
Hillside Course
Cantigny Golf



About this course
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.
Rankings
Ranked by CV ratings from golfers who've played this course. Positions are shown worldwide, by country, and by state; the Public column compares courses anyone can play.
Best in World
Best in USA
Best in IL
Quick facts
- Location
- Wheaton, IL, USA
- Access
- Public
- Year built
- 1989
- Holes
- 9
- Designer
- Roger Packard
- Par
- 36
- Length
- 3,394 yards
- Difficulty
- 36.4/138
- Course Vaults score
- 7.3
Getting there
Most visitors to Cantigny Golf arrive through Chicago O'Hare International (ORD), roughly thirty miles to the northeast, though Midway (MDW) offers a closer alternative from the southwest. The drive west from either hub traces the suburban sprawl before yielding to the manicured estates and tree-lined boulevards of DuPage County, where Wheaton's gracious residential character takes hold. Cantigny itself sits on the former estate of Colonel Robert R. McCormick, and the final turn off Roosevelt Road delivers you through stately gates into a landscape that feels worlds removed from the city - rolling parkland, formal gardens, and two championship layouts that honor both the land's storied past and its commitment to accessible excellence.

FAQ
Common questions about Hillside at Cantigny Golf
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
Hillside at Cantigny Golf has a Course Vaults score of 7.3 out of 10 based on 25 logged golfers.
Hillside was designed by Roger Packard.
Yes. Hillside at Cantigny Golf is listed as welcoming public or guest play on Course Vaults.
Par at Hillside is 36.
Hillside plays 3,394 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at Hillside is 138.






