Windy City Public Golfers Guide

Nov 26, 2024

THE FRONT PAGE

LAKE SHORE DOUBLE PLAY - GOLFING GEMS AT THE ENDS OF THE WINDY CITY - The Chicago city limits is relatively barren when it comes to public golf courses, but there are two classic 9-hole layouts at either end of Lake Shore Drive that are worthy of the Windy City. CLICK HERE for my day at Sydney Marovitz and South Shore

PHOTO TOUR - STONEWALL ORCHARD One of 2 Arthur Hills designs in the Windy City is a sprawling high-end challenge filled with scenic views. CLICK HERE for the complete Photo Tour from a recent round at the Far North suburban layout...
1 MINUTE READ - COG HILL #2 The Ravines course at Cog Hill utilizes the dramatic topography to maximum effect and provides a less expensive (and challenging) option to Dubsdread. CLICK HERE for my take on CH2...

PHOTO TOUR - MAKRAY - The upscale Barrington layout on Northwest Highway is known for the swift, undulating greens and is one of the more scenic tracks in the area. CLICK HERE for the Photo Tour showing the course in all its glory...

1 MINUTE READ - CHAPEL HILL - Although it won't be on any lists of Chicagoland's best, Chapel Hill is a fun layout for the masses with decent conditions at one of the lowest price points in the Windy City. CLICK HERE for the quick read on the McHenry County course...

PHOTO TOUR - WHITETAIL RIDGE - Located in the open spaces between Plainfield and Yorkville off Route 126, WTR has carved a niche as an upscale option in the far Southwest suburbs. CLICK HERE to view the shot by shot tour...

PHOTO TOUR - CHEVY CHASE - The near 100 year old course in north suburban Wheeling is loaded with history and 21st century updates have kept the traditional feel and improved the aesthetics. CLICK HERE for the Photo Tour of the popular layout...

1 MINUTE READ - ARLINGTON LAKES - The Arlington Heights Park District course is short on distance (5,432 yd par 68) but avoiding the ever-present water hazards and penal bunkers is a challenge. CLICK HERE for the quick read on the northwest suburban layout...

PHOTO TOUR - OLD ORCHARD - Originally opened in 1932, Old Orchard has an old school feel with tree-lined fairways and smallish, well-guarded greens, but the 6,200 yd par 70 layout will require shot-making skill to score well. CLICK HERE for the Photo Tour of the Prospect Heights PD course...

30 WINDY CITY COURSES I PLAN ON PLAYING IN 2024

At the start of every golf season, I make a list of which courses I want to visit, based on playing the ones I haven't and returning to the ones I've been away from for too long, so I can reinforce my self-appointed expert status on Windy City Public Golf. CLICK HERE to see what courses you're likely to find me at this summer...

WCPGG 2023 YEAR IN REVIEW

2023 continued the resurgence of golf in Chicagoland, and was a great year for me personally as I played more rounds than ever and carded my 1st hole-in-one. CLICK HERE for the full story of my best moments from last season...

HOW HARD IS IT TO GET A HOLE-IN-ONE? IT TOOK ME 53 YEARS AND WAS TOTALLY WORTH THE WAIT

I've been golfing since I was 13 years old but the Holy Grail for golfers, the Hole-In-One, had eluded me...until a 4th of July weekend round. CLICK HERE for all the details of the special day and my love story with Chicagoland golf...

BANG FOR THE BUCK - THE TOP VALUE PLAYS IN CHICAGOLAND - The Windy City is loaded with top notch public golfing options, but what are the best values for your time and money? CLICK HERE for my swing at the top value plays in the Windy City.

PHOTO TOUR - STEEPLE CHASE

Steeple Chase flies under the radar in a crowded north suburban golf scene, but the Ken Killian design should be included in the conversation of the best public courses in Chicagoland. CLICK HERE to see why the Mundelein Park District course is worth the drive...

PHOTO TOUR - HARBORSIDE PORT

One of the 2 Dick Nugent gems on the shores of Lake Calumet is a perfect example of the midwest prairie links style with a hint of Scotland included. CLICK HERE for the shot by shot recap of a top Chicagoland course in all it's native grass glory...

