Public

Burnham Woods Course

Burnham Woods Golf Course

Burnham, IL, USA
middleseatsimon
Ace Rothstein.
+2
18 holesPar 726,447 yds74.5/125

About this course

Burnham Woods Golf Course sits in the south suburban Chicago community of Burnham, Illinois, a small municipality bordered by the Indiana state line to the east and the Calumet River industrial corridor. Designed by Stanley Pelchar, the course reflects the regional public golf development that characterized the Chicago area's southern suburbs during the mid-to-late twentieth century. Pelchar, a Midwest-based architect, worked primarily on accessible daily-fee and municipal layouts throughout Illinois and neighboring states during his career. The property occupies relatively flat terrain typical of the Calumet region, with mature tree growth defining many fairway corridors and providing separation between holes. The routing makes use of the available wooded parcels to create a parkland-style layout that serves the local golfing community. Water features appear on several holes, adding strategic interest to what is otherwise straightforward golf suited to a range of skill levels. Burnham Woods functions as a public facility serving golfers from the south suburbs and nearby northwest Indiana communities. The course provides an affordable option in an area where industrial heritage and residential neighborhoods intermix, offering recreational access without the formality or expense of private club membership. The layout emphasizes playability and pace of play, characteristics common to municipal and daily-fee courses designed to accommodate high rounds volume and diverse player abilities.

Quick facts

Location
Burnham, IL, USA
Access
Public
Year built
1923
Holes
18
Par
72
Length
6,447 yards
Difficulty
74.5/125

Getting there

The journey to Burnham Woods Golf Course begins at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport (ORD) or Midway International Airport (MDW), each roughly 30 to 40 minutes north or southwest respectively, depending on your arrival point. From either hub, the drive south into the industrial and residential landscape of south suburban Chicago unfolds along Interstate 94 or local arterials, a straightforward passage through the region's working-class character that gradually yields to the quieter, tree-lined streets of Burnham itself. For those with access to private aviation, Chicago Executive Airport (PWK) in the northwest suburbs or Lansing Municipal Airport (IGQ) to the south offer closer alternatives, cutting substantially into ground time. The final approach to Burnham Woods traces through the modest but dignified neighborhoods of this South Side community, arriving at a course that has quietly anchored local golf culture for generations - a destination defined less by grand arrival fanfare than by the understated welcome of a genuine, working golfer's sanctuary.

FAQ

Common questions about Burnham Woods

Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.

Burnham Woods was designed by Stanley Pelchar.

Yes. Burnham Woods is listed as welcoming public or guest play on Course Vaults.

Par at Burnham Woods is 72.

Burnham Woods plays 6,447 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.

The slope rating at Burnham Woods is 125.

Burnham Woods is a 18-hole course.

250,000+
Course Reviews
+ 4.8
App Store

How many courses have you played?

Download Course Vaults on iOS and begin your golf legacy.

Course Vaults on three iPhones: player passport, map discovery, and course detail