Long time member of this "hidden gem" (one of its marketing taglines) tucked away in Glenview. Think of Valley Lo as a low/no-pretense country club that is SUPER family friendly and even family ORIENTED. Wonderful dining -- casual attire but a nice menu; phenomenal service, and plenty of TVs and an activity room available to keep kids occupied. Tennis. Paddle tennis (one of the biggest programs in the US apparently, with a relatively recently rebuilt paddle hut that is spacious, well appointed, and has a regular bartender). A well appointed and maintained fitness center with personal training, classes, massage, and all of what you'd expect at a fitness club. A four lane 25-yard swimming pool that is surprisingly underutilized much of the time...and also features a kids' swim team that has become competitive among the North Shore programs. 18 holes of par 3 golf -- fun, family friendly, and again, without the pretense or expense of a "big time" golf club...and still with leagues, lessons, and events. The real showpieces of the Club, though, are the beach and lake open from Memorial Day through Labor Day (sometimes a little earlier and a little later depending upon weather). Sailing. Kayaks. Pedal boats. Paddle boarding. Swimming (some triathletes train by swimming around the lake -- it's about a mile around). Catch and release fishing (mostly for the kids). An adults-only area. A super casual beach cafe. Unsurprisingly, servers who'll deliver soft and adult beverages to your chair. A recently launched outdoor bar that complements the outdoor dining, weather permitting, in the warm weather, with lovely views of the lake and surrounding areas. Along with that, there are myriad family oriented and adults-only events, from bingo nights (really -- and they're a riot) to a "turn back the clock" New Year's Eve party where "midnight" is nine pm to the expected holiday events (gingerbread houses, caroling dinners, St. Pat's, Easter, Mother's Day, Father's Day, etc.). Breathtakingly good and popular 4th of July fireworks (usually on the 3rd) on the back nine of the golf course -- this typically draws over 1000 people and, along with many of the other events, features kids' activities like games, small rides, face paining, etc. Among the biggest draws is the youth sports camp which is as brilliant as it is well executed. Drop the kids in the morning; pick up in the afternoon. They get exposure to a variety of activities and sports and get fed. Counselors tend to be teenagers who are well trained and lead the events; the camp is run by a seasoned professional whose approach is to sneak in ideas of character and sportsmanship along the way. The clubhouse and grounds (golf course, beachfront) are great spots for a wide variety of events including corporate outings, family parties, prom dinners/photos, and weddings. Through the years, Valley Lo has maintained itself well and made significant investments to keep up and improve its clubhouse, athletic center, paddle and pickleball facilities, and now golf course. It's welcoming and inclusive -- while it is a private club that requires sponsors, it's not a draconian and super selective process like some country clubs, and tends to welcome all comers. Economics are considerably more attractive than big time golf clubs as well. We've been members for more than 15 years, raised our kids here, and have come to know and love the team ("staff" always seems demeaning to this reviewer) and the membership. If you're not a swanky golf club person but prefer something less stuffy and more fun and family oriented, Valley Lo should seriously be on your list to check out. read more

I've gone here for years, I love the summer activities for kids from pk-8th, it's so fun but so hot. For 7 and 8 in the summer, they usually go on field trips. Usually one of those field trips is to six flags. So fun, definitely recommend being a member here. read more

I never knew this place existed until the summer when there was an event being held here. It is quite a tranquil retreat, and secret place hidden in the midst of all the busyness around it from the suburbs and the traffic It was great to find parking and walk right into the building and to our event space as well. The grounds are impeccable. The restaurants in the food are delicious, and the catering for our event was on point. The floral arrangements throughout. The property were very cute and fitting for the summer. I am not a member here however, I can see why there are members with the grounds and the offerings for boating, fishing, tennis, etc. If I have an opportunity to host an event, I would definitely consider this place for sure for personal as well as even professional events. To note the staff who were the waiters and the bartender, and the manager, for the event, or very attentive, and very good. read more

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We were guests in the lake front restaurant and the best part of the dinner was the view. My gin and tonic had seemingly no alcohol but I couldn't complain after my wife declared her mojito was 7 up with vodka. The service was very attentive and quickly brought her a different drink of her choice. Our chicken quesadilla appetizer was very good, filled with lots of chicken and cheese but was accompanied by uninspiring guac, salsa and sour cream. The salads were well received as was my very small cup of soup. My shrimp fajitas were just ok....lots of overcooked limp vegetables accompanied by a decent portion of small overcooked shrimp. The seasoning was nice and definitely improved the lot. A friend had a poke bowl and was disappointed to find tuna in a tahini sauce with few other ingredients other than rice. She found the flavor to be a bad match and ate little of it. I'd imagine this to be a wonderful place for a wedding or event, where the quality of the food is secondary. As I said, I enjoyed being a guest in such a nice setting on a beautiful evening. read more