THE PROCESS - NAVIGATING THE COMPLEX MAZE OF BUYING NEW IRONS

Trying to find the right equipment for your game can be a confusing, frustrating experience. CLICK HERE to read a comprehensive review of the process I used to buy a new set of irons...

WINDY CITY PUBLIC GOLFERS GUIDE INCLUDED IN LISTING OF TOP CHICAGO GOLF BLOGS AND WEBSITES

The WCPGG has been identified as one of the top golf websites in Chicagoland. CLICK HERE for the complete list, as compiled by Feedspot...

SUB 70 - PREMIUM, CUSTOM, AFFORDABLE CLUBS IN THE SHADOW OF CHICAGOLAND

Sub 70 is located in Sycamore, just beyond the Windy City limits, and has made its mark in Direct-to-Consumer club sales in a very short period. CLICK HERE for an overview of the Sub 70 story...

1 MINUTE READ - BONNIE DUNDEE

Bonnie Dundee dates back to 1924, but it took a late season visit for my 1st trip to the sporty course of the Dundee Township Park District. CLICK HERE for the quick take of this fun Northwest suburb layout...

AN EPIC WESTERN GOLF ROAD TRIP - 5 STATES, 1,600 MILES, 5 GREAT COURSES IN 8 DAYS

On a recent drive from Las Vegas home to Chicago, I played 5 fantastic courses in 8 days, all ranked in the top 20 of Golf.com's Courses You Can Play for under $150. CLICK HERE for the full recap of this amazing buddy golf adventure...

WELCOME BACK! NEW AND IMPROVED SETTLER'S HILL RETURNS AFTER GREG MARTIN UPDATE

The renovated Kane County Forest Preserve course reopened on August 5th and new greens, tees and bunkers and improved playability, plus a couple of cool new holes, could bring Settler's Hill to the next level in the Windy City golf scene. CLICK HERE for all you need to know about the updated west suburban course...

COURSE SPOTLIGHT - RANDALL OAKS STANDS TALL IN NORTHWEST SUBURBAN GOLF SCENE

Randall Oaks has been the cornerstone of the Dundee Park District since it opened in 1966, and the course has only gotten better with age. Click Here for all the details of a top Northwest suburban play...

COURSE SPOTLIGHT - HUNTLEY PARK DISTRICT WINS BIG WITH PINECREST The Huntley Park District purchased Pinecrest Golf Club in 2003 and all indicationd are that it was a good investment. Click Here to read the evolution of a Pinecrest from its opening in 1972 to today...

COURSE SPOTLIGHT - TRADITIONS ABOUND AT CHEVY CHASE CC North Suburban Chevy Chase has a rich history dating back to the Roaring 20's, Prohibition and maybe even Al Capone, and beyond the classic clubhouse lies a very good traditional parkland golf course. Click Here for the full story on Chevy Chase...

FEATURED STORIES

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

The Windy City boasts hundreds of public courses, but a handful are able to command over or near triple digit green fees from local golfers. Click Here for a list of those select few, with the best times to play at rates far below prime time that will fit into most golf budgets...

NO "GIMME'S" HERE...WINDY CITY AMATEUR TOURS OFFER COMPETITIVE GOLF FOR ALL SKILL LEVELS

Several Amateur Golf tours operate in the Windy City, largely below the radar of most area golfers. Click Here for a detailed review of 5 organizations that offer tournament golf using the USGA rule book to players of all skill levels...

LET'S PLAY TWO! 36 HOLES OF GREAT, BUDGET FRIENDLY WINDY CITY GOLF

To borrow a famous phrase from a Chicago sports legend, playing 2 rounds of golf on a beautiful summer weekday in the Windy City is a great alternative to a day at work. Click Here to view an updated and expanded list of 29 combinations of courses from all corners of Chicagoland, all for under $90 (carts included) and within a short drive (less than 30 minutes) of each other, with plenty of time for lunch in between...

