When it comes to golf history, Chicago plays a major role in the growth and development of the game.
It is one of the cities with a big golf fan base. Chicago and its suburbs are also blessed with so many fantastic golf courses.
With over 100 courses to choose from, Chicago has to offer for anyone who wishes to have a relaxed tee time in the city.
The good thing is that some of the best courses in the city are actually open to the public and are affordable.
In fact, some of the best public golf courses in Chicago, like Cog Hill and Country Club, have hosted several golf tournaments.
We will explore these top golf courses in this article in order to help you have the best tee time while in the city. So, without further ado, here is a primer on where to play the best golf in Chicago.
List of the Best Public Golf Courses in Chicago
- Cog Hill Golf and Country Club (No. 4—Dubsdread)
- The Glen Club
- Mistwood Golf Club
- Cantigny Golf
- Pine Meadows Golf Club
- Harborside International Golf Center (Starboard)
- Highlands of Elgin
- Bowes Creek Country Club
- Schaumburg Golf Club
- Stonewall Orchard Golf Club
- The Preserve at Oak Meadows
- Thunderhawk Golf Club
- Ravisloe Country Club
- Prairie Landing Golf Club
- Blackstone Golf Club
The Best Public Golf Courses in Chicago
1. Cog Hill Golf and Country Club (No. 4—Dubsdread)
- Location: Lemont
- Length: 7,554 yards
- Par: 72
- Designer(s): Dick Wilson & Rees Jones
- Year Established: 1964
- Championships: the PGA Tour’s BMW Championship from 2009 to 2011; the Boys and Girls Junior PGA Championships in 2022; the Cog Hill Junior Championship in 202
Dubs, as often known, is one of the best public golf courses in Chicago and the country at large.
The course has hosted several important tournaments, including US Public Links, US Amateur, and the PGA Tour for the BMW Championships.
2. The Glen Club
- Location: Glenview
- Length: 7,170 yards
- Par: 72
- Designer(s): Tom Fazio
- Year Established: 2001
- Championships: the Illinois PGA Professional in 2017; the inaugural CDGA Two-Person Scramble Championship in 2021
The Glen Club is also among the best public golf courses in Chicago that is located a few minutes from the city center.
While the course is situated in a semi-private facility, it offers public play some days of the week. Interestingly, this course was constructed on a naval air force base.
3. Mistwood Golf Club
- Location: Romeoville
- Length: 7,005 yards
- Par: 72
- Designer(s): Ray Hearn
- Year Established: 1998
- Championships: The Women’s Western Golf Association’s (WWGA) 118th National Amateur Championship in 2018; The Illinois PGA Pro-Pro Scramble in 2024
If you are looking for a course that offers private course experience and is still open to the public, then Mistwood Golf Club is as close as you will get.
The Scottish-inspired course has style pot bunkers and great amenities. On top of this, green fees are fair.
4. Cantigny Golf
- Location: Wheaton
- Length: 6,831 yards
- Par: 72
- Designer(s): Roger Packard
- Year Established: 1989
- Championships: the Illinois State Amateur Championship (1996, 2002, 2008, 2014 & 2019); 2014 Chicago Open; 2013 Women’s Illinois State Amateur;
- 2012 CDGA Amateur; 2008 Illinois State Amateur Championship; 2007 U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship; 2006 Western Junior Amateur Championship
Cantigny will always not miss on the conversation about the best public golf courses in Chicago. The course is not far from the city center and offers scenic views.
Moreover, it is beautifully maintained. Most players like this course because it is fun and also challenging given that it has multiple sets of tees.
5. Pine Meadow Golf Club
- Location: Mundelein
- Length: 7,218 yards
- Par: 72
- Designer(s): William Flynn of Toomey and Flynn of Philadelphia
- Year Established:1986
- Championships: Lights & Sirens Tournament in 2023; Stanford Open Tournament, Saturday, August 19; Annual Pine Meadow Charity Golf Tournament (annually)
Some people in the golfing circles consider this course as a mini-Cog Hill, partly due to its picturesque landscape.
The course is filled with towering evergreens and hardwood trees that surround the 18 holes.
6. Harborside International Golf Center (Starboard)
- Location: Chicago
- Length: 7,104 yards
- Par: 72
- Designer(s): Dick Nugent
- Year Established: 1996
- Championships: SBC Senior Open, a PGA Champions TOUR event in 2002
This center has two championship-caliber courses right in the center of the city.
The newer course, the Starboard Course, features a links-style course that utilizes smart bunkering.
7. Highlands of Elgin
- Location: Elgin
- Length: 7,000 yards
- Par: 72
- Designer(s): Keith Foster and Art Schaupeter
- Year Established: 2003
- Championships: The 2020 IJGA POY Championship; the US Am Tour in 2022; the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship in 2023
This is one of the most underrated public golf courses in Illinois, yet it has some of the most dramatic landforms left behind by a stone quarry.
