The best courses you can play in Illinois

“If they played the JDC in March this would be an awesome event. It’s almost in too good of condition in the summer to be hard. Tons of fun, less fun to talk. Highly recommend. Played in a college tournament here in March every year.”

Written by

@Colinarmi

• ✨Pristine
• |🌳Parkland
• |💰Great value

“Good turf conditions and green complexes. In true Nicklaus style, narrow fairways with lots of bunkers + thick rough, especially around the greens.”

Written by

@tomh

• 💎Hidden gem
• |💰Great value
• |❗️Must play

“Dubsdread is about as classic as Chicago public golf gets. A true championship test with a rich PGA Tour history, this Dick Wilson and Joe Lee design still lives up to its “hard but fair” reputation.”

Written by

@TGUN312

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

“My favorite public course in northern Illinois. Great value, course is always is amazing shape from the volunteer program. This is the way a public course should be run.”

Written by

@SadBadgerFan

• 💎Hidden gem
• |😅Challenging
• |🏌️‍♂️Driving range

“Fine course in most all aspects. Maybe just a bit too modern (read 90’s) for my taste. I was surprised they let me walk it. The back nine is a HIKE!”

Written by

@myklgolf

• 💎Hidden gem
• |🏌️‍♂️Driving range
• |❗️Must play

“Great $50 walk. Fescue is overly penal. Impossible to find the ball even if it’s six inches in, despite the fescue being only a couple inches tall. I don’t need to be able to play it but I’d like to at least find it when i know exactly where it went”

Written by

@Joemcinerney

• 🌾Links
• |💎Hidden gem
• |🤩Underrated

“Enjoyable course, great practice facilities. Front 9 much more links than the back but still fun. Worth playing on a regular basis. Blows away many comparable priced public courses in the Chicagoland area”

Written by

@007

• 🏌️‍♂️Driving range
• |🍺Bar
• |🌾Links

“Very solid track. Played it in a tournament and had a great mix of short par 4’s and hard holes. Punches above its weight for a public track.”

Written by

@Colinarmi

• 💎Hidden gem
• |🚶🏻Walkable

“Very nice amenities and an amazing indoor/outdoor bar/range set up that should be more prevalent in the area. Course is fun with unique feature and well maintained. Large restaurant and event space, feel of a nice semi private club w muni availability.”

Written by

@RayZanz

• 🏌️‍♂️Driving range
• |🍔Restaurant
• |🌭Halfway house

“The 2nd hole is where the round really kicks into gear — a par 5 with a split fairway that gives you options off the tee. You can take on a longer carry down the right for a better angle in, but it brings the marsh more into play. A pot bunker guards the front of the green…”

Written by

@TGUN312

• 😅Challenging
• |❗️Must play
• |💎Hidden gem

“Great conditions with a truly unique and exciting layout. No range but new putting green is right next to beautiful patio that overlooks the course with easy sight lines to the ninth and 18th greens.”

Written by

@RayZanz

• 💎Hidden gem
• |👋Friendly
• |😅Challenging

“Best value and one of the best walks in Chicago public golf. Course is a bit repetitive/straight, but there is enough detail in the greens and green surrounds to keep things interesting”

Written by

@Njz1719

• 💰Great value
• |🚶🏻Walkable
• |💎Hidden gem

“The Preserve is one of the better public courses in the Chicago area — definitely a fun spot to tee it up. The practice area is great for warming up, with a nice range and short game setup that sets the tone for the round.”

Written by

@TGUN312

• 🏌️‍♂️Driving range
• |🌱Grass range
• |🟢Putting area

“The Ravines is one of my favorite value plays around Chicago. You just can’t beat what you get for the price here.”

Written by

@TGUN312

• 💰Great value
• |🌭Halfway house
• |🏌️‍♂️Driving range

“…the only real challenging hole on this nine is hole 6, which requires a long and precise drive to set up an approach to a long but narrow island green that typically plays into a crosswind, making for a challenging approach.”

Written by

@NoBog3ys

• 🏌️‍♂️Driving range
• |🟢Putting area
• |😅Challenging

“Beautiful course. Lots of wide fairways. The wind is the biggest factor here and can make holes play a lot longer. Very well kept course with nice greens. Good food at the clubhouse too.”

Written by

@NoBog3ys

• 🏌️‍♂️Driving range
• |🌾Links
• |🌱Grass range