Course Directory

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LAKE SHORE DOUBLE PLAY - GOLFING GEMS AT THE ENDS OF THE WINDY CITY

Although public golf in Chicagoland is rich in volume and quality, within the Windy City limits the options are scarce. The Port and Starboard courses at Harborside are the undisputed stars, and the rest of the 126 holes are populated by Chicago Park and Cook County Forest Preserve layouts. But at the opposite ends of DuSable Lake Shore Drive, two 9-hole gems bordering Lake Michigan offer city golfers a classic parkland experience.

I started the bright, sunny early November morning with a 10 am tee time at Sydney R. Marovitz. While I had an hour drive from my southwest suburban home, my playing partner had a 12-minute walk from his residence in Lake View, quite the distance dichotomy. The par 36 layout opened in 1932 as Waveland (where the "Waves" meets the "Land"), and the name was changed in 1991 to honor Marovitz, a Chicago lawyer and Park District Commissioner from 1974-1986. The holes run north/south in the space between the Drive and Lake Michigan off the Addison Road exit, just a few blocks east of Wrigley Field.

The course tips out at a legit 3,250 yards, with the 1st tee just a few steps from the lake, and the 524 yard 5th hole runs north adjacent to the water, and although it's probably a little too far away from the fairway to be considered an in-play hazard, it still provides a pretty cool side view. The 6th hole was a memorable short par 3, with a carry over a pond and a well-placed trap fronting the green, and the 9th is a slight dogleg left with the seven story Waveland Clock Tower providing the impressive backdrop. Add in the scenery of the Lincoln Park neighborhood across the Drive and all was in place for an enjoyable round.

Sydney Marovitz features over 30 sizable fairway and greenside sand traps and plenty of mature trees that will certainly come into play on poorly executed shots. Mix in 440 yd (4th hole) and 420 yd (7th hole) par 4's and the 127 course slope feels just about right. And though I've heard wildly different

accounts of the conditions over the years, the greens rolled well, there was sand in the bunkers and the tees and fairways were quite playable, especially considering that tee times are scarce at this popular, high-volume muni.

The aptly named Clock Tower Cafe, just a few steps from the 9th green, is a relaxed place to grab a bite to eat, with 7 flat screen TV's inside to watch your favorite team and 2 outdoor (and dog friendly) patios providing views of the course and the lake beyond. Unfortunately, I didn't have time to stay, I had an afternoon date with another historic Chicago Park District course.

15 miles away past the south end of DLSD is South Shore. Originally a key component of the South Shore Country Club, a 58 acre lakeside site at 71st Street that was incorporated as a private club in 1906, the course was designed by Tom Bendelow, a prolific architect at the time who has 3 Medinah's in his vast portfolio. The property was purchased in 1974 by the CPD and opened to the public. The ornate, 4 story clubhouse was built in 1916 and now serves as the South Shore Cultural Center, a popular venue for weddings and other special events that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. There's a lot going on here.

The par 33 course plays at 2,720 yards, but two 430+ yard par 4's (holes 2 & 3), tight tree lined fairways and small greens makes this a much more challenging layout than I expected. The 2nd hole runs along the lake shore and provides great views of

downtown Chicago beyond the green. The 5th hole is the first of the three par 3's, with deep bunkers on each side of a narrow, severely back to front sloping putting surface, a very challenging hole to par. The 380 yard 6th hole heads east with OB right and another opportunity to see the lake near the green. Even though I didn't play all that well at South Shore (I shot a 46 both here and at Sydney Marovitz), I loved soaking in the history and the overall experience was awesome.

The walking fee at South Shore was $20, and with the fall foliage in its full multi-hued glory, it was a perfect stroll through a beautiful piece of south side Chicago. The golf check-in space was very basic and if you need to use the restroom you have to go into the Cultural Center, and even if you don't pretend that you do, the inside of this building is magnificent and well worth the extra steps to see.

The course conditions were similar to Sydney Marovitz, good overall with consistent greens and playable bunkers, certainly at a level that would not dissuade me from returning to either. I've heard horror stories of slow play (especially at Sydney Marovitz) but my playing partners (regular patrons at the respective courses) assured me that they have rarely encountered the dreaded 2-1/2+ hour rounds. I've lived in Chicagoland my entire life and been golfing for over 50 years, and this was my first visit to these courses, and I'm kicking myself that it took me that long. Rest assured that I won't hesitate to play them again soon.