Chicago, nicknamed “The Second City,” is the Midwest’s undisputed number-one metropolitan golf mecca. It began in 1892 with the nation’s first 18-hole course, Chicago Golf Club, and continues 130 years later as over 200 courses grace the Chicagoland area. Over two-thirds of those layouts are public, giving players a bevy of brilliant options no matter what part of Chicago you call home.
As a Senior Writer for Midwest Golfing Magazine since 2005, I have been continually impressed with Chicago’s golf greatness. Below is a list of my top public facilities in the Chicagoland region, plus a few bonus options for those who love traveling north to Wisconsin for a day trip or stay-and-play retreat.
Updated June 26, 2024
Cog Hill Golf & Country Club, Dubsdread #4, Lemont
Rees Jones, the man who renovated Cog Hill’s Dubsdread #4 Course in 2007 and 2008, said it best when describing the facility’s importance, “The Jemsek family is the first family of Chicago public golf in my mind, and that goes back to Frank’s father, Al. It was a great experience for me to bring Cog Hill into the 21st century. We were able to keep all of Dick Wilson’s design features yet make it stronger for today’s players,” concluded Jones. As host of the Western Open and BMW Championship from 1991 to 2011 except for 2008, Dubsdread #4 is one of the most famous courses in the Midwest and a must-play when in The Windy City.
Besides Dubsdread #4, Cog Hill features three other top public venues: #1, #2, and #3. Cog Hill also offers Stay and Play Packages with the nearby Marriott Burr Ridge.
The Glen Club, Glenview
The Glen Club is one of the finest upscale public courses in the entire Chicago area. The Tom Fazio design once again hosted a Korn Ferry event in 2022, The NV5 Invitational Presented by Old National Bank. It’s hard to imagine that this pristine piece of land used to house the Glenview Naval Air Station. By employing numerous water hazards, native areas, and fairway moguls, the Glen Club takes golfers on a four hour thrill ride that is always in immaculate condition.
Since 2001, The Glen Club has housed the Illinois Golf Hall of Fame—a lasting tribute to the largest golf contributors from the Land of Lincoln. The Club is also highlighted by a majestic 48,000-square-foot clubhouse that features superb dining, tastefully appointed overnight accommodations, a grand ballroom, and the finest corporate amenities.
Harborside International, Starboard & Port Courses, Chicago
Harborside International takes a unique concept and perfects it! Designer Dick Nugent was charged with designing two golf courses on one property with a similar look, feel, and playability rating. Harborside’s Port Course, which opened for play in 1995, features the par-3 15th hole, known for a massive bunker in the shape of an anchor. One year later, The Starboard Course opened and is currently ranked the 10th finest course in Illinois, according to Golfweek Magazine.
Both courses at Harborside International feature amazing views of downtown Chicago, even though the course is 15 miles from the Windy City’s epicenter. The course is even closer to Guaranteed Rate Field, the Chicago White Sox home. Harborside International is buoyed by a 57-acre practice facility that includes separate areas for chipping, pitching, and sand play and a large clock for putting drills.
Mistwood Golf Club, Romeoville
Expertly renovated by Ray Hearn between 2011-2013, Mistwood Golf Club is a spectacular Scottish-inspired course in the southwestern Chicago suburb of Romeoville. The three-year renovation project added 19 Scottish-style sod wall bunkers that give a distinctive style to the 7,005-yard, par-72 layout. Six holes play around a 65-acre lake (Loch St. James), eliciting stunning visuals and shot values. The par-3 14th demands a nearly 200-yard downhill shot over water, while the par-5 15th is a 90-degree dogleg left with water running down the entire left side.
Their year-round Performance Center is one of the Midwest’s finest and is run by eight full-time golf professionals. If a technology has been invented to help your game, it’s a safe bet Mistwood’s Performance Center has it. Finally, their 26,000-square-foot clubhouse is ideal for weddings, banquets, and corporate functions.
Cantigny Golf Club, Wheaton
Cantigny Golf Club’s picturesque 27-hole layout is divided into three nines: the Woodside, Lakeside, and Hillside. All three weave their way through native oak, maple, and hickory trees over and around lakes and streams. Cantigny takes golfers on a journey through part golf course, part arboretum, and part national park all in one!
