Chicago’s golf legacy began long before the modern era of destination resorts and public-access championship courses. The region’s influence on American golf can be traced back to the late 1800s when visionary architects and club founders established layouts that would help shape the game’s future.
Today, Chicago and neighboring Wisconsin are home to an extraordinary collection of private clubs, ranging from historic institutions that have hosted major championships to modern masterpieces hidden among rolling farmland, forests, and lakes.
Of course, the region’s golf excellence isn’t limited to private clubs. Chicago and Wisconsin are also home to some of America’s finest public and resort courses, from destination layouts like Sand Valley, Erin Hills, and Whistling Straits to outstanding daily-fee and municipal courses. If you’re looking for courses you can book without an invitation, be sure to explore our guide to the best public golf courses in Chicago and Wisconsin. This list, however, focuses on the private clubs that have helped shape the region’s golfing identity.
What truly separates these clubs is not merely their course rankings or tournament history. It is the culture. Private clubs serve as gathering places where friendships are formed, traditions are passed between generations, and memorable rounds become lasting stories. Whether it’s a sunrise loop at Chicago Golf Club, a member-guest at Milwaukee Country Club, or a championship event at Medinah, these experiences represent the best of what private golf can offer.
For golfers fortunate enough to receive an invitation, the private clubs and of Chicago and Wisconsin provide a glimpse into some of the most significant and celebrated golf properties in America. Here’s a closer look at the best private golf courses in Chicagoland and Wisconsin.
Chicago Golf Club, Wheaton
No discussion begins anywhere other than Chicago Golf Club in Wheaton. Founded in 1892, Chicago Golf Club is widely recognized as the site of America’s first 18-hole golf course. Designed by the legendary Charles Blair Macdonald, the club helped establish many of the architectural principles that still influence course design today.
The minimalist layout rewards strategy rather than power and remains one of the purest examples of classic golf architecture anywhere in the world. More than 130 years after its founding, Chicago Golf Club remains one of the most respected and exclusive clubs in America.
Medinah Country Club, Medinah
Medinah Country Club has long served as the region’s most recognizable championship venue. Its famed Course No. 3 has hosted multiple major championships, a Ryder Cup, and numerous PGA Tour events. Thanks to recent renovations, the course continues to evolve while maintaining the dramatic scale and challenge that made it famous. The renovated and rerouted layout will be seen by the entire world when Medinah CC hosts the 2026 Presidents Cup, September 22 to 27, 2026, as Team USA looks to win for the 14th time in the event’s 16th edition.
Olympia Fields Country Club, Olympia Fields
Olympia Fields Country Club has quietly become one of the Midwest’s premier championship facilities. The club’s North Course has welcomed U.S. Opens, PGA Championships, U.S. Amateur Championships, and the BMW Championship, cementing its place among America’s elite tournament venues.
Butler National Golf Club, Oak Brook
Butler National Golf Club has long been revered for its immaculate conditioning and demanding layout.
Rich Harvest Farms, Sugar Grove
Rich Harvest Farms has emerged as one of the nation’s premier modern championship properties, hosting the Solheim Cup, NCAA Championships, LIV Golf events, and numerous elite amateur competitions.
Shoreacres, Lake Bluff
Shoreacres is often considered one of the finest Golden Age designs in the Midwest. Set atop bluffs overlooking Lake Michigan, the Seth Raynor masterpiece delivers bold green complexes, template holes, and breathtaking scenery.
Skokie Country Club, Skokie
Just north of Chicago, Skokie Country Club remains one of the country’s finest examples of classic architecture. The course has benefited from thoughtful restoration work that highlights the strategic brilliance originally envisioned by Donald Ross.
Knollwood Club, Lake Forest
Knollwood Club continues to deliver timeless private-club experiences that emphasize walkability, strategy, and understated elegance.
Wisconsin’s Private Gems
Milwaukee Country Club, River Hills
At the top of many lists sits Milwaukee Country Club. Consistently ranked among America’s finest private clubs, Milwaukee Country Club combines historic architecture, exceptional conditioning, and a setting that has captivated members for generations.
Blue Mound Golf & Country Club, Wauwatosa
Another standout is Blue Mound Golf & Country Club in Wauwatosa, a western suburb of Milwaukee. Designed by Seth Raynor, the course has hosted major championships and remains one of the purest examples of Raynor architecture in the United States.
West Bend Country Club, West Bend
Golf enthusiasts also speak highly of West Bend Country Club, a hidden gem that has steadily gained recognition for its conditioning and member experience. The state boasts two Donald Ross designs, Kenosha Country Club and Oconomowoc Country Club, which offer a private-club atmosphere and championship-caliber golf in two of the state’s most scenic settings.
Minocqua Country Club, Minocqua
While Wisconsin’s nationally ranked clubs often garner the headlines, some of the state’s most beloved private golf experiences can be found farther north. Minocqua Country Club has been a fixture of Wisconsin golf since the early 1900s, offering classic architecture, towering pines, and a timeless Northwoods atmosphere that generations of families have enjoyed for more than a century. Established in 1916, the course remains one of the state’s most historic and charming private clubs.
Pine Hills Country Club, Sheboygan
Equally deserving of recognition is Pine Hills Country Club. Designed by Harry Smead and dating to the 1920s, Pine Hills is widely regarded as one of Wisconsin’s finest traditional private clubs. Its tree-lined fairways, small greens, and Augusta National feel have long made it a favorite among accomplished amateurs and club professionals throughout the state.
How to Help: Charity Golf Outings
Looking to play a memorable course while supporting organizations making a difference? One of the best ways for non-members to experience many of these exclusive clubs is through charitable golf outings. Charity golf outings combine great golf with meaningful impact. Several premier events throughout the season provide access while supporting important causes.
- Catholic Charities Golf Classic – Traditionally hosted at prestigious private clubs, including Knollwood Club and Shoreacres, benefiting programs throughout Cook and Lake Counties.
- Chicago Select Golf Invitational – One of the Midwest’s most successful charity golf events, raising millions of dollars for cancer research for the American Cancer Society while providing access to elite private clubs.
- Western Golf Association Evans Scholars Events – Various fundraising opportunities throughout the year supporting the Evans Scholars Foundation and its mission of providing college scholarships to caddies.
- First Tee – Greater Chicago Outings – Annual events held at leading private clubs to support youth golf and character-development programs.
- Folds of Honor Midwest Golf Events – Fundraisers benefiting military families and educational scholarships, often hosted at premier private facilities throughout Illinois and Wisconsin.
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.
