These settlers broke the prairie sod on the flatlands to harvest small grains and fodder their herds. The dairymen flourished making cheese for sale sixty miles southeast in the growing metropolis of Chicago, the burgeoning rail hub for the nation.
But in that difficult terrain of moraine hills, wet prairie and rocky perched fen, row-crop farming was impossible and the topography made even dairy grazing difficult. Prize milk cows could get lost in the forested dells or in the six-foot prairie grass which covered the hills and ravines carved by glaciers centuries ago. By common consent of dairymen and their heirs, these inaccessible parts of the valley were set aside for grazing bulls needed only once a year for maintenance of the dairy stock. These settlers bequeathed an inadvertent treasure to all of us: remnants of nature as only the Mesquaki and Potawatomi knew it.
Bull Valley Golf Club is blessed with an abundance of natural elements that come into play on every hole. A kaleidoscope of features from native Illinois flowers, oaks and hickory, to wetlands, prairie and a rare perched fen provide golfers a truly memorable shot-making course.
Golf Digest "Best Courses in Illinois" 2017-2018
* (1) Chicago G.C Wheaton *
* (3) Butler National G.C., Oak Brook *
* (2) Medinah C.C. (No. 3)
* (4) Canyata G.C., Marshall *
* (7) Shoreacres, Lake Bluff *
* (5) Olympia Fields C.C. (North) Olympia Fields *
* (6) Rich Harvest Links Sugar Grove *
* (10) Conway Farms G.C., Lake Forest ≈
* (8) Skokie C.C., Glencoe
* (9) Olympia Fields C.C. (South), Olympia Fields ≈
* (12) Beverly C.C., Chicago
* (11) Cog Hill G. & C.C. (No. 4), Lemont ^
* (14) Medinah C.C. (No. 1)
* (13) Black Sheep G.C. (1St/2Nd), Sugar Grove
* (15) Bull Valley G.C., Woodstock
* (20) Wynstone G.C., North Barrington
* (23) Ivanhoe Club (Prairie/Forest), Ivanhoe
* (New) North Shore C.C., Glenview
* (18) Knollwood Club, Lake Forest
* (21) Flossmoor C.C.
* (24) Exmoor C.C., Highland Park
* (17) Butterfield C.C. (White/Blue), Oak Brook
* (19) Bob O'Link G.C., Highland Park
* (New) Kemper Lakes G.C., Kildeer
* (16) Merit Club, Libertyville