Cantigny is further distinguished by the Cantigny Golf Academy. Opened in 2008, the Academy is the region’s first year-round practice and learning center. It offers all the essential components of golf performance under one roof, including climate-controlled hitting bays, expert club fitting, and professional golf fitness training. The Academy welcomes beginners and expert players alike. Cantigny’s golf legacy was immediately cemented as it received “Golf Digest’s Best New Public Golf Course in America” in 1989, the first year it was open to the public. As Cantigny’s popularity soared, major Illinois tournaments were landed, including multiple State Amateur Championships.
The Preserve at Oak Meadows, Addison
In the shadows of O’Hare Airport resides the newest property to be included on my unofficial “Best in Chicago Course List,” The Preserve at Oak Meadows. Architect Greg Martin’s multi-year project merged 27 holes into 18 and, more importantly, fixed a constant summer flooding problem—the result is a part parkland, part links layout that won two major awards upon completion.
Golfweek Magazine named the 7,089-yard, par-72 track one of its “2023 Best Courses You Can Play.” Golf Inc. named The Preserve at Oak Meadows the 2018 Renovation of the Year. The course is a Forest Preserve District of DuPage County member, with 18 holes ranging between $60 and $105.
Ruffled Feathers Golf Club, Lemont
Ruffled Feathers GC is the only Pete Dye-designed property in the Chicago area. Everything at Ruffled Leathers is geared towards a private club experience at a public facility. Plus, Ruffled Feathers has developed a reputation for being one of Chicagoland’s finest wedding and banquet facilities. The property is also buoyed by an outstanding PGA Professional staff specializing in individual or group lessons.
As the name indicates, the 6,900-yard, par-72 layout might grind your gears due to its intimidating shot values and multiple water features, but Pete Dye designs are always ones you’ll want to play multiple times per year.
Stonewall Orchard Golf Club, Grayslake
The northern suburbs are filled with outstanding courses (Thunderhawk & Shepherd’s Crook in Zion, plus Pine Meadow in Mundelein), but my favorite is Stonewall Orchard Golf Club, a thoughtful Arthur Hills design. The 7,124-yard, par-72 layout is so highly thought of by the USGA that they have held multiple U.S. Open Qualifiers since 2003.
If getting away from it all is your number one golf goal, then Stonewall Orchard’s naturalness is to be coveted. More than 65,000 fully mature pine and oak trees combine with acres of rolling hills and wetlands to form an unmatched serene golf experience. Stonewall Orchard is what I like to call a “public country club” based on their spectacular amenities and immaculate course conditions.
Wisconsin’s Best Golf Destinations
Whistling Straits & Blackwolf Run, Kohler
Conveniently located less than two hours north on I-43, Destination Kohler comprises four championship courses and one five-diamond resort, The American Club. Whistling Straits is recognized worldwide, thanks to hosting three PGA Championships (2004, 2010, 2015) and the 2020 Ryder Cup, played in 2021. My recommendation is to take advantage of their To Dye Four Stay and Play Package that includes rounds on all four properties (Blackwolf Run River, Meadow Valleys, The Irish Course at Whistling Straits, and the aforementioned Whistling Straits) combined with a three-night stay. In 2021, Blackwolf Run debuted The Baths of Blackwolf – a 10-hole, par-3 course and two-acre putting courses.
Sand Valley Golf Resort, Rome
Sand Valley Golf Resort is the newest addition to the high-end public resort golf scene in the Midwest, located four hours north of Chicago in tiny Rome, Wisconsin. Chicago native Mike Keiser, the same man who brought us Bandon Dunes and Cabot Links, has struck gold with his latest walking-only, multi-course destination. It began in 2017 with the opening of Sand Valley, a stunning Crenshaw/Coore design highlighted by massive sand blowouts and 360-degree vistas. Mammoth Dunes, a David McLay Kidd masterpiece, and the ultra-cool 17-hole par-3 course The Sandbox opened in May of 2018 and converged to form Golf’s Next Big Thing. In 2022, the resort expanded to include Sedge Valley, a Tom Doak stunner, and The Lido, which pays homage to a lost course on Long Island dating back to pre-World War II.
Multiple modest lodging options are available (similar to Bandon Dunes) as Sand Valley Golf Resort is meant to be enjoyed with your favorite golf group. Plus, you can add on rounds at the adjacent Lake Arrowhead or nearby SentryWorld in Stevens Point, two top Wisconsin tracks worthy of a visit
Erin Hills, Erin
Erin Hills captured the golf world’s attention in 2017 when it hosted the 117th U.S. Open, won by Brooks Koepka. Since then, the Michael Hurzan/Dana Fry design has implemented a series of fantastic promotions to keep them at the forefront. Some of my favorites included the Kettle Loop, a five-hole rotation played from different tee boxes and yardages compared to the Championship layout, and their remarkable lighted putting course. Overnight guests also have access to their ultra-cool caddie barn, with dart boards, ping pong, and pool tables. Talk about an exclusive behind-the-scenes experience you can’t find anywhere else.