This venue is a hidden gem! You will never feel like you are in glenview but more so at a lake property or destination. I've had 1 large event here and was going to have another one but then covid came. Ashleigh was phenomenal to work with. She was super responsive & accommodating. 1- the food is great!! 2- service impeccable 3- the view and ambience of the venue is out of this world!! Everyone of my guests who came when greeting me asked me "how did you find this place, my goodness, it's beautiful!" 4- the drive in to the venue is such a great little drive too. It goes along the lake. I really wish I was having my other event there and if I will need a venue again for one another time, I will 1000% have it here. You MUST check out this venue for your wedding or event needs!! read more

Our daughter and new son-in-law were married this weekend in Chicago. We held the reception at Valley-Lo Country Club in Glenview and I simply cannot say enough about this venue. From the minute we walked in 11 months ago until the minute we walked out at 12:30 a.m. on 3/2/14 it has been PERFECT. There is simply no other way to describe our experience. The entire event was made PERFECT by Gail Thomssen, Catering Director. Gail knows her business and makes sure each vendor knows what to do. She decorated with the pictures we brought in, set things up better than I ever could have and always kept things running smoothly and without a hitch. Gail's style is calm and so warm and helpful. Valley-Lo has a gem in her and I'm so glad we had the chance to work with her. I requested a bottle of champagne for us to open before the guests arrived so that we as parents of the bride could sit back for a few minutes and just take it all in. When we arrived, Gail was ready and waiting for us, champagne chilled, flutes out and ready to go. On what could have been a stressful night for us we didn't have a care in the world thanks to Gail. Our food was served perfectly by the wait staff and all of it was served piping hot. Wine was refilled generously, and the dessert table was fantastic! If you've ever attempted to throw a huge party that meant a lot to you and your family you'll know how totally stressful this kind of event can be. At Valley-Lo they took the stress out months ago. Our daughter wanted a winter wedding and she got it beautifully courtesy of Valley-Lo. The snowfall was a pain to get through but the room was candle lit, the outside lights on the trees were twinkling and all was perfect for her big day and evening dinner. On the cost side Valley-Lo was excellent as well. They provided so many things the big hotels charge for that it was easy to book this spot. We had the entire first floor for our party which included a beautiful lounge looking over the lake, a lovely private brides room complete with private restroom and the dining room. This clubhouse was recently remodeled as well and it is decorated so tastefully that we were quite proud to host our family and friends there. Valley-Lo was exactly what we wanted and they delivered 110% on everything they said they would. read more

In July, my husband and I had our reception at Valley Lo, and I cannot recommend this club more highly. It far exceeded our expectations, and we could not be happier. The catering team went above and beyond in all aspects of our day. When we had to reschedule due to COVID, they were more than understanding and helped us secure a new date. They were quick to respond to all of our requests, and tailored to each and every need throughout the planning of the event and the event itself. The club is beautiful, especially at night. The twinkling lights illuminate the trees and lake, and we ended up with stunning wedding photos. We even had someone from the team walk us around the grounds on the day of the wedding to show us the best spots for photos. The food was delicious, and they even helped tailor to food sensitivities and allergies. The venue itself was stunning--every detail attended to, but the service was what impressed us most. Sam, Bernard, and the rest of their catering team were incredibly attentive to us-- checking in on any small details that you had questions about, but overall just making sure everything went as smoothly as possible. I can tell you there was not a single hiccup, not a single thing that we would have wanted to be different, not a single bit of anything that distracted us from fully enjoying the experience. At the end of the night, they even went so far as to have all of our things packed up, and they loaded them into the car for us. I'm not sure how they did it, as we barely noticed you all, but things were tied up and done before we even know they needed doing. We felt so calm and happy throughout the whole day knowing that we had a team of professionals at Valley Lo helping to make the day perfect. If you are looking for a place to hold a big event, Valley Lo will far exceed your expectations. read more

