The North Course remains steadfastly faithful to Park's original design, with precious few changes over the decades other than deepened bunkers and additional length. Par for the North Course is 70 strokes played over 7,205 yards with a rating of 75.9 and a slope of 147. The North Course is routed over naturally rolling terrain, and makes liberal use of Butterfield Creek, which winds its way through seven holes, including twice on numbers 12 and 14. The North Course had been ranked continually by Golf Digest as one of America's "Top 100 Greatest Courses," and in 2015-16 enjoys the ranking of No. 66 ( among all golf courses - both classic and modern - in the United States of America. The North Course is also ranked No. 51 on Golfweek's 2015 list of "Best Classic Courses." The course record is 63, shared by Rickie Fowler and Vijay Singh.

The course is remarkable for it's dramatic elevation changes (especially rare for Midwestern topography) and its strategic use of Butterfield Creek, which winds its way through 11 of 18 holes. In 2007, the South Course was renovated by Steve Smyers, whose work on the course was ranked No. 2 in Golf Digest's 2010 list of Best New Renovations. Par for the South Course is 72 strokes played over 7,114 yards with a rating of 74.7 and a slope of 144. The South Course is ranked 125 in the United States on Golfweek's 2011 list of the "Best Classic Courses," above Torrey Pines (South) (No. 145), Merion (West) (No. 189), and Oak Hill (West) (No. 141).