Whats your Favorite Chicago-Land Golf Courses?

[deadeye ruck]

I am flying in to chi-town next Friday and will be staying in Oak Brook at the McDs HQ. I plan on playing 3 rounds while I am there. I would love to hear your suggestions for courses within a reasonable distance that I can't miss. I'll be renting a car so traveling a little ways isn't a problem. I understand ruffled feathers is close as is cantigny? I think Butler natl is practically on the backside of the McDs property. I know it's just a dream but I would LOVE to play it. It's my first (but not last) trip to Chicago. Tips?

Thanks for your help!

Ruck

[osu67]

Unless you know someone your not getting on to butler national. Look into seven bridges golf club,bollingbrook golf club,cantigny,oak brook golf club isnt a can't miss but it's literally right next to where you'll be, just for being able to say you've played it-dubs at cog. All of those are pretty close to your area, no more than 30 minutes away.

[pmon12]

anyone?

[gsteitz]

Have a soft spot for these two:

The Chick (damn that third hole with water on both sides)

Peter Jans (just whimsical how it is nestled in where it is!)

[apprenti23]

If you're a member at a private club wherever you are from, I'd reach out to your pro and see if he can get you on at Butterfield, Edgewood Valley, or Beverly (don't think you'd be able to play Medinah or Butler but it's worth a shot). Other than that Cantigny is really nice. Dubs is nice but way over priced. Ruffled Feathers is a nice layout as well. Enjoy your stay and hopefully you have nice weather!

[boconnor811]

Played Harborside International for the first time on the 4th. Actually played the front of both courses due to some slow play on Port when we started and wanted to get through 18 during twilight. Thought it was a fun course, a few crazy holes but every course has 'em. Greens were a bit beat up at the end of the day, but the rest of the course was in great shape.

[Herm33]

I'm heading up from Cincinnati this Friday and am looking to try and get on as a single somewhere mid-day/early afternoon. I have a buddy that is a member at Skokie and his suggestions for public golf (he won't be in town to play his place :-( were Dubs, Harborside and Cantigny. Any thoughts as to which one would be most accommodating to a single. Not too worried about price, if I know Dubs is in good shape it would be fun to play once.

[putts4bogey]

I used to belong to Mill Creek (annual pass) as the course was convenient to home. Friendly staff but course conditions depended upon the attention to care. It improved over the last several years I was there. They had a reciprocal arrangement with Ruffled Feathers, so my group played there a few times per year at no extra charge. Play early to play fast at the Creek and beware of the houses, and house owners, especially #10. Ruffled is nice!

Tanna Farms is typically well kept, but it doesn't have a range which makes starting on a Par 3 over water a challenge.

Prairie Landing is one of my favorites in the area. No houses, varying terrain, good shape and friendly staff.

[fore_life]

[quote name='DavePelz4' timestamp='1309486900' post='3353926']
[quote name='fore_life' timestamp='1309483038' post='3353557']
I'll be in Algonquin July 20th-25th, anything thats a must play in the area, or within 30 minutes?
[/quote]

There are quite a few...Oak Grove, Plum Tree, Timber Pointe, Foxford Hills...you can't go wrong!
[/quote]

What about red tail and Prairie isle in crystal lake?

[fanofsaosin]

Played Tanna Farms last weekend.. pretty decent track.. but not very long... only used driver 3 times... it was mostly hybrid or 3 iron for me off the tee... def. a target golf type course

[russiangolfer]

Cantigny
Prairie Landing
Cog Hill
Arrowhead Golf Club - can't believe no one mentioned this one!!

[DavePelz4]

[quote name='fore_life' timestamp='1335119441' post='4768446']
[quote name='DavePelz4' timestamp='1309486900' post='3353926']
[quote name='fore_life' timestamp='1309483038' post='3353557']
I'll be in Algonquin July 20th-25th, anything thats a must play in the area, or within 30 minutes?
[/quote]

There are quite a few...Oak Grove, Plum Tree, Timber Pointe, Foxford Hills...you can't go wrong!
[/quote]

What about red tail and Prairie isle in crystal lake?
[/quote]

Played both of those for the first time this year. Really liked Redtail...what an unknown gem. Prairie Isle was solid too but there were a few holes that were just like some others. Planning on playing it again though.

