
Lakeside Course
Cantigny Golf


About this course
Lakeside at Cantigny Golf in Wheaton, Illinois, opened in 1989 as the work of architect Roger Packard. The course occupies land that was once part of the estate of Colonel Robert R. McCormick, the longtime publisher and editor of the Chicago Tribune. Cantigny is named after the site of the first major American battle in World War I, reflecting McCormick's military service. The property includes museums and formal gardens alongside its golf facilities, making it a public destination with strong ties to Chicago-area history. Packard's design at Lakeside incorporates water features and mature tree-lined corridors typical of parkland golf in the upper Midwest. The routing takes advantage of gentle terrain and established landscaping, with several holes playing along or across ponds and wetlands that give the course its name. Lakeside is generally considered the more approachable of Cantigny's two courses, with wider fairways and less severe bunkering than its companion Woodside layout, though water remains a recurring strategic element throughout the round. The course serves as a public facility and hosts regional amateur competitions and charity outings. Cantigny's setting within the larger estate grounds provides a sense of space and quiet uncommon for daily-fee golf in the Chicago suburbs. The clubhouse and practice areas are shared between the two courses, and the property maintains a reputation for solid conditioning and accessibility to a broad range of players.
Quick facts
- Location
- Wheaton, IL, USA
- Access
- Public
- Year built
- 1989
- Designer
- Roger Packard
- Holes
- 9
- Par
- 36
- Length
- 3,437 yards
- Difficulty
- 38.1/139
Getting there
Cantigny Golf is most readily accessed via Chicago's O'Hare International Airport (ORD) or Midway International (MDW), each roughly 30 to 40 minutes from the club depending on traffic patterns across the western suburbs. For those arriving by private aviation, Chicago Executive Airport (PWK) in Wheaton itself sits just minutes from the property, offering the discretion and convenience that befits this storied venue. The drive west from either major commercial hub traces a gentle arc through the affluent communities of DuPage County, transitioning from urban corridors into tree-lined residential streets before arriving at Cantigny's stately gates - a setting that has anchored Chicago's golf landscape since the 1920s.

FAQ
Common questions about Lakeside at Cantigny Golf
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
Lakeside was designed by Roger Packard.
Yes. Lakeside at Cantigny Golf is listed as welcoming public or guest play on Course Vaults.
Par at Lakeside is 36.
Lakeside plays 3,437 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at Lakeside is 139.
Lakeside is a 9-hole course.





