The Preserve at Oak Meadows

Overview: The Preserve at Oak Meadows is a public Greg Martin course in Addison, Illinois, set inside 288 acres of DuPage County forest preserve. The current tournament setup is par 72 at 7,015 yards. The 18-hole routing crosses woodlands, wetlands, prairie, river corridor and restored habitat, so environmental context is part of the course's architecture rather than a backdrop. Fairways provide multiple lines, but water management and shaped green approaches reward players who plan the hole in stages. Oak Meadows is a modern public layout whose central challenge is the balance between open space, natural recovery areas and the precise landing zones that make a long par 72 course playable.

History: The property began as Elmhurst Country Club, which operated from 1923 to 1985. The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County acquired the site in 1985, and Oak Meadows later operated as a public 27-hole facility. Greg Martin led a major environmental and golf redesign that transformed the property into The Preserve at Oak Meadows. The new layout began limited play in 2017 and had its first full season in 2018. The project restored habitat and improved the Salt Creek corridor while creating a new 18-hole routing, giving the course a history that is as much about conservation and public land as it is about golf design.

Did You Know? The Preserve at Oak Meadows received a Golf Digest Green Star Award after the redesign, recognizing the environmental work tied to the course. Only a portion of the 288-acre property is used for fairways, greens and tees, leaving the wider preserve visible throughout the round.