THE MOST EXPENSIVE COURSES IN THE WINDY CITY...AND THE BEST TIMES TO PLAY

The Windy City golf scene has an abundance of courses at every price range, but there are a handful, based on a combination of quality, amenities, reputation and marketing acumen, where local golfers are willing to pay a premium to play.  Most all of them, however, offer discounted fees at different times and seasons that will let cash conscious Chicagoland golfers experience these upscale layouts without breaking the budget.  Several have transitioned to dynamic pricing models so no standard rates are posted and fees may fluctuate daily based on demand and inventory.  Here's the list (in order of highest price point), with the best discount options:

The Glen Club (Glenview) - $195 walk / $220 ride (includes range balls) - The Tom Fazio design, created from scratch on the former Glenview Naval Air Station, is by far the priciest round in Chicagoland.  The semi-private club can be played by the public for as low as $105 on weekday (Monday - Thursday) mornings before 9 am, or at the 4 pm twilight time every day.  Spring and Fall rates for the same times (3 pm twilight) drop another $5, almost 50% less than the peak fees.  Residents of Glenview will also receive an additional 20% - 25% off.

Cog Hill #4 (Lemont) - $155 walk / ride (includes range balls) - The famed Dubsdread layout at the 72 hole mecca of Chicagoland public golfing was home to 20 PGA tournaments, and was pushed to U.S. Open like difficulty in the recent Rees Jones remodel.  The Jemsek family instituted a 4 pm twilight time a few years ago which dropped the rate to $100, and bookings from mid-June to mid-July will allow the first few tee times to finish the round (and you can always politely ask the starter to let you sneak off a few minutes earlier).  But be forewarned, this course is a monster for the average golfer, regardless of which of the 6 sets of tees you decide to use.

Cantigny (Wheaton) - $95 walk / $115 ride - The Roger Packard design is a mix of classic parkland with midwest prairie elements, and Cantigny has maintained a consistently high level of customer focus since it opened in 1989 as Golf Digest's best new public course in America. Any combination of the 3 nines is fine, but my favorite is Lakeside / Hillside. Weekday rates (M-TH) are $79 / $99, and I've seen 3 pm twilight rates online as low as $68 w/cart.  The age 60 senior rate is $65 in non-peak hours (M-TH, SA-SU after Noon), a soon to be added bonus for this near-senior golfer.

Seven Bridges (Woodridge) - $115 w/cart - One of the most scenic layouts in the Windy City is also one of the hardest, as Dick Nugent uses the DuPage River and several lakes to wreak havoc with scorecards.  Seven Bridges offers a unique foursome discount, so the $115 weekend morning rate flips to $86 with a full group.  This 20-25% bonus extends to all times (excluding the $57 - 4 pm daily twilight), and the daily foursome rate of $62 after 2:30 is a good deal. Similar to Cantigny, seniors (60+) can play for a reduced $57 M-TH, and SA-SU after 1 pm.  Seven Bridges also has Fall rates posted that range between $45 to $75.

Bowes Creek (Elgin) - $109 w/cart - Be a "Member for a Day" at the semi-private course at the west edge of Elgin. Included is full access to the practice area and unlimited golf. The Rick Jacobson design features rolling hills, woods, wetlands and extensive bunkering fringed with fescue grasses.  The all day weekday (M-TH) rate is $85, but if you only wish to play 18 holes, the best deal is the $65 weekday and $69 weekend fees at 1 pm.  Juniors (17 & under) can walk for as low as $30 weekdays.

Bolingbrook - $109 walk / ride - Renowned architect Arthur Hills was commissioned to turn a southwest suburban corn field into an upscale golf journey, and the centerpiece of the facility is the unmistakable 76,000 square foot clubhouse.  There are no posted green fees and the online rates can vary significantly from day to day, but the 3 pm fee is consistently between $50 - $55.  Access to the practice range is included and the fruit offered at the 1st tee is a nice, healthy touch. Seniors (60) can play for $49 weekdays and weekend afternoons, and Bolingbrook residents get additional discounts. 