Erin Hills is a walking-only facility with five on-site cottages ideal for buddy trips thanks to the amenities and stellar dining options. Plus, it is only 35 miles northwest of Milwaukee, so Chicagoans can plan their golf trip around when the Cubs or White Sox play the Brewers next
Destination Geneva National, Lake Geneva
The re-branded Destination Geneva National is home to a collection of arguably the most iconic signature courses in the Midwest. Three 18-hole championship layouts grace the 1,600-acre property, with one each designed by Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, and Lee Trevino. Another facet that makes Destination Geneva National so unique is that it’s both a private and public facility simultaneously. A three-course rotation allows members to have one private course while the public can play the other two on any given day.
A buddy or couple’s trip became more memorable thanks to the creation of The Suites and The Cottages at Destination Geneva National a few years ago. Now, guests can enjoy an all-inclusive Stay and Play experience without leaving the property.
Grand Geneva Resort & Spa, Lake Geneva
The 1,310-acre facility is highlighted by two stunning designs, The Brute and The Highlands. In fact, The Highlands is the only course in the state to be co-designed by Pete Dye and Jack Nicklaus and is a tribute to Scotland’s great inland links-style courses. The Brute is aptly named as 68 monstrous bunkers, and massive, undulating greens dot the 7,200-yard track. The 600+ room Grand Geneva Resort & Spa was recently renovated and is replete with a full-service spa, five on-site restaurants, and their adjacent Timber Ridge Lodge and Waterpark.
How to Help:
Charity golf tournaments are a great way to play a great course and support a wonderful cause. Check out some of the Chicago area’s biggest upcoming charity tournaments this summer.
July 15:
- Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago, Charities Golf Classic: Benefits Catholic Charities programs in Cook and Lake Counties. Knollwood Club, Lake Forest, IL, and Shoreacres, Lake Bluff, IL. catholiccharities.net.
July 17:
- Annual Golf Classic: Benefits Ronald McDonald House Charities. Spend a summer day on this iconic course while making a difference in the lives of families. The Golf Classic offers 18 holes of golf, fun contests for all levels, specialty lunch and beverages, an exclusive complimentary gift, a celebratory cocktail reception, and much more. Cog Hill Golf & Country Club, 12294 Archer Avenue, Lemont, IL.
August 19:
- Designs for Dignity, Swing for Dignity: Empower lives through design. 11 a.m. at Mistwood Golf Club. designs4dignity.org.
- Northern Illinois Food Bank, Hunger Scramble Golf Outing: Features on-course tastings, giveaways, and contests. 8 a.m. at White Eagle Golf Club. solvehungertoday.org.
August 26:
- Genesys Works Chicago Annual Golf Outing: Supports skills training for 200+ students. 10 a.m. at Olympia Fields Country Club. genesysworks.org.
- UCP Seguin of Greater Chicago, 4th Annual Life Without Limits Golf Classic: Includes lunch, dinner, unlimited beverages, raffles, and games. 10 a.m. at Riverside Golf Club. ucpseguin.org.
September 3:
- The Salvation Army North and Central Illinois Division, Hope Fore Kids Golf Outing: Benefits youth programs including camp, after-school programs, and music education. 10 a.m. at The Glen Club. salarmychicago.org.
September 9:
- Chicago Select Golf Invitational: Benefits the American Cancer Society. Founded in 1995 by Keith Bank of KB Partners, LLC, this event has raised over $25 million. The 2024 Invitational will be hosted at Medinah Country Club, featuring the newly renovated Course #3. Includes a cocktail reception, awards dinner, and silent and live auctions. 100% of proceeds go directly to cancer research. In-person.
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Glen Turk is a Wisconsin native who has been the Senior Writer/Editor of Midwest Golfing Magazine since 2005. Glen’s ultimate golf goal is to play in all 50 states; currently, he is more than two-thirds the way there. Glen and his wife have a rescue German Shepherd dog and are passionate supporters of their local humane society. Glen also enjoys participating in charity golf tournaments that benefit the Special Olympics. You can read all of Glen’s previous works at midwestgolfingmagazine.com by clicking on the “Past Issues” tab within the main menu.
