Butler National Golf Club

Butler National was the creation of Paul Butler, an affluent entrepreneur, philanthropist, and sportsman who was the founder of the village of Oak Brook, Illinois.

In 1972, renowned golf course architect George Fazio designed Butler on what was previously York Country Club. It was built and seeded in the relatively short span of two years, and the construction was completed under the supervision of Fazio's nephew Tom Fazio, an internationally acclaimed architect in his own right.

This club was home to the PGA Tour's Western Open from 1974-1990. The course policy of not allowing female members caused the club to lose the Western Open.[1]

In May 2007, Golf Digest rated Butler 21st of "America's 100 Greatest Courses."

Butler National is a relatively flat, tree-lined course, requiring solid golf shots to shoot a good score. The Fazio design is penal and rewards successful positioning and shot shaping. A right to left ball flight is preferable as there are more dog leg lefts than rights. Water hazards will frequently come into play as do the deep faced bunkers. There are approximately 40 sand bunkers.

The Butler (back) tees play 7,523 yards (6,879 m), with a course rating of 78.1 and slope rating of 152.

In the fall of 2004, all of the greens were converted to an A-1 Bent grass and the sand to tour grade signature. The greens are fast, but the difficulty comes in reading the greens as they are very subtle.

Centel Western Open

• 1990 Wayne Levi – United States

Beatrice Western Open

• 1989 Mark McCumber – United States
• 1988 Jim Benepe – United States
• 1987 D. A. Weibring – United States

Western Open

• 1986 Tom Kite – United States
• 1985 Scott Verplank – United States (amateur)
• 1984 Tom Watson – United States
• 1983 Mark McCumber – United States
• 1982 Tom Weiskopf – United States
• 1981 Ed Fiori – United States
• 1980 Scott Simpson – United States
• 1979 Larry Nelson – United States
• 1978 Andy Bean – United States
• 1977 Tom Watson – United States
• 1976 Al Geiberger – United States
• 1975 Hale Irwin – United States
• 1974 Tom Watson – United States

Intercollegiate

• 1987 Mike Small – University of Illinois
• 1986 Tom Stankowski – Arizona State University
• 1985 Jim Sorenson – Texas Christian University
• 1984 Trevor Dodds – Lamar University
• 1983 Jeff Combe – Oral Roberts University
• 1982 Jeff Combe – Oral Roberts University
• 1981 Chris Perry – Ohio State University

Butler National Golf Club is one of four all-male golf courses in the Chicago area, which is subject to criticism.[2] Butler has not hosted a PGA or USGA tournament since 1990 due to their admissions policy, most notably missing the opportunity to host the US Open.[3]

• Golf Digest's Top 100 Courses in America