If I could describe Valley Lo in one word it would be EXQUISITE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! When my daughter was looking for a venue last year I told her about Valley Lo. My husband and I had been at a wedding there over 25 years ago. If you had never been here, you would never know it is open to the general public. She did not want a hotel and was looking for something with a more personal feeling. We had looked at Valley Lo in the winter and it was beautiful with the snow, you can just imagine how beautiful it was in the summer with the blooming flowers and the fountain. She liked it because her wedding would be the only one there! It had a New England style. No need for chair covers or anything to make it more beautiful. Hurricane lamps and flowers on the table to add to the New England style. We had invited 210 guests and had 160 attend. Gail was right on the mark on this one. On July 11, 2015 my daughter had her reception at Valley Lo. What a beautiful place! Gail who is the coordinator for Valley Lo was awesome. She was there the whole evening. I would recommend this place in a heartbeat. On arrival guests were either outside on the terrace or inside where there were couches. Servers went around with appetizers. No one ever had to wait for a drink. Our menu consisted of the Cesar salad, steak and grouper, fingerling potatoes and broccolini. Everyone raved about the food, we are still getting calls from family saying how great the food was. The view when they turned down the lights for dancing was exquisite, the backdrop of Valley Lo is the lake with a fountain. My suggestion is to book early!! The best thing is you do not have to give them a final count until 3 days before. Many venues need 1 week before. read more

Valley Lo Club - Valley Lo Club - Sports Clubs Near Me - Glenview, Illinois

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My daughter and son-in-law were married this past weekend and the reception was held at Valley Lo. We had a wonderful experience working with Gail and the entire staff there. The food was excellent and the wait staff was phenomenal. If you are looking for a fantastic experience for your upcoming celebration I highly recommend Valley Lo. read more

What a great banquet facility! My cousin got married here this weekend and the place was so spacious for our 200 person party! Cocktail hour on the terrace and the room/bar area was awesome.. Morgan was great in making sure everyone has drinks on their hand as well as appetizers.. I kept eating the pita chips with hommus and feta cheese. It was so delicious! Once the banquet room opened up, everyone's de their way into the beautiful room.. We were lucky to have Morgan as our table server. She was great on making sure all of our wine glasses were fields at all times. The different variety of breads that came out where excellent. The salad was pretty good too, even though it wasn't my cup of tea. I found that there were too many jalapeno slices and it needed more dressing. Dinner was phenomenal! It was a steak fillet with some kind of soup cheese sauce as well as asparagus, potatoes, and chicken breast stuffed with sun-dried tomatoes. There was a vegetarian option, which one person had in our table. It looked like it was some kind of lasagna or manicotti with lots of red sauce and vegetables. It looked really good! Instead of the wedding cake, my cousin and his beautiful bride it out for a variety of cupcakes, fruit and baklava. Not sure of the cupcakes are made by the banquet hall, they were so good! There was even some gluten-free options. After dinner they opened up an ice cream bar with chocolate, vanilla, I meant chocolate chip ice cream. They had hot fudge as well as a variety of toppings! The bar staff was totally awesome. They were accommodating to everyone and were making drinks very fast. They also had a TV going on with the Chicago Blackhawks hockey game. That was nice to watch considering it was a huge game on Saturday night! read more

Valley Lo Club - Dancing in the hall! - Sports Clubs Near Me - Glenview, Illinois

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PHENOMENAL! Valley Lo is an invigorating and refreshing venue to have your wedding, especially if you're not looking to have a typical, enclosed banquet hall wedding ; you experience the best of both worlds here! My guests enjoyed the outside lounge area where they had amazing photo ops overlooking the lake, water fountains and lights! The bay windows overlooking the lake during dinner left everyone in awe...my photos are amazing!! Gail, our catering manager and coordinator, is truly a blessing and made the planning a breeze! I had to plan my wedding from Hawaii (this is where I live) and Gail always did her utmost to respond/call/email me when I needed her help - and I called/emailed her A LOT!! She made us feel like we were her #1 priority always! She made sure all the wedding details were carefully executed and setup. Gail is loyal, caring and the definition of quality customer service. Most importantly, she understands the importance of such an event - she treats you, your family and loved ones like if it was her own. My guests, til this day, continue to compliment me on how exquisite the food was (so good!), how beautiful the venue looked and how excellent Valley Lo service was. Valley Lo went above and beyond for us and I highly recommend having your wedding or any event here! Aloha! read more

I am a Wedding Planner with Storybook Weddings and Events here in Chicago, and I had the pleasure of having a wedding in October at The Valley Lo Club. Gail and her team were fantastic to work with. It was both of our first Korean weddings (for the Valley Lo Club as well as Storybook), and they were very accommodating by having a Korean wedding ceremony occur in the middle of dinner service. Gail was quick to respond to any and all of our questions, and she and her team adapted to every change that was made, even until the end of the event! Thank you for everything Gail, you do a fantastic job and I would love to work with you again! read more

