Chicago - Top 5 Publics & Top 5 Privates

[Schley]

Was going to post in the Chicagoland thread but it is too massive didn't want this lost. Simple exercise exclude costs , no sponsors to allow you membership, etc. and list what are the top 5 public courses and top 5 private courses IN YOUR OPINION in Chicago. You can put a brief comment on each if you would like and please don't just look at a list from top 100 golf courses website or whatever. This is your opinion and it can be different or as quirky as you would like.

 

 

Top 5 public's

1. Cog Hill

2. Glen Club

3. Mistwood

4. Cantigny

5. Kankakee Elks (long drive I know)

 

Top 5 privates

1. Chicago GC

2. Shoreacres

3. Butler National

4. Olympia Fields

5. Medinah

[DavePelz4]

Was going to post in the Chicagoland thread but it is too massive didn't want this lost. Simple exercise exclude costs , no sponsors to allow you membership, etc. and list what are the top 5 public courses and top 5 private courses IN YOUR OPINION in Chicago. You can put a brief comment on each if you would like and please don't just look at a list from top 100 golf courses website or whatever. This is your opinion and it can be different or as quirky as you would like.

 

 

Top 5 public's

1. Cog Hill

2. Glen Club

3. Mistwood

4. Cantigny

5. Kankakee Elks (long drive I know)

 

Top 5 privates

1. Chicago GC

2. Shoreacres

3. Butler National

4. Olympia Fields

5. Medinah

 

As far as public, gotta add Highlands of Elgin and Bowes Creek and on the private side, I'd add Flossmoor.

[mci711]

Public - very hard to narrow it down. Someone asked me the best states for public golf and I had Illinois has top 5 and they looked at me crazy. I explained to them that we have so many good courses but maybe not a ton of "great." But the amount of courses we have until the drop off to bad courses is pretty outstanding.

 

1) Cog Hill 4

2) Mistwood

3) Cantigny

4) Ravisloe

5) Blackstone

Can easily throw quite a few in here or right after. Bows, Elgin, Makray etc. Tough to choose.

 

Private - only of what I played

1) Chicago

2) Rich Harvest Farms

3) Medinah 3

4) Olympia Fields South

List drops off from there, crystal tree, evanston, eagle brook etc.

[Argonne69]

1) The Glen Club

2) Dubsdread

3) Blackstone

4) Mistwood

5) Highlands of Elgin

 

Harborside Starboard, Prairie Landing, Bowes Creek, Cantigny, Thunderhawk, and Stonewall Orchard round out the top 11.

 

I haven't played enough of the top privates to rank them.

 

I agree with the assessment that Chicago has a lot of excellent courses, but few great ones.

[Shriner]

Public:

 

1. Mistwood

2. Oak Grove

3. Bowes Creek

4. Stonewall Orchard

5. Blackstone

 

Honorable Mention: Cantigny, Prairie Landing and Highlands of Elgin

 

I have only played three private courses in the area and the rankings would be obvious so no point in that exercise for me.

[ldchristopher]

I've only played a handful of privates in the area (Butterfield, Chicago Highlands, LaGrange CC) so I asked someone who's played more for his private rankings. The publics are mine. The privates are his.

Public

1. Cog 4

2. Highlands of Elgin

3. Thunderhawk

4. The Glen Club

5. Mistwood

 

Blackstone, Stonewall Orchard, Prairie Landing, Bowes Creek, and Foxford Hills finish the top 10 for me.

 

Private

1. Chicago Golf Club

2. Butler National

3. Rich Harvest Farms

4. Medinah 3

5. Olympia Fields

[Waterboy]

Private in no order:

 

Shoreacres

Onwentsia

Chicago Golf

Black Sheep

Bob OLink/medinah 1

 

The renovations that bob and medinah went through are great. Really make the course more playable

 

Public:

Mount prospect

Ravisloe

Shepherds Crook

Stonewall Orchard

Thunderhawk

 

Kind of a mixed bag for the public side. Really depends on the mood I’m in.

 

I’m sure there are more but I’m familiar with what I have listed above.

 

[PureGolf313]

Private in no order:

 

Shoreacres

Onwentsia

Chicago Golf

Black Sheep

Bob OLink/medinah 1

 

The renovations that bob and medinah went through are great. Really make the course more playable

 

Public:

Mount prospect

Ravisloe

Shepherds Crook

Stonewall Orchard

Thunderhawk

 

Kind of a mixed bag for the public side. Really depends on the mood I'm in.

 

I'm sure there are more but I'm familiar with what I have listed above.

 

Great list and I can see you are a fan of Golf Architecture

[matt70286]

Private (note I have not played Shoreacres or Chicago):

Shoreacres (a co worker of mine says it’s the best course he’s ever played)

Chicago CC

Olympia North

Flossmoor

Medinah 3

 

I would also say Old Elm based on things I’ve read and listened to but since I will very likely never play it, the point is kind of moot.

 

Public:

Cog 4 Dubs

Mt Prospect

Glen Club

Ravisloe

Highlands of Elgin

 

Cantigny is a honorable mention. Blackstone and Bowes Creek are on my list to play in 2019 but so far from the city I always cancel my plans to play there.

[mci711]

Private (note I have not played Shoreacres or Chicago):

Shoreacres (a co worker of mine says it's the best course he's ever played)

Chicago CC

Olympia North

Flossmoor

Medinah 3

 

I would also say Old Elm based on things I've read and listened to but since I will very likely never play it, the point is kind of moot.

 

Public:

Cog 4 Dubs

Mt Prospect

Glen Club

Ravisloe

Highlands of Elgin

 

Cantigny is a honorable mention. Blackstone and Bowes Creek are on my list to play in 2019 but so far from the city I always cancel my plans to play there.

 

Blackstone is a drive for me in Naperville. That is quite the trip from the city, but worth it! Mt Prospect gets talked about a lot. I've never played it. I am going to have to check it out this year.

[matt70286]

Private (note I have not played Shoreacres or Chicago):

Shoreacres (a co worker of mine says it's the best course he's ever played)

Chicago CC

Olympia North

Flossmoor

Medinah 3

 

I would also say Old Elm based on things I've read and listened to but since I will very likely never play it, the point is kind of moot.

 

Public:

Cog 4 Dubs

Mt Prospect

Glen Club

Ravisloe

Highlands of Elgin

 

Cantigny is a honorable mention. Blackstone and Bowes Creek are on my list to play in 2019 but so far from the city I always cancel my plans to play there.

 

Blackstone is a drive for me in Naperville. That is quite the trip from the city, but worth it! Mt Prospect gets talked about a lot. I've never played it. I am going to have to check it out this year.

 

I think Mt Prospect is possibly the best value in Chicago public golf. It does get a ton of play and can get really backed up starting on the 2nd hole (through the 7th, then opens up a bit after that) but is a great course that’s generally in good shape. I use a push cart and can typically play for under $45.