If you are looking for something new and exciting to spend your time on while in Illinois, then golfing might be one of them.
The state has lots of well-maintained golf courses that are open to the public and charge reasonable green fees. Whether you are traveling or living in Illinois, there are quite a number of top public golf courses that you can try.
In this guide, we will look at the top public golf courses in the state that have positive reviews from players. We will highlight specific aspects of each course to help you find the best public golf course in Illinois.
The good thing is that most of the courses covered here have a practice range available for anyone who prefers to warm up before the game. Read on to find more information about the best public golf courses in Illinois.
List of the Best Public Golf Courses in Illinois
- Cantigny Golf: Best Overall
- Annbriar Golf Course: 2nd Best
- Gateway National Golf Links: 3rd Best
- Bolingbrook Golf Club
- PrairieView Golf Club
- Cog Hill Golf & Country Club: #4 Drumsdread
- ThunderHawk Golf Course
- El Paso Golf Club
- Shepherd’s Crook Golf Course
- Hickory Ridge Public Golf Course
- TPC Deere Run
- Blackstone Golf Club
- Prairie Landing: West Chicago
- Glen Club
- Mistwood Golf Club
- Schaumburg Golf Club
- Arrowhead Golf Club
- University of Illinois Golf Course: Blue Course
- Spencer T. Olin Golf Course
- Lake Carroll Golf Course
- Silver Ridge Golf Course
- Coyote Run Golf Course
- Mendota Golf Club
- Stonewall Orchard Golf Club
- McHenry Country Club
The Best Public Golf Courses in Illinois
1. Cantigny Golf
- Location: Wheaton
- Length: 7,012 yards
- Par: 72
- Designer(s): Roger Packard
- Year Established: 1989
- Championship(s): 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 Golf is among the finest golf courses not only in Illinois but also in the whole Midwest. The course is constantly well maintained and offers an exceptional golfing experience.
2. Annbriar Golf Course
- Location: Waterloo
- Length: 6,863 yards
- Par: 72
- Designer(s): Kevin Tucker
- Year Established: 1999
- Championship(s): the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament (annually)
Annbriar Golf Course is among the best golf courses in Illinois because of its challenging green and terrific views.
This hidden gem is located in a small town outside of St. Louis and is open to the public.
3. Gateway National Golf Links
- Location: Madison
- Length: 7,178 yards
- Par: 71
- Designer(s): Keith Foster
- Year Established: 19998
- Championship(s): the Eastside Amateur in 2022; Gateway National Golf Link Tournament in 2022
Gateway National Golf Links is one of the best links-style courses with bentgrass fairways.
We also believe that it is the best public golf course in Illinois because of its dynamic pricing model and its proximity to downtown St. Louis.
4. Bolingbrook Golf Club
- Location: Bolingbrook
- Length: 7,104 yards
- Par: 72
- Designer(s): Arthur Hills, Steve Forrest, and Associates
- Year Established: 2002
- Championship(s): the 2024 LIV Individual Championship in 2024; the Forme Tour in 2021; the 2003 AJGA Chicago Junior
We ranked Bolingbrook Golf Club as the best public golf course in Illinois because of its location and status of the facility.
The course is located in the picturesque village of Bolingbrook, which is just an hour outside of Chicago.
5. PrairieView Golf Club
- Location: Byron
- Length: 7,158 yards
- Par: 72
- Designer(s): James Spear
- Year Established: 1997
- Championship(s): The MAJGT PrairieView Classic in 2019; the 100th annual Men’s Lincoln Highway Tournament in 2022
PrairieView Golf Club is a magical golf course that competes fairly with other best courses in the region.
It offers scenic and well-maintained bentgrass layouts to adventurous players.
6. Cog Hill Golf & Country Club: #4 Drumsdread
- Location: Lemont
- Length: 7,554 yards
- Par: 72
- Designer(s): Dick Wilson and Joe Lee
- Year Established: 1927
- Championship(s): 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 2023
We believe that Cog Hill Golf and Country Club is the best public golf course in Illinois because of its rich history and proximity to Chicago.
Some great names have graced this golf course in the past. In fact, the course boasts at least five Tiger Woods’ wins.
7. ThunderHawk Golf Course
- Location: Beach Park
- Length: 7,031 yards
- Par: 72
- Designer(s): Robert Trent Jones II
- Year Established: 1999
- Championship(s): the Thunderhawk Junior Open in 2024; the Summer 2019 Chicago City Tour Tournament; the Mid American Junior Golf Tour in 2020
Thunderhawk Golf Course is one of the best bangs when it comes to public golf courses in the state. The course is never too crowded and is in great shape.
Besides this, it is challenging and has wide corridors. The good thing is that hazards line both sides of every hole.
