Those courses are great, but they are courses that only a rare few golfers can afford to play on a regular basis.

Urban Hills in Richton Park is a course that has been around for a while and offers a place where you can play a well-maintained course while not having to pay a huge green fee.

Urban Hills is unique in that it is a family-owned course that was built in the 1960’s. Many courses presently are either municipal-owned or corporate-owned and there were not many courses built in the 1960’s in the Chicagoland area.

The Urban family incorporated Urban Hills Country Club in 1962 and started construction on a nine-hole, executive-length course across from where Urban Hills is presently located. That nine-hole course was sold in 1969 to the Village of Park Forest and is now part of Hidden Meadows.

Two years after the nine-hole course open, E.G. Lockie and Associates of Bettendorf, Iowa began construction on an 18-hole layout designed by Larry Packard of LaGrange.

Nine holes opened in 1966 and the full 18-holes opened for play in 1967. After selling green fees from the first floor of the farm house that is still owned by the Urban family, a clubhouse was constructed in 1969.

In 1972 the east portion of the existing clubhouse was built and the west addition was completed in 1974.

Since the course opened, there have been many changes including new tees, new trees and a new computerized irrigation system, which was installed in 1998.

I was very impressed with the condition of the course. The tees, fairways and greens were in great condition and the greens putted very true.

I really liked the fact that there can be a great deal of difference between the three different tees at Urban Hills.

The blue tees are 6,650 yards and is rated at 71.1 with a 114 slope. The white tees are 6,266 yards and has a course rating of 69.1 and a 111 slope while the red tees are 5,266 yards and are rated at 69.1 with a 110 slope.

The signature hole at Urban Hills is the 626 yard par five 16th hole. It is known for its length, but really is not that hard of a hole unless you cannot get off the tee well. It is a hard hole to reach in two, but it is a hole you should be able to par or bogey.

I especially enjoyed the sixth, tenth and 18th holes.

#6 is a dogleg left 445 yard par four that has water on the left side of the green. You have to hit your tee shot long and keep it in the fairway. If you go too far right, you will have a long way to the green and if you hit it left, you will have to carry the water in the front.

Ten is a short 322 yard dogleg left par four, with willows and water on the left side. You need to place your tee shot on the right and make sure you hit it long enough so you do not have to hit over the willows.

#18 is a 399 yard par four dogleg left with out of bounds to the left and water on the right side. The green is also elevated.

Urban Hills is not only a great course to play but is also a friendly place.

To keep up with the new courses and new golfers coming out, every course has to make changes every year and maintain a friendly atmosphere along with a well-conditioned course. I was pleasantly surprised by Urban Hills and I have to recommend it as a great place to play.