Chicago is home to the Bulls, Bears and Cubs, while its private golf clubs have hosted several major championships. Its public-access courses also stand out as among the best in the country.
The city’s public courses may not grab the limelight like these storied clubs but they are of great quality and variation for visiting golfers and locals, designed by stellar names such as Robert Trent Jones Jnr, Tom Fazio and Rees Jones.
Harborside International
Just 25 miles from the downtown area Harborside International is home to two Dick Nugent links-like designs, the Port and Starboard courses. Both are open and rugged with Starboard probably the more testing with a superb finishing three-hole stretch along Lake Calumet. There’s a well-appointed clubhouse with a spacious dining room and the views of the city’s famous skyscrapers are breathtaking.
Ravisloe Country Club
Around 20 minutes further south, a traditional club with a classic feel dating back to 1901. 100 years later, a David Esler upgrade brought back the original Donald Ross character and in 2009 it opened to public play. It’s only 6,300 yards long with a par of 70 and it provides enjoyable and accessible golf from a bygone era with tree-lined holes, plenty of doglegs and the occasional water hazard. It closes with three par fours.
Cog Hill
Cog Hill is around 35km northwest, arguably Chicago’s best public course which hosted the PGA Tour’s BMW Championship from 2009 to 2011 on its championship track known as Dubsdread. It also hosted the event 16 times when it was known as the Western Open. It’s a rolling, heavily bunkered course restored in 2008 by Rees Jones who extended it to 7,554 yards. Tiger Woods is a five-time winner here.
Orchard Valley
Around 40 minutes away, Orchard Valley opened for public play in 1993. It’s everything you could want from a pubic course, fun for all levels with a few tests along the way in the form of lakes and sprawling bunkers. It measures 6,745 yards with a par of 72 and there are excellent practice facilities. It’s also highly affordable considering the club’s quality.
The Glen Club
The Glen Club is a Tom Fazio creation and is part of a hotel complex and home to the Illinois Golf Hall of Fame. It’s location is fantastic, around 45 minutes north of downtown Chicago, close to the North Shore with spectacular views of Lake Michigan. Once the Glenview Naval Air Station, Fazio brought in 4,000 trees and included lakes, streams and plenty of fescue across his hilly design.
Prairie Landing Golf Club
About an hour west of the city, Prairie Landing Golf Club was designed by Robert Trent Jones Jnr. Opened for public play in 1992, it’s known for its extensive water hazards, so you may need to bring extra balls at this fun risk/reward layout. It’s a links-style track with rolling fairways, creeks, nearly 70 bunkers and undulating greens.
Thunderhawk Golf Club
Thunderhawk Golf Club is around an hour and 15 minutes north of downtown Chicago and was also designed by Robert Trent Jones Jnr. It’s an ecologically-friendly golf course with an open layout where native marshland and prairie land have been preserved. It’s highly picturesque and plays more open than a typical Midwestern parkland course. Its well-groomed fairways and greens make it a brilliant choice for golfers visiting the Beach Park area.
Stonewall Orchard Golf Club
Around an hour and 20 minutes north of the city, Stonewall Orchard is an Arthur Hills design that features plenty of water and around 65,000 pine and oak trees across its rolling hills and wetlands. Testing tee shots and forced carries make it a fun challenge and it offers public players a secluded private country club feel.
Other public courses close to Chicago which are well worth playing are Highlands of Elgin, The Preserve at Oak Meadows, Mistwood Golf Club and Cantigny Golf Club.
