Best Public Golf Courses in Chicago, Illinois
You don't need a membership to play great golf in Chicago. From resort courses to municipal gems, here are the best public and semi-private courses in the area — ranked by design quality, conditioning, and value.
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 · 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 · 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.
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.
Booking Tips
For the best rates, book tee times midweek or during shoulder seasons. Many courses offer twilight rates for afternoon rounds. Resort courses often bundle with hotel stays for significant savings.
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.
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