The most likable things about this course are its wide-open fairways and rolling terrain. They make the course fun to play in and will leave you with a desire to return.
8. Bowes Creek Country Club
- Location: Elgin
- Length: 6,917 yards
- Par: 71
- Designer(s): Rick Jacobson
- Year Established: 2009
- Championships: US Am Tour in 2022; 17U PGA Jr. League in 2024
This is a sister course to Highlands of Elgin, providing an alternative to adventure golfers who visit Elgin.
The most interesting thing about this course is that everything feels exclusive and private yet so public.
9. Schaumburg Golf Club
- Location: Schaumburg
- Length: 6,542 yards
- Par: 72
- Designer(s): William Langford and Bob Lohmann
- Year Established: 1928
- Championships: The Illinois PGA Stroke Play Series in 2024; the U.S. Open Qualifying, Illinois Open Qualifying, and Illinois State Amateur Qualifying
Schaumburg Golf Club has one of the best public golf courses in Chicago, but it is rarely recognized.
In fact, the pace of play and course conditions are second to none.
This 27-hole facility also underwent some renovations to make it challenging to pro players.
10. Stonewall Orchard Golf Club
- Location: Grayslake
- Length: 7,074 yards
- Par: 72
- Designer(s): Arthur Hills
- Year Established: 1999
- Championships: Illinois PGA’s Section Championship and hosted U.S. Open qualifying in 2003, 2005, 2009, & 2015
The course architect, Arthur Hills, put a stamp of authority when he constructed this golf course. That is why many local and regional golf events have been held on the golf course.
With tranquil wetlands and more than 60,000 oak and pine trees on the property, you might be fooled thinking you are playing in the Carolinas.
11. The Preserve at Oak Meadows
- Location: Addison
- Length: 7,015 yards
- Par: 71
- Designer(s): C.D. Wagstaff & Greg Martin
- Year Established: 2017
- Championships: DuPage County Junior Classic in 2021; US Men’s Amateur in 2027; Spring 2021 Golf Tournament
This is one of the oldest golf clubs in the Chicago area and is strategically located a few minutes from O’Hare Airport.
In recent times, the course has undergone some major renovations, leading to a major reopening in 2017.
12. Thunderhawk Golf Club
- Location: Beach Park
- Length: 7,031 yards
- Par: 72
- Designer(s): Robert Trent Jones Jr.
- Year Established: 1999
- Championships: the Thunderhawk Junior Open in 2024; the Summer 2019 Chicago City Tour Tournament; the Mid American Junior Golf Tour in 2020.
Thunderhawk is not only among the best public golf courses in Chicago, but it is also a challenging course.
Besides this, it features a number of hazards, wide fairways, notably water, and greenside bunkers. The golf course is also idyllic and was among the first few courses certified in Illinois.
13. Ravisloe Country Club
- Location: Homewood
- Length: 6,405 yards
- Par: 70
- Designer(s): Donald Ross
- Year Established: 1901
- Championships: the MAJGT in 2023; the CDGA Amateur Championship in 1914; the AJGA and IMG Academy Preseason Series in 2013
Rasviole initially started as a private golf club but has since transformed into one of the best public golf courses in Chicago.
The course is fairly challenging and features a variety of water hazards and tree-lined holes to make the game interesting.
14. Prairie Landing Golf Club
- Location: West Chicago
- Length: 6,950 yards
- Par: 72
- Designer(s): Robert Trent Jones Jr.
- Year Established: 1994
- Championships: Nike Junior Golf Camps in 2024
This is also one of the best public golf courses in Chicago, mostly because of its challenging layout.
Overall, the course is enjoyable and provides lots of opportunities for accurate putting.
15. Blackstone Golf Club
- Location: Marengo
- Length: 6,734 yards
- Par: 72
- Designer(s): Bob Lohmann
- Year Established: 1982
- Championships: The Blackstone Classic in 2014; the annual World Ladies Championship (annually); and the biennial World Celebrity Pro-Am.
This course features over 26 acres of environmentally protected areas filled with lush bentgrass fairways and greens. It is one of the premier destinations in the city and is fairly well maintained.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Generally, you can play golf in most of Illinois throughout the year. So, you can play golf in Chicago in November.
Typically, the best golfing season in the Chicago area is between April and November.
Chicago boasts a number of golf courses totaling over 200.
Actually, it is one of the most popular golf destinations in the country.
The good thing is that a significant number of them are public golf courses.
While green fees vary from course to course, generally the cost of playing golf in the Chicago area is quite affordable if you are playing on one of the public golf courses.
Expect to spend between $20 and $70, depending on the time of the week.
Final Thoughts
When it comes to the history and development of golf in the US, Chicago will always be in the picture.
The city is credited for the expansion and growth of the game. That is why it has some of the best golf courses in the country.
Luckily, some of these respected facilities are open to the public.
So, if you are heading to Illinois soon, be sure that you will find multiple options of the best public golf courses in Chicago, including the famous Cog Hill Golf and Country Club.
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