Golf at a glance
- Population: 497 people, the 868th-largest place among Illinois's 1,294 Census places (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 Census recorded 513 residents here (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 3.1% below the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Illinois places: 868th in population of 1,294 places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: roughly 33% of Illinois's places have fewer residents (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 42.0585 / -87.7849, per the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Morton Grove, IL (1 mi); Niles, IL (2 mi); Skokie, IL (3 mi); Glenview, IL (3 mi); Northfield, IL (3 mi), each a US Census place with its estimated population.
- Nearest smaller towns: McCook, IL (18 mi); Old Mill Creek, IL (28 mi); Greenwood, IL (38 mi) — US Census Bureau populations.
What a personal loan costs in Golf
Unlike a revolving credit card, a personal loan is closed-end: the balance falls on a fixed schedule and the payment does not change.
The number to compare is the APR, not the interest rate, because the APR folds in origination fees and other charges; our personal loan calculator will show what a given amount and term would cost.
Your credit, income and existing debts drive the rate a lender offers, while the term you pick sets how much interest builds on top.
Set the loan amount from the expense itself rather than the maximum you are approved for, and keep the payment within your existing budget.
Illinois lending rules that apply in Golf
Where a figure is not published by the state, the row points to the source instead of guessing.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer Installment Loan Act license required from the Director of Financial Institutions (loans above 9% APR) Source says: "No person ... shall engage in the business of making loans of money ... except ... after first obtaining a license from the Director of Financial Institutions". | Illinois General Assembly (Illinois Compiled Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Division of Financial Institutions Source says: "DFI licenses, charters, and examines a wide variety of financial products and services including: Consumer and Sales Finance and Collection Agencies". | Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation as of 2026-09-16 |
| Installment lender net-worth requirement | $30,000 minimum positive net worth (plus $25,000 surety bond) Source says: "every applicant shall prove ... that the applicant has and will maintain a positive net worth of a minimum of $30,000". | Illinois General Assembly (Illinois Compiled Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 9% annual percentage rate (general written-contract interest cap) Source says: "it shall be lawful for the parties to stipulate or agree that an annual percentage rate of 9%, or any less sum". | Illinois General Assembly (Illinois Compiled Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Permitted under license; capped at 36% annual percentage rate (payday loans) Source says: "shall not contract for or receive a charge exceeding a 36% annual percentage rate ... for a payday loan". | Illinois General Assembly (Illinois Compiled Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Golf
These steps are the ones that most affect the offer you receive in Golf:
- Pull your free credit reports and dispute any error — it is the cheapest way to improve the rate you are offered.
- Run your figures through the personal loan calculator on this site so you know the payment before a lender quotes one.
- Pre-qualify with at least three lenders and compare the APR, not the interest rate.
- Check that the lender is licensed in Illinois using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.