This is truly the best venue around! We had our wedding reception here and could not have asked for a better experience in its entirety. Gail is fantastic. She is beyond helpful, calming, and goes above and beyond to make your day as perfect as you imagined it! I emailed her several times to the point that I thought it was a bit excessive. Gail responded quickly and helped to put my mind at ease with all the little details! You could not ask for a better wedding coordinator!! The venue is gorgeous. There is an outside area for cocktails, which our guests loved later on in the night too. They have beautiful lights out there as well. The venue sits on a lake, which gives it a beautiful view. The food is phenomenal! Our guests cannot stop talking about how good the food was, how gorgeous the venue was, and how amazing the staff there was!! We love Valley Lo and cannot wait to return there for an event in the future!!! Thank you for everything! read more

We had our wedding here and it was absolutely perfect. Everyone's advice before the wedding was, "a hundred things will go wrong that day, but it will still be the best day of your life." Well, because of Gail and the staff at Valley Lo, I feel lucky to say that I will not be able to share that advice with people when they get married. From the moment we signed the contract, Gail was so accommodating and took care of us. Obviously, it was our first time planning a wedding, and we didn't know what we were doing... but Gail made it easy for us. She responded to every email within a day, and she was happy to sit down with us at Valley Lo if we wanted to come talk to her face to face. On the day of the wedding, she made sure everything was in order so that we didn't have to worry about a thing. We were able to truly enjoy our day because she was working backstage. There was even a mistake with the hors d'oeuvres (I didn't double check the contract and we accidentally ordered the wrong shrimp), and Gail went back to the kitchen and made sure they cooked up a batch for us without question. The evening was fantastic. The room was beautiful. It was intimate, we were star attraction (I've been to too many weddings at banquet halls where all you can hear is the booming bass next door while the FOB is trying to give a heartwarming speech). I LOVED the view of the water outside the big windows. The food was fantastic!!! Our guests were raving about their meal for weeks. They said it was, hands down, the best wedding reception meal they had ever had. We are soooo incredibly thankful we had our wedding at Valley Lo because it was the best experience we could have had. From planning to execution... FLAWLESS. read more

The grounds are beautiful, the food is exquisite, the staff is exceptional and the events are fabulous. The paddle tennis program has outstanding pros and a well run program. Way to go ValleyLo. read more

My wife and I were just married yesterday and chose Valley Lo as the venue for our reception. Glenview and other North Shore suburbs provide a ton of options for wedding reception venues. However, at the recommendation of people that had been here, we decided to give Valley Lo a good look last October right after we got engaged. We couldn't have picked a better place. The food is excellent. The venue itself was perfect. It was set up for roughly 140 people and was a perfect fit. The reception area was great, the bar and bartenders were fantastic. The wait staff was great. The coordinator Gail was very easy to work with and provided us with everything we needed. It's a traditional venue but we were able to customize decorations there to really fit with our rustic farm theme perfectly. The balcony outside was huge and a great area for guests to congregate at. The dance floor was great. Plus, being a Friday night we were given a great discount. Valley Lo is such a beautiful venue since they completed a bunch of updates and was a really big space for everything that we needed. The entire night was great and we would recommend this to any couple looking for an awesome space to have a wedding. read more

My husband and I held our wedding celebration at Valley Lo this past Saturday. The evening was amazing; every detail was attended to. Gail Thomssen and the entire Valley Lo team provided exceptional service and made certain we had no issues so we could enjoy the evening with our guests. We heard not one single complaint - only praise for the location, the delicious meal, and the excellent service. I am so grateful to the team and highly recommend Valley Lo for any special event! read more

We had our wedding here during the summer. The grounds are absolutely beautiful. It's set back off main roads, and guests look out on a lake with a fountain and a golf course. There are lots of great photo opps, both with the whole wedding party or with just the bride/groom. Some of our favorite pictures were at twilight with the club and trees lit up with lights in the background. The food is amazing, much better quality than you'll get at the typical banquet hall or golf course. We had lots of compliments on it from guests. Gail, the catering manager who handles weddings, is the absolute best! She was so responsive to me throughout the entire process, quickly responding to my frantic emails when I'd think of something new, and she helped me figure out a perfect seating arrangement when I was unsure of what to do. So many guests said it was one of the nicest weddings they've been to, and the location really set the tone for that. Just book early because they fill up early! We booked 11 months in advance, and our date was the only summer Saturday left. read more