11 Best Public Chicago Golf Courses Worth Discovering

When it comes to golf history in the United States, Chicago is one of the most important cities to credit for the growth and expansion of the game. Golf has had a place in Chicago for 130 years and over that time some of the best public courses you can play have been created, along with half of the country's controversial men's only golf clubs. Here are the 11 best Chicago golf courses anybody can play so you know where to tee it up when you’re in the Windy City.

One common feature is deceptively wide fairways bordered by very long rough. ThunderHawk Golf Club is kept in great condition and provides a private-club-like experience to all golfers. The course is also idyllic and was the first public course to be Audubon certified in Illinois.

The other layout, the Starboard Course, is another links-style course that uses smart bunkering and inventive routing to create a memorable golf experience, all while viewing the iconic Chicago skyline.

Boasting amenities and a practice facility that feels like a private club, Glen Club provides a consistently excellent product. The course is full of variety, and golfers should expect to use every club in their bag to deal with elevation changes, wind, water, and near-constant high risk/reward shot opportunities. The Glen Club is considered one of Chicagoland's must-play courses.

The championship Dubsdread course is the draw here, a course originally designed by Dick Wilson in 1964 before being renovated by Rees Jones in 2008. Players who have won on Dubdread include Tiger Woods (five times), Ben Crenshaw, Nick Price (twice), and Jim Furyk. That should be reason enough for Cog Hill to be on your must-play list in Chicago.

The course requires accuracy, as tree-filled wastes, 12 lakes, two creeks, and over 70 sand bunkers stand ready to gobble up errant shots. The course features great amenities and also has a 9-hole juniors course dubbed the Youth Links Course, that allows children a place to play without being frustrated by the longer holes that are beyond their driving abilities.

There’s a ton of room on this course and where wide-open fairways appear, blustery winds are allowed in. The rolling terrain and strategic approach shots you’ll encounter make this course a fun first venture that leaves you with a desire to return.

This course says public, but everything about it feels exclusive and private. From the sprawling clubhouse to the practice facilities, you’re a VIP. The Rick Jacobson design incorporates wetlands, woods, farmland, and Bowes Creek. It can play nearly 7,000 yards and has fescue along with deep bunkers to protect itself. Take advantage of the member for a day option which gives you unlimited golf and facility access for the entire day you’re there.

Whether your round consists of nine or 18 holes, the Players Course, Tournament Course, and the Baer Course are all challenging to advanced players and fair to high handicaps. Consistently among the best in the area, Schaumburg Golf Club is a spot you don’t want to skip.

Certain areas of this course will fool you into thinking you're playing in the Carolinas with tranquil wetlands and over 65,000 mature pine and oak trees on the property. You would never guess that the course is less than 30 years old. If you find yourself visiting Chicago or southern Wisconsin, Stonewall Orchard is a must-play course.

The Preserve has won awards for not only the renovated course that is now a tournament-caliber layout, but also for habitat resource and preservation of local natural landscapes. The clubhouse opened in 2021 and completed the experience of a memorable day at The Preserve.