The best private courses in Illinois

“Just a special place worthy of the praise it receives in national rankings. The golden age golf course architecture is the star of the show here. Despite the length not being overly intimidating, the course has various ways to protect itself, specifically the fairway bunkers.”

Written by

@Luke

• ❗️Must play
• |✨Pristine
• |🚶🏻Walkable

“Seth Raynor did his magic laying out this course while not placing a single hole on Lake Michigan. Holes 10-15 is one of the best stretches of holes you’ll find anywhere and the greens are lightning with much undulation. Any day at Shoreacres is a magical day.”

Written by

@bdunc418

• ❗️Must play
• |✨Pristine
• |🏞️Views

“The course is short but offers many risk reward opportunities from drivable par 4s and reachable par 5s.”

Written by

@CTR12

• ✨Pristine
• |❗️Must play
• |💨Fast greens

“Olympia Fields is pound-for-pound everything a golf enthusiast could ask for and more. From the largest locker room in the world to the first-class service the moment you hit the gate, OFCC is a true Midwest gem.”

Written by

@thedude

• 😅Challenging
• |✨Pristine
• |👕Locker rooms

“Played pre-renovation. Course was tough parkland course. Tight, trees, rough, length, water etc. Par 3s were a bit repetitive which has since been changed. Holes 7-11 all felt the same.”

Written by

@bdunc418

• 🏌️‍♂️Driving range
• |❗️Must play
• |✨Pristine

“This course is a tale of two nines. The front nine is on one side of 87th street and features a prominent glacial ridge that runs through the middle of several holes creating significant elevation changes. The second nine has some big par 4/5s with some crazy Ross green complexes.”

Written by

@NoBog3ys

• ✨Pristine
• |🟢Putting area
• |🚶🏻Walkable

“One of the most difficult courses in the U.S., will absolutely beat you up. Mend only club as there’s only a few left in the country, must play for sure. Green complex and speed is hard to describe. Great finishing holes.”

Written by

@Mister_Nobody

• ✨Pristine
• |💨Fast greens
• |😅Challenging

“Conway Farms definitely gives off that big time feel the second you pull up to bag drop. The staff was awesome — super friendly and welcoming right from the start.”

Written by

@TGUN312

• 🤝Caddies
• |🏌️‍♂️Driving range
• |🌭Halfway house

“Greens were running 11.8 and perfect. Course is always just beautiful and the fescue just looks stunning this time of year”

Written by

@NoBog3ys

• ✨Pristine
• |🍺Bar
• |👋Friendly

“The course is always in pristine condition — fast, pure greens, perfect fairways, and rough that still gives you a chance. The layout is so much fun. It flows naturally, has great variety, and the closing stretch from 13 to 18 is just awesome.”

Written by

@TGUN312

• 💨Fast greens
• |😅Challenging
• |❗️Must play

“Brute of a golf course. Notably 6-8 gold being a harsh stretch of holes. 4 and 5 silver can also cause big numbers, but can finish with some birdies on 6-9 Silver. However, I would take a bulldozer to a few greens (5 silver and 7-8 Gold)”

Written by

@bdunc418

• ✨Pristine
• |👕Locker rooms
• |🍺Bar

“Skokie is a fantastic set of challenging, interesting holes. The routing is superb, with great bunkering and fantastic green complexes.”

Written by

@CarsonBaugher

• 🚶🏻Walkable
• |🤝Caddies
• |🌭Halfway house

“Very fun layout. Not a championship test or anything, but very fun. Hells Kitchen is awesome.”

Written by

@Colinarmi

• 😅Challenging
• |❗️Must play
• |🚶🏻Walkable

“The only course I have played that has essentially the same land as shoreacres. Lakeshore's routing, however, does everything possible to take the ravines out of play. They are often right behind greens or right over tee boxes.”

Written by

@raynorenthusiast

• ✨Pristine
• |🏌️‍♂️Driving range
• |🍔Restaurant

“In great shape from tee boxes to greens. Course is a bit flat with some great bunkering.”

Written by

@IggyPutts

• 😅Challenging
• |✨Pristine
• |🏌️‍♂️Driving range