

Woodside at Cantigny Golf in Wheaton, Illinois, is a Roger Packard design that opened in 1989 as part of the Cantigny Park complex, a 500-acre public park and museum property once owned by Chicago Tribune publisher Colonel Robert R. McCormick. The course occupies rolling terrain characteristic of the DuPage County landscape, with mature tree corridors, elevation changes, and strategic bunkering that define the routing. Packard, known for his work across the Midwest and his collaborations with his father, designed Woodside to complement the property's existing Lakeside course, creating a 27-hole facility that serves both daily-fee players and members.
The layout features parkland characteristics with tree-lined fairways that demand accuracy from the tee and approach play that rewards proper angles into greens. Water comes into play on several holes, and the bunkering style reflects Packard's emphasis on visual clarity and strategic options rather than penal design. The course measures over 6,900 yards from the back tees, providing sufficient challenge for accomplished players while remaining accessible from forward tees.
Cantigny Golf operates as part of the broader Cantigny Park mission, which includes the First Division Museum and formal gardens. The facility offers a full practice area and clubhouse amenities that serve both the golf operation and the park's educational programming. Woodside has hosted regional amateur events and remains a fixture in the western Chicago suburban golf market, known for its conditioning and integration into the historic Cantigny estate grounds.
Reviews
Don’t be deceived by the title “woodside” as water is prominently in play on 6 of 9 holes. Hole 2 is an incredibly demanding par 5 that requires 3 perfect shots. Hole 8 is a par 3 to an island green that typically plays into the wind. There are some holes that easier but both par 5s are very demanding.
FAQ
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
Woodside at Cantigny Golf has a Course Vaults score of 7.1 out of 10 based on 5 explicit golfer ratings.
Woodside was designed by Roger Packard.
Yes. Woodside at Cantigny Golf is listed as welcoming public or guest play on Course Vaults.
Par at Woodside is 36.
Woodside plays 3,618 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at Woodside is 146.