
South Shore Course
South Shore Golf Club
Public: #2847
Public: #2618
Public: #134

About this course
South Shore Golf Club occupies a historic site along Lake Michigan on Chicago's South Side, designed by Tom Bendelow and opened in 1906. Bendelow, a prolific early American golf architect who laid out hundreds of courses in the early twentieth century, created a parkland layout that takes advantage of the lakefront terrain. The course sits within the South Shore Cultural Center complex, which began as a private country club before the Chicago Park District acquired the property in the 1970s and opened it to public use. The routing works across relatively flat terrain with mature tree-lined fairways characteristic of early Chicago-area parkland designs. Lake Michigan forms a scenic eastern boundary, though the course itself plays primarily through inland corridors of the park grounds. The layout reflects Bendelow's straightforward design approach from that era, with holes that emphasize strategic bunkering and green complexes rather than dramatic elevation changes or water hazards. South Shore holds significance in American golf history as one of the few courses where African American golfers could play and compete during much of the twentieth century, particularly after the club became semi-private and later fully public. The facility has served the surrounding community for over a century and remains an accessible municipal course within Chicago's extensive park system. The clubhouse, a Mediterranean Revival structure, contributes to the site's architectural and cultural heritage.
Quick facts
- Location
- Chicago, IL, USA
- Access
- Public
- Year built
- 1906
- Holes
- 9
- Designer
- Tom Bendelow
- Par
- 33
- Length
- 2,720 yards
- Difficulty
- 33.2/111
- Course Vaults score
- 4.6
Getting there
South Shore Golf Club sits on the South Side of Chicago, accessible most directly from Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW), a mere fifteen minutes away by car, or from O'Hare International (ORD) on the city's north side, a drive of roughly forty minutes through the urban landscape. For those arriving by private aviation, Midway also accommodates business jets, though the closer option remains Chicago Executive Airport (PWK) on the northwest side, which serves as the preferred hub for ultra-high-net-worth travelers seeking discretion and speed. The final approach to the club traces the edge of Lake Michigan's shoreline, where the urban grid softens into the tree-lined avenues of the historic South Shore neighborhood, the transition from city to lakeside sanctuary marking the threshold of one of the Midwest's most storied private clubs.

FAQ
Common questions about South Shore
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
South Shore has a Course Vaults score of 4.6 out of 10 based on 13 logged golfers.
South Shore was designed by Tom Bendelow.
Yes. South Shore is listed as welcoming public or guest play on Course Vaults.
Par at South Shore is 33.
South Shore plays 2,720 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at South Shore is 111.



