Hillside at Cantigny Golf

The Hillside Course at Cantigny Golf in Wheaton, Illinois, opened in 1989 as a Roger Packard design on the grounds of the former estate of Colonel Robert R. McCormick, longtime editor and publisher of the Chicago Tribune. The property's history as a private estate gives the course a distinctive setting within DuPage County's suburban landscape, with mature trees and rolling terrain that Packard incorporated into his routing. The course operates as part of Cantigny Park, a public facility that also includes museums and formal gardens, making it accessible to daily-fee players in the western Chicago suburbs.

Packard's design works with the natural elevation changes of the site, creating a parkland layout that features tree-lined fairways and strategically placed water hazards. The routing takes advantage of the property's topography to present varied shot values and demands thoughtful course management rather than overwhelming length. Bunkers frame landing areas and greens in Packard's characteristic style, and the conditioning standards reflect the facility's connection to the McCormick estate legacy.

Cantigny Golf also includes the Woodside-Lakeside 27-hole complex on the same property, giving the facility a total of 54 holes. The Hillside Course serves as the championship layout among Cantigny's offerings and has hosted regional amateur competitions. The course provides a traditional parkland golf experience within reach of Chicago's western suburbs, combining playability for a range of skill levels with the historical context of its estate setting.