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BUNKER RENOVATION AT GEORGE DUNNE AIMS AT RETURN TO GLORY - Always one of the best course layouts in Chicagoland, George Dunne has been marred over the years by poor bunker quality, but a major update by the Cook County FPD is in the works.  CLICK HERE for details of the exciting ongoing project...

WCPGG 2025 MONTH BY MONTH REVIEW - I made the most of the 2025 golf season by playing 55 different Windy City courses plus in 8 states outside Illinois, spanning from Hawaii to North Carolina.  CLICK HERE for the highs and lows of a great year of golf...

PHOTO TOUR - KANKAKEE ELKS - Approaching the 100 year anniversary, the Elks remains one of the top courses within 50 miles of Chicagoland, a timeless Langford & Moreau classic.  CLICK HERE for the updated Photo Tour...

PHOTO TOUR - ODYSSEY - Water on 12 holes, including the island green par 5 16th, provides the challenge, and the "Golf for the Greater Good" support of veterans is a worthy mission.  CLICK HERE for a recent tour of the south suburban course...

COURSE REVIEW - GLENCOE IS A CLASSIC PARKLAND WINNER - The par 72 course is a public golf oasis on the north shore, with a sparkling new clubhouse set to open in 2026.  CLICK HERE for my thoughts on why you should play GGC...

PHOTO TOUR - MILL CREEK - A challenging and unique layouts in the west suburbs, Mill Creek had gone through an extended closure but is operating at a high level now.  Always one of the more scenic courses with an abundance of wetlands, it provides a great value for local golfers.  CLICK HERE for a Photo Tour of the Roy Case design...

PHOTO TOUR - FOX BEND -One of the top value plays in the west suburbs, the Oswegoland Park District facility features an expansive practice area and soon to be updated bunkers to complement a really good layout.  CLICK HERE for a recent Photo Tour of a personal favorite...

 

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

North   Near North   FarNorth   Northwest   FarNoWest

West       Near West     Far West  

South   Far South   Southwest   Far Southwest    

   

         

BUNKER RENOVATION AT GEORGE DUNNE AIMS AT RETURN TO GLORY

Let's step in the way back machine and set the dial to 1982.  As a kid growing up in Oak Lawn who was bitten by the golf bug as a teenager, I was a frequent visitor to all the local courses of the time.  Silver Lake & Hickory Hills were nearby, as were the now long departed Evergreen and Westgate.  The old 18 at Oak Hills is now a very nice 9-hole layout thru townhomes.  If we got ambitious, a drive east over to Glenwoodie, south down to Deer Creek or west to Lemont to the Cog courses and Big Run would be a welcome change.  Although all nice courses, none except for Dubsdread would likely rank in the highest level of Chicagoland public golf.

So when the news dropped that a true championship course was planned for Oak Forest, one that could someday hold pro tournaments and test the very best golfers and was less than 10 miles away?  My friends and I were stoked.  Once Forest Preserve National opened, unless you had an in at the Cook County FP, scoring a tee time took some true effort and was like finding the golden ticket in a Willie Wonka bar. A typical weekend night during golf season was a few beers at Reilly's Daughter with my buddies, then over to the course to queue up along Central Avenue with the other south side golf addicts, get a few hours of sleep in the car before the gate opened at dawn, and hope you could grab a spot for later that day.

It was worth all the trouble.  The course was everything promised and more.  Architects Dick Nugent and Ken Killian, fresh off their highly acclaimed work at Kemper Lakes, hit another home run.  The design similarities between the two were unmistakable: each over 7,000 yards of challenge, pristine parkland layouts across rolling terrain with harrowing carries over water and enough sand hazards to seemingly cover Oak Street Beach.  A trip to north suburban Kildeer to play Kemper was a once-a-year treat, but Forest Preserve National was our southside treasure, and in my slightly biased view, every bit as good.

Over the years the 2 courses went off on divergent paths.  Kemper Lakes has held a number of professional tournaments, including the PGA Championship in 1989, and remained open to the public until transitioning to a private club in 2007.  Forest Preserve was renamed George Dunne National in 1995 to honor the longtime Cook County Board President and remained the flagship of the Forest Preserve courses, but ongoing cycles of disrepair and band aid fixes tarnished the shine and reputation of the course.  In the good times, it was selected to hold US Open Local Qualifiers, a significant honor, but hosting the bigger tournaments never materialized.

