and instruction identity is what really separates it.
Deerfield is not only selling tee times. It is selling a full public-golf ecosystem with a range, academy, seasonal passes, and Scratch House food and beverage on site.
I like that because many public clubs talk about player development without building for it. Deerfield actually does.
This guide covers current rates, passes, facilities, timing, etiquette, and fit. Browse more golf club reviews before picking your next Chicagoland round.
Deerfield makes more sense once you see it as a public golf base, not just an eighteen-hole booking link.
Club Overview
Deerfield Golf Club is a public course and learning-center facility in Riverwoods, Illinois. It blends everyday public play with range, instruction, and repeat-player pass options.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Club Type | Public golf club and learning center |
| Location | Riverwoods, Illinois |
| Founded | 1963 |
| Designer | Roger Packard, Bob Lohmann, and Larry Packard |
| Membership Type | Public play plus seasonal passes |
| Initiation Fee | None publicly disclosed |
| Monthly Dues | Not applicable |
| Green Fee | Resident nine-hole rounds from $33; eighteen-hole pricing uses dynamic online booking |
| Best Time to Visit | May-June and September-October |
| Dress Code | Proper golf attire |
| Reservations Required | Yes, online booking is required for tee times |
| Official Website | Deerfield Golf Club |
| Phone | (847) 945-8333 |
The official site positions Deerfield as an 18-hole course, learning center, driving range, and restaurant property. It also gives separate contact numbers for tee times and lesson inquiries, which tells you how central the academy side is.
That public-practice blend is the real differentiator here. Deerfield wants your repeat golf habits, not just one Saturday morning booking.
What I Liked
Image: Deerfield Golf Club
Deerfield feels more rounded than the average suburban public course. You can build a golf routine here, not just squeeze in a round.
- The learning center matters. Deerfield clearly invests in range and instruction, which helps newer and improving players.
- The rate sheet is partly transparent. Resident, junior, and senior pricing for many common rounds is publicly listed.
- The pass menu covers several types of users. That includes senior, junior, and weekend-only options.
- The full-service setup adds value. Golf, practice, lessons, and Scratch House dining all live in one place.
- The public identity is honest. Deerfield is not pretending to be a secret private-club experience.
I also like the balance between committed golfers and casual local players. That tends to create a more useful facility over time.
What I Didn’t Like
Deerfield gets less clean once you move from listed rates into live-price territory. That is where some friction shows up.
- Eighteen-hole pricing is dynamic online. You need the booking path for exact current numbers.
- Weekend value depends on timing. Dynamic pricing can turn a fair round into a less obvious deal.
- Extras add up. Single-rider fees, on-course clubs, and cart-related costs can push totals higher.
- The property can feel busy by design. A club that serves lessons, range users, and public golf will never feel secluded.
If you want a more compact Illinois public experience, read our Wilmette Golf Club review. Deerfield is more of a full-use public campus.
Membership & Fees
Deerfield gives you enough public pricing to trust the place, even if not every tee time is fixed. That is a meaningful edge.
| Fee Type | Current Public Detail |
|---|---|
| Weekday 9 holes | $33 resident, $35 non-resident |
| Junior 9 holes | $26 resident, $29 non-resident |
| Senior 18 holes Monday-Thursday | $41 resident, $46 non-resident |
| Senior 18 holes Friday | $50 resident, $60 non-resident |
| Single rider fee | $15 Monday-Thursday, $20 Friday-Sunday and holidays |
| Seasonal passes | $525 junior to $2,132 resident 5/1 pass, with weekend-only and senior options between |
Deerfield also lists on-course club rental at $10 for nine holes or $15 for eighteen, plus a $5 pull-cart fee. That is the kind of practical detail many public sites skip.
If you are only an occasional player, public booking is likely enough. If you use the range, academy, and weekday tee times often, the pass structure becomes much more interesting.
