Best Golf Courses in Chicago, Illinois
Chicago's golf history runs as deep as any city in America. Home to the first 18-hole course in the country (Chicago Golf Club), multiple U.S. Open and Ryder Cup venues, and a vibrant public golf scene, the Windy City offers a rich and varied golf landscape against the backdrop of America's heartland.
Chicago, Illinois · Charles Blair Macdonald / Seth Raynor (1895) · 18 holes · Par 70 · 6,597 yards
The first 18-hole course in the United States and a founding member of the USGA, Chicago Golf Club is an American treasure. C.B. Macdonald's template holes, refined by Seth Raynor, offer a master class in strategic golf architecture.
Chicago, Illinois · Dick Wilson / Rees Jones (1964) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 7,547 yards
Long the Chicago-area's premier public championship course, Cog Hill No. 4 "Dubsdread" hosted the BMW Championship and Western Open for decades. The Rees Jones renovation maintained the course's fearsome reputation while modernizing it for championship play.
Chicago, Illinois · Willie Park Jr. (1922) · 18 holes · Par 70 · 7,366 yards
Host of the 2003 U.S. Open and 2023 BMW Championship, Olympia Fields North is a classic parkland championship course south of Chicago. The tight, tree-lined layout demands precision and patience through 18 demanding holes.
Chicago, Illinois · Tom Bendelow / Roger Rulewich (1928) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 7,658 yards
Known for its iconic Byzantine-inspired clubhouse, Medinah No. 3 has hosted three U.S. Opens, two PGA Championships, and the 2012 Ryder Cup. The Lake Kadijah centerpiece and dramatic tree-lined holes make this one of golf's most recognizable venues.
Chicago, Illinois · Dick Nugent (1995) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 7,164 yards
Built on a former landfill on Lake Michigan's south shore, Harborside's Port Course offers links-style golf with Chicago skyline views. The windswept layout is a unique public golf experience just minutes from downtown.
Chicago, Illinois · Seth Raynor (1921) · 18 holes · Par 70 · 6,310 yards
A Seth Raynor masterpiece on the North Shore overlooking Lake Michigan, Shoreacres is consistently ranked among the best courses in Illinois and the top 50 in America. The compact 6,310-yard layout features Raynor's template holes adapted brilliantly to dramatic lakeside ravine terrain.
Chicago, Illinois · Tom Fazio (1991) · 18 holes · Par 70 · 7,139 yards
A Tom Fazio design in Lake Forest that hosted the 2013 BMW Championship, Conway Farms proves that compelling championship golf doesn't require 7,400+ yards. The walking-only, caddie-program club emphasizes strategic variety and firm, fast conditions.
Chicago, Illinois · Roger Packard (1989) · 27 holes · Par 72 · 6,719 yards
Located on the former estate of Chicago Tribune publisher Robert R. McCormick, Cantigny offers 27 holes of well-maintained public golf in Wheaton. The Roger Packard design features beautiful parkland terrain, a dedicated golf academy, and one of the best practice facilities in the Midwest.
Chicago, Illinois · Jerry Rich (1999) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 7,531 yards
One of the most exclusive and unique private courses in America, Rich Harvest Farms was designed by owner Jerry Rich on his 455-acre farm in Sugar Grove. The 7,531-yard layout features dramatic elevation changes, water on 13 holes, and hosted the 2009 Solheim Cup.
Public Courses in Chicago
Looking for courses you can play without a membership? See our complete guide to public courses in Chicago .
Overview
Chicagoland's golf corridor stretches from the lakefront links of Harborside International to the western suburbs' storied private clubs. The region's parkland courses — dense with hardwoods and featuring rolling terrain — offer a distinctly Midwestern golf experience. Wind off Lake Michigan adds a strategic element to courses in its path.
Best Time to Play
May through October, with June and September being ideal. Chicago's golf season is shorter than Sun Belt destinations, but the long summer days and crisp fall rounds are worth the seasonal limitation.
Travel Tips & Getting There
O'Hare (ORD) and Midway (MDW) airports both serve Chicago. Most elite private clubs are in the western and southern suburbs. Cog Hill and Harborside offer the best public/semi-public championship experiences.
Nearest Airport: O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
Frequently Asked Questions
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