My golf footprint has expanded wide beyond the south side over the years but I always try to get to George Dunne every season, and it's sure a lot easier finding a tee time than it was in the '80's!  The course layout has remained almost exactly the same, a testament to the quality of the original design.  The 4th hole is still a daunting dogleg left par 4 with a menacing tee shot over a pond. The par 5 sixth has one of the most intimidating approaches you'll find over traps to a green tucked in the woods.  The 8th might tempt bombers to go for the green and carry the pond tight to the putting surface.  Bite off as much of the hazard as you dare on the par 5 11th to have a go in getting home in two over yet another water carry.  The 16th, with the removal of the sprawling waste bunker the most significant change to date, offers the last best chance for birdie, a welcome breather before

the devilish finish.  The 17th is a beauty of a par 3 with the wide, angled green a tricky target, and the big finish, tipping out at 454 yards, is simply one of the best par 4 closing holes in Chicagoland.  And the ones I didn't mention are all just as good.

Though the tees, fairways and greens have been maintained well over the past few years, the condition of the sand traps has shown a steady decline.  On my last round at George Dunne this past August, the starter instructed us to "just take the ball out if you hit into a trap", a clear indication that they finally hit rock bottom.  But he also dropped another nugget: "there are plans to renovate the bunkers in 2026."  I've heard that story a few times over the years, but before I land on my back like Charlie Brown when Lucy moves the football, my skeptical inner voice said "I'll believe it when I see it." 

Fast forward to February and a stop at the Cook County FPD booth at the Chicago Golf Show.  I saw it with my own two eyes, a detailed plan and commitment for funds allocated to perform the long overdue bunker work.  A catalyst for this was the extension of the course management contract with Troon Golf through 2034, a needed stabilizer to undergo a costly renovation.

I drove out to George Dunne on a chilly Friday afternoon in March in the hope of finding out more details of the work.  I was greeted at the course by the Assistant General Manager, and he was more than happy to answer my inquiries and took me on the course to see the progress completed at the 6th hole, while work at the 9th green was near completion and the 8th had just started.  The project is spearheaded by local architect Dave Esler, who is best known in the Southland for his stellar Donald Ross style revision at Ravisloe.  

The plan includes updating every sand trap (about 60 by my count) with Capillary Concrete bunkers.  This liner system has been implemented at many top courses across the world, including 2023 Ryder Cup venue Marco Simone and Pebble Beach.  Closer to home, TPC Deere Run also features the system. 

To paraphrase the American Society of Golf Course Architects, Capillary Concrete "is a patented drainage and hydration control material used for bunker construction and is the only building material that can move water both up and down to precisely regulate the moisture content of any adjacent material, such as sand or soil."  In more layman terms, this state-of-the-art system provides ideal drainage control to maintain perfect bunker conditions in any weather while significantly reducing maintenance costs.  The sand will be pro caliber, so the days of rock-hard, unplayable traps at George Dunne should be a thing of the past for years to come.

Besides installation of the capillary liners, many bunkers will see a reduction in size and altered shape, with some having a shallower depth to improve playability and pace of play.  A few may be removed entirely, replaced by low maintenance but still penal grass bunkers.  The work is being completed one or two holes at a time so the plan is to keep the course open with most of the holes in play, with the greenside traps hopefully finished by June.  Currently the fairway bunkers will be handled by the in-house maintenance crew, though this situation is fluid and may change based on the overall progress, but expectations are that the project will come to a close in 2026.

It's safe to say that I'm just as excited as I was 44 years ago to see these changes, George Dunne deserves the best conditions possible to return to its past glory and reach its full potential.  Could it become the Bethpage Black of Chicagoland and host a US Open and the Ryder Cup?  It never hurts to dream big.

COURSES PLAYED 2026

JANUARY

KAPALUA PLANTATION (Lahaina, Maui) - Stunning Coore/Crenshaw bucket list course sprawls across 600 acres with million $ ocean views... PHOTO TOUR

WAILEA EMERALD (Wailea, Maui) - One of 3 courses at upscale resort provides an entertaining play with plenty of eye candy scenery...  PHOTO TOUR

POIPU BAY (Koloa. Kauai) - Beautiful Robert Trent Jones Jr layout over rolling terrain plays along ocean at the southern end of Kauai...  PHOTO TOUR

PUAKEA (Lihue, Kauai) - Inland course framed by big mountain backdrops a relatively affordable option near the Lihue airport...  PHOTO TOUR

WAILUA (Lihue, Kauai) - Signature 17th hole next to ocean one of the best in Hawaii at top U.S. muni...  PHOTO TOUR

CLICK HERE for 2025 list of courses played...