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Facilities & Amenities
Image: Deerfield Golf Club
The learning-centre angle is the main feature, not a side note. Deerfield understands that better than most municipal-style clubs.
- Golf: 18-hole public course with mature suburban setting
- Practice: Driving range and Golf Academy-style instruction focus
- Instruction: Dedicated lesson contact and youth programming emphasis
- Dining: Scratch House Kitchen & Bar on property
- Access: Seasonal passes, permanent tee times, and online public booking
The official homepage also frames Deerfield as golf plus learning plus restaurant. That is a smarter market position than trying to compete only on raw round quality.
Best Time to Visit
May through June and September through October are the best Deerfield months. Conditions are easier to enjoy and the public pace usually feels more manageable.
Summer still works, but demand and heat can make the experience feel busier. The best first visit is a shoulder-season morning when you can use both the course and range comfortably.
If instruction is part of your plan, give yourself extra time. Deerfield is most valuable when you use more than one part of the property.
Dress Code & Etiquette
Show up dressed for real golf, not for a casual park stop. Proper golf attire is the right standard.
The club also notes that junior golfers must be at least twelve years old to play the course outside specific family or camp settings. That is exactly the kind of rule first-time visitors should know before arriving.
Respect pace and warm-up space. Deerfield serves many types of golfers, and the experience is better when everyone treats the shared-use environment well.
Who Is This Club For?
Image: Deerfield Golf Club
This club is a good fit if you want a public course where lessons and practice feel built into the whole product.
This club is a good fit if you are a local senior, junior, or weekday player who can use the clearer listed-rate and pass options.
This club is a good fit if you like one-stop golf days with range, round, and food all in one property.
Skip this one if you hate dynamic pricing or want a quieter-feeling public round. Our Schaumburg Golf Club review covers another Illinois public option with a different scale and presentation.
People Also Ask: Frequently Asked Questions
Is Deerfield Golf Club public?
Yes. Deerfield Golf Club is a public facility in Riverwoods, Illinois, and the official site also brands it as Deerfield Golf Club and Learning Center. Public golfers can book tee times online and use the broader practice and instruction offerings.
How much does Deerfield Golf Club cost?
Some pricing is clearly published. Weekday nine-hole rates start at $33 for residents and $35 for non-residents, while many eighteen-hole bookings use dynamic online pricing. Seasonal passes currently range from $525 junior access to $2,132 for a resident 5/1 pass.
Does Deerfield Golf Club have a driving range?
Yes. The club strongly promotes its learning-center and range identity, with dedicated lesson contact information and academy-style positioning on the homepage. That makes Deerfield a better fit for golfers who practice often, not just those chasing one weekend round.
Is Deerfield Golf Club worth a season pass?
It can be if you live close enough to use the range, weekday golf, and practice-heavy benefits often. Deerfield’s pass menu is broad, and that flexibility helps. I would still compare your likely playing pattern against the live public-booking costs first.
What amenities does Deerfield Golf Club have?
Deerfield offers an 18-hole course, a learning center and range, instruction programs, online public tee times, and Scratch House Kitchen & Bar. That package makes the club feel more complete than a simple public course with a check-in desk and little else.
When is the best time to play Deerfield Golf Club?
May through June and September through October are the best months for most golfers. You get more comfortable conditions, strong use of the range and course together, and a better chance to enjoy the property before summer demand or late-season fatigue takes over.
Verdict & Score
GCR Score: 4.3 / 5 – Recommended
Deerfield earns its value through usefulness. The course is solid, but the learning-center depth and public-golf practicality are what really make the club stand out.
If you want a North Shore public facility that supports real golf habits, Deerfield is easy to recommend. If you need fixed-rate simplicity above all else, the dynamic tee-time side may annoy you.
Last reviewed: July 10, 2026
Author Note
I usually rate public clubs higher when the practice side feels serious instead of decorative. Deerfield clears that bar. Learn more on the David Luis author page.