[trumb1mj1]

Ok, so really old thread but I'm looking for some help from the Chicago veterans. I'm moving out of the city and to Oak Park. What are the best options near here?

[dhartmann34]

1. Ivanhoe (Forest and Marsh) (private)
2. Thunderhawk
3. Blackstone
4. Stonewall Orchard
5. Shepherds Crook

[BobbyDPlaysGolf]

Public (in no particular order)

1. Highlands of Elgin

2. Aldeen (it's actually Rockford but worth it, I believe it got a top 50 under 50 nod somewhere)

3. Stonewall Orchard

4. Cantigny (no brainer)

5. Blackstone/ or bowes creek

My private list is much smaller because I've only gotten out on a handful of them but I must say, Chicago highlands is one of the most difficult courses I have ever played. Bull Valley is awesome as well.

[tincup27]

Probably my favorite course I've been to but haven't played in Chicagoland has to be Onwentsia Club (private) in Lake Forest, IL. I looped for a buddy playing in a CDGA event last summer. Greens were like rolling on a marble floor, and just about as fast too. Every inch was perfectly manicured, and it was absolute delight to be out there. Just don't ask how much their initiation fees are to even apply to join... you don't wanna know.

Anyone else been there?

No, I haven't been to Medina, yet, and not really a huge fan of Cog so makes my choice simple. No real need to mention Cantigny as everyone knows it. But I've only been in Chicago since 2012, so there's still a ton of courses on my list to go play.

 

Now onto courses I've played (in no particular order):

1. Village Links of Glen Ellyn (usually well maintained and has a great practice facility for both short game and long game)

2. Orchard Valley (beautiful layout and interesting/fun tee locations, usually in great shape)

3. Ruffled Feathers

4. Big Run

5. Whitetail Ridge (great wide open fairways, decent greens, and fast carts... or maybe it's just the orange paint on the carts that makes me think they are fast...)

 

Other notables that I frequent for price and availability: White Pines (East and West occasionally good GOLFNOW deals), Maple Meadows (had a flood in 2014, shut down course in July of 2015 to fix fairways and redesign some holes so I'm excited to see it this coming season), St Andrews in West Chicago (both courses although I think course #1 is a little better), Water's Edge in Worth (great layout and usually in great shape Bonus: $15 replay 24/7),

[trumb1mj1]

Probably my favorite course I've been to but haven't played in Chicagoland has to be Onwentsia Club (private) in Lake Forest, IL. I looped for a buddy playing in a CDGA event last summer. Greens were like rolling on a marble floor, and just about as fast too. Every inch was perfectly manicured, and it was absolute delight to be out there. Just don't ask how much their initiation fees are to even apply to join... you don't wanna know.

Anyone else been there?

No, I haven't been to Medina, yet, and not really a huge fan of Cog so makes my choice simple. No real need to mention Cantigny as everyone knows it. But I've only been in Chicago since 2012, so there's still a ton of courses on my list to go play.

 

Now onto courses I've played (in no particular order):

1. Village Links of Glen Ellyn (usually well maintained and has a great practice facility for both short game and long game)

2. Orchard Valley (beautiful layout and interesting/fun tee locations, usually in great shape)

3. Ruffled Feathers

4. Big Run

5. Whitetail Ridge (great wide open fairways, decent greens, and fast carts... or maybe it's just the orange paint on the carts that makes me think they are fast...)

 

Other notables that I frequent for price and availability: White Pines (East and West occasionally good GOLFNOW deals), Maple Meadows (had a flood in 2014, shut down course in July of 2015 to fix fairways and redesign some holes so I'm excited to see it this coming season), St Andrews in West Chicago (both courses although I think course #1 is a little better), Water's Edge in Worth (great layout and usually in great shape Bonus: $15 replay 24/7),

 

Our lists look pretty similar. It's a haul to get out to whitetail ridge but I really love this course for 1 round a summer. I haven't played Maple Meadows but I saw the news on the reno. Looking forward to trying this next year. Still looking for my goto near Oak Park...