8. El Paso Golf Club
- Location: El Paso
- Length: 6,111 yards
- Par: 71
- Designer(s): William J. Spear
- Year Established: 1924
- Championship(s): Men’s Club Championship in 2024; The Del Paso Country Club Men’s Magpie Tournament in 2015
This is another scenic golf course that offers a challenging experience to golfers. We loved it because it is well-maintained with lush greens and fairways.
9. Shepherd’s Crook Golf Course
- Location: Zion
- Length: 6,827 yards
- Par: 71
- Designer(s): Keith Foster
- Year Established: 1999
- Championship(s): Shepherd’s Crook Open in 2014; the Mid-American Junior Golf Tour in 2024
This links-style course features wide bentgrass fairways, greens, and tees. Players find it both challenging and exciting to play.
In fact, you will have a feeling of playing Ireland’s Waterville or Ballybunion courses.
10. Hickory Ridge Public Golf Course
- Location: Carbondale
- Length: 6,863 yards
- Par: 72
- Designer(s): William J. Spear
- Year Established: 1993
- Championship(s): the 10th Carbondale Brew Fest! in 2024
Hickory Ridge Public Golf Course is a scenic and tranquil escape through woodlands with interesting elevation changes.
Additionally, this place offers a great opportunity for kids to learn and practice the game. So, if you are traveling with your family, then you should give it a priority.
11. TPC Deere Run
- Location: Silvis
- Length: 7,066 yards
- Par: 71
- Designer(s): D.A. Weibring
- Year Established: 2000
- Championship(s): the John Deere Classic (annually); the 29th annual National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Women’s Golf National Championship in 2024
Anytime you hear TPC mentioned in the name of a course, you will definitely know that it is going to be an awesome experience.
Just like other TPC courses, TPC Deere Run is the host of many golf tournaments.
It currently hosts the John Deere Classic every year. It is the best public golf course in Illinois because it offers plenty of scoring opportunities.
12. Blackstone Golf Club
- Location: Marengo
- Length: 6,734 yards
- Par: 72
- Designer(s): Bob Lohmann
- Year Established: 1982
- Championship(s): The Blackstone Classic in 2014; the annual World Ladies Championship (annually); and the biennial World Celebrity Pro-Am
Just like we do for the above golf courses, we believe Blackstone is the best public golf course in Illinois because of its challenging greens.
Accuracy is essential while playing at Blackstone because, without it, you may end up using all your golf balls.
But the good thing is that once you are on the greens, you will likely love the smooth, quick surface.
13. Prairie Landing: West Chicago
- Location: West Chicago
- Length: 7,042 yards
- Par: 72
- Designer(s): Bruce Charlton and Kalina
- Year Established: 1995
- Championship(s): Nike Junior Golf Camps in 2024
This is another links-style golf course that is in perfect shape.
The course features a challenging layout with plenty of water features on the entire course.
Another interesting thing about Prairie Landing is that it has an extensive practice facility.
14. Glen Club
- Location: Glenview
- Length: 7,170 yards
- Par: 72
- Designer(s): Tom Fazio
- Year Established: 2001
- Championship(s): the Illinois PGA Professional in 2017; the inaugural CDGA Two-Person Scramble Championship in 2021
Glen Club is the best public golf course in Illinois simply because it is the host of key tournaments.
So, if you would love to watch the Korn Ferry Tour professionals in action, Glen Club is the place to be.
15. Mistwood Golf Club
- Location: Romeoville
- Length: 7,040 yards
- Par: 72
- Designer(s): Ray Hearn
- Year Established: 1998
- Championship(s): 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 golf course that offers a Scottish links experience, then you will not be disappointed with Mistwood Golf Club. It provides an excellent challenge and is ranked among the top links-style golf courses in Illinois.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are more than 600 golf courses in Illinois.
The good thing is that most of these courses are open to the public.
Specifically, 292 are public courses, 155 are private courses, and 191 are municipal courses.
There are about 200 golf courses in the Chicago area.
So, you will not lack options to choose from.
Besides this, the city has a reputation as an excellent golfing destination.
This is partly due to the high quality of its public golf courses.
You can play golf in Chicago throughout the year.
But the best season is from April through November.
The best thing is that most golf courses listed here are open year-round.
Final Remarks
Up to this point, you know where to play golf while in Illinois. Actually, there are plenty of choices for anyone looking for the best public golf courses in the state.
Interestingly, most of these golf courses in Illinois are found in the Chicago suburbs and are affordable.
While there is no single best public golf course in Illinois, there are a number of them that stand out in most areas. These include Bolingbrook Golf Club, Cantigny Golf, Gateway National Golf Links, PrairieView Golf Club, and Cog Hill Golf & Country Club (Drumsdread).
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