Nov 26, 2024

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.

CLICK HERE for a full Photo Tour of Sydney Marovitz

CLICK HERE for a full Photo Tour of South Shore

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About This Site

I am a life long Chicagoan and an avid golfer (or as much as my wife will let me!). And I am also a closet journalist who needed an outlet, so I decided to write reviews of the golf courses that I've played over the years in Chicago. Plus I've added detailed information on each course to help my fellow public golfers find the ones that best fits their skill level and budgets. So, read the reviews and use the comments to either give me a big "thumbs up" or tell me I'm full of crap, check out the courses and other pages, and let me know what you think... Mr Z