[tincup27]

Probably my favorite course I've been to but haven't played in Chicagoland has to be Onwentsia Club (private) in Lake Forest, IL. I looped for a buddy playing in a CDGA event last summer. Greens were like rolling on a marble floor, and just about as fast too. Every inch was perfectly manicured, and it was absolute delight to be out there. Just don't ask how much their initiation fees are to even apply to join... you don't wanna know.

Anyone else been there?

No, I haven't been to Medina, yet, and not really a huge fan of Cog so makes my choice simple. No real need to mention Cantigny as everyone knows it. But I've only been in Chicago since 2012, so there's still a ton of courses on my list to go play.

 

Now onto courses I've played (in no particular order):

1. Village Links of Glen Ellyn (usually well maintained and has a great practice facility for both short game and long game)

2. Orchard Valley (beautiful layout and interesting/fun tee locations, usually in great shape)

3. Ruffled Feathers

4. Big Run

5. Whitetail Ridge (great wide open fairways, decent greens, and fast carts... or maybe it's just the orange paint on the carts that makes me think they are fast...)

 

Other notables that I frequent for price and availability: White Pines (East and West occasionally good GOLFNOW deals), Maple Meadows (had a flood in 2014, shut down course in July of 2015 to fix fairways and redesign some holes so I'm excited to see it this coming season), St Andrews in West Chicago (both courses although I think course #1 is a little better), Water's Edge in Worth (great layout and usually in great shape Bonus: $15 replay 24/7),

 

Our lists look pretty similar. It's a haul to get out to whitetail ridge but I really love this course for 1 round a summer. I haven't played Maple Meadows but I saw the news on the reno. Looking forward to trying this next year. Still looking for my goto near Oak Park...

 

Definitely a haul to WhiteTail but it's worth it. I love getting out there a few times during the season, you can occasionally get it pretty cheap w/ GolfNow. It used to be a lot closer when I lived in Bolingbrook, but I've since moved north to Elmhurst. Let me know when you're headed out that way and I'd be down to join. I liked Maple before the re-design, so I'm really interested to see how/what they changed.

[trumb1mj1]

Definitely a haul to WhiteTail but it's worth it. I love getting out there a few times during the season, you can occasionally get it pretty cheap w/ GolfNow. It used to be a lot closer when I lived in Bolingbrook, but I've since moved north to Elmhurst. Let me know when you're headed out that way and I'd be down to join. I liked Maple before the re-design, so I'm really interested to see how/what they changed.

 

I heard the changes at Maple were mostly to avoid flooding they've suffered recently but maybe they'll also have layout improvements ready to roll. What does that open back up?

 

Also, what's your goto course nearby? Really curious because I'm quite close in Oak Park.

[tincup27]

Definitely a haul to WhiteTail but it's worth it. I love getting out there a few times during the season, you can occasionally get it pretty cheap w/ GolfNow. It used to be a lot closer when I lived in Bolingbrook, but I've since moved north to Elmhurst. Let me know when you're headed out that way and I'd be down to join. I liked Maple before the re-design, so I'm really interested to see how/what they changed.

 

I heard the changes at Maple were mostly to avoid flooding they've suffered recently but maybe they'll also have layout improvements ready to roll. What does that open back up?

 

Also, what's your goto course nearby? Really curious because I'm quite close in Oak Park.

 

Because of the flooding in 2014, they needed to repair over half of the fairways, there's a decent amount of elevation change in the course so there are some pretty low lying areas. The other side of it was they were going to move/add/remove bunkers to certain holes and I think even move a green or two. I forget the entire list of things they said they were going to do. All I know is it closed in July 2015, I didn't see it back on GolfNow until late Oct/early Nov so I assume they are finished now. And as far as I know, the course is set to open for the start of this season.

 

For Oak Park, that's a little further east from me, but my go to is White Pines in Bensenville. I meet a lot a guys playing there from the city because they say it's one of the closest/nicest courses to there? But usually I just go onto GolfNow and see what deals are available for courses around me.

[Vikingdrewby]

Cantigny is so very very nice. Such an idyllic joy.