Mistwood (Romeoville) - $90 walk / $105 ride - Architect Ray Hearn returned to revamp his original design, and his update was recognized by Golf Magazine as the "Best U.S. Renovation You Can Play for 2014".  The addition of 20 sod faced bunkers give Mistwood a definite British Isle feel. The new clubhouse and the retooled practice area and learning center is a far cry from the previous modest amenities.  A rate jump of $15 in 2016 reflect the upgrade, but the "Nighthawk" rate begins at 2 pm and the $50 walk / $65 ride weekdays (add $20 Fridays thru Sunday) is a good price point for this track.

Ruffled Feathers (Lemont) - $100 w/cart - The only Pete Dye design in the Chicagoland area is full of the treacherous details that has defined the legendary architect. I remember rates as high as $125 in the past, but top green fees have settled in right at $100 ($99.95, to be exact), for mid- morning weekends, and early morning weekend rates can be found online for $80. But the real deals are found in the afternoon as rates as low as $40 and as early as 1 pm are often available daily. 

Harborside (Chicago) - $98 w/cart - The wind swept links on the shores of Lake Calumet is a marvel of course design as Dick Nugent repurposed acres of blighted urban landscape into 36 holes of championship golf with an expansive 57 acre practice area.  The dynamic pricing on the Harborside website has 3 pm twilight rates at a bargain between $55 - $57 daily.

Stonewall Orchard (Grayslake) - $77 walk / $95 ride - Arthur Hills first came to Illinois to create Stonewall Orchard, a totally different design from his work at Bolingbrook. Thousands of mature hardwoods and evergreens provide the backdrop as the course winds through natural wetlands. The best time to play at a discount is M-F between 3 - 4 pm and SA-SU between 1 - 4 pm when the green fee drops to $60 w/cart.  The Senior age starts at 55, a few years earlier than most, and the $42 walk / $54 ride rate M-TH before Noon is a good deal for this quality layout.

Makray (Barrington) - $74 walk / $94 ride - Named after Paul Makray, owner of the Thunderbird Golf Club, the remodeled course and clubhouse opened in 2005. The course is conveniently located along Route 14 and features bent grass tees, greens and fairways winding thru rolling hills and wetlands. A good time to visit is SA-SU after 2 pm and certain weekdays when the rates drop to $62; Seniors (age 60) can play for $42 walking / 60 w/cart M-F before Noon.



Pine Meadow (Mundelein) - $75 walk / $91 ride - This parkland layout has been highly regarded since it opened 30 years ago on the property of the Mundelein Seminary, and the back side is one of my favorite nines in Chicagoland.  The 3 pm twilight rate of $39.50 walk / $49.50 ride after 3 pm each day is one of the best you'll find for a top level layout.

ThunderHawk (Beach Park) - $89 w/cart - Robert Trent Jones Jr. hit a home run with his design in the far northeast corner of Illinois.  The five par 5 - eight par 4 - five par 3 configuration is unique and a lot of fun, and the par five 16th hole is a jaw dropper.  A $49 walk / $59 ride rate is available before 8 am Monday thru Friday and between 2 and 4 pm weekends.  The same rate (less $4 walking) is also offered between Noon - 4 pm weekdays.

Prairie Landing (West Chicago) - $84 w/cart - Rumors of its closing swirled over the winter, but the sale did not materialize and a $2 million bunker renovation on the original RTJ Jr prairie links design welcomed golfers in 2016.  The top green fees also dropped significantly from $100 to $84.  Prairie Landing uses the dynamic pricing model so rates can be volatile, but a $49 w/cart rate after 2 pm ($54 on weekends) seemed to be a offered regularly.  An age 60 special is also available from 7 to 11 am M-F, and the $38.50 is a huge bonus for seniors.