The club was founded on June 24, 1924 when a small group of suburban businessmen from the North Shore took an option on property owned by Dr. Oughton. They created an operation policy under a trust agreement and decided to call their new venture Rolling Green Country Club, which was named for the rolling terrain. In their first official board meeting, dues were set at $80. They also established a $2 guest fee for Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, and $1 for weekdays. By this time, the group had grown to 100 men. It was decided later that membership would be limited to 350. Dr. Oughton had originally commissioned Donald Ross, a noted golf architect to design the golf course, but later declared the task, “too easy” and took it upon himself to oversee construction and interpret the blueprints. In the 1926-27 season, a brochure was published that stated that Rolling Green Country Club is situated on the highest peak of land in Cook County. It also added “the roll of the land makes the game of greater interest to the player, and the natural and artificial drainage makes the course playable even after the heaviest rains.” Women have long been welcome at Rolling Green Country Club. In the spring of 1927, the Board hired Minnie Stiff as the manager of Rolling Green. Her husband Ed also became the club’s engineer. Rolling Green has also always been a welcome place for children. A playground was built in 1929 in a grove of trees, which included slides, swings, and sand boxes. It is reported that the 1929 Chairman of the House Committee said, ”As everyone knows, the formative years are the best ones for learning the ancient and honorable game…By all means, let the boys and girls grow up in a wholesome atmosphere of golf.”
Golf
Rolling Green’s 18-hole golf course that exists today was designed by William H. Diddel and has a course rating of 71.7 and a slope of 129. In the 1970s, Rolling Green hosted several Western Open Qualifying Tournaments. It also continues to host Illinois PGA Tournaments. Tournaments and league play are offered for both men and women throughout the golf season. Rolling Green also offers a Junior Golf Program in the summer.
Awards and Recognitions
In 2013 and again in 2014, The Daily Herald's Reader's Choice Awards listed Rolling Green as one of the "Best Private Golf Courses".
