Chicago Golf trip end of June

[AdamCV]

Good day all. 

 

I am going to be in Chicago June 23 -26 as my wife has a conference so I am going to tag along and get in a few rounds.

 

Have never played in the area before but I am going to play #4 at Cog Hill one of the days.

 

Being from Canada I do not have any connections to get on the litany of historic private clubs that most of us would love to play.

 

I have been looking at Bolingbrook, Catigny, Stonewall.

 

What can you all tell me about these or any that I may be missing.

 

We are staying near the airport but since we are from fairly close to Detroit we are driving to the area.

 

Thanks so much in advanced for the recommendations and advice

Edited May 9 by AdamCV

[VNutz]

Skip Bolingbrook IMO. Cantigny is great and beautiful. Stonewall the past few years has been hit or miss.

 

The Preserve at Oak Meadows is an option near the airport and has parts of the course that Ben Hogan won the 1941 Chicago Open on. The course has been renovated over the years but there are a few original holes left.

[Gdane]

Agreed on skipping Bolingbrook.  I almost puked when I saw the rate they are charging these days.

 

If you're willing to drive all the way up to Stonewall, I'd recommend Thunderhawk also.  Another option with a similar drive time to Stonewall or Thunderhawk depending on the time of day would be Ravisloe which is a really cool classic course with a ton of history.

[MountainKing]

Just throwing another don't bother with Bolingbrook.  Others have made good suggestions.

[AdamCV]

Thanks for the fast responses. I think I will need the advice to skip Bolingbrook. How is Mt prospect?

 

Nothing set in stone . willing to drive up to say an hour or so

Edited May 10 by AdamCV

[bzimmer21]

If you are near O'Hare, I'd say The Preserve at Oak Meadows for sure.  Like everyone else, I'd say skip Bolingbrook but if you were willing to drive south towards Bolingbrook, i'd say Mistwood would be a better option.  I've always also loved playing Heritage Bluffs but i haven't played it in years.  Others to consider:

 

Thunderhawk (mentioned above)

Cinder Ridge

Prairie Landing

Village Links of Glen Ellyn

Stonewall Orchard (you mentioned, i really liked it when I played it)

[ldchristopher]

The Glen Club in Glenview is another very good option. It’s a semi-private with members who think it’s a private club but the course is good. 

[golfortennis]

If you were willing to drive to Bolingbrook, you could look at Cog Hill.  It's pricey, but they do have pretty good customer service.  #4 is where they played the Western OPen for a number of years.  It's not easy, and I recommend not teeing off at first light(3 of the first 4 or 4 of 5 holes are directly into the sun).  

 

That is all I know about Chicago golf, but my experience there would not make me say I'm never going back.  

[hammergolf]

If I was going to pick my favs it would be:

Cog Hill Dubsdread 

The Glen Club

Catigny

 

[TheBear95]

4 hours ago, AdamCV said:

Thanks for the fast responses. I think I will need the advice to skip Bolingbrook. How is Mt prospect?

 

Nothing set in stone still trying to explore a few avenues to try for Olympia, Medinah or Butler

 

Mt. Prospect is ok. The greens are crazy, but tee-to-green its nothing special. However, the course is pretty close to O'Hare.

[Schley]

12 hours ago, bzimmer21 said:

If you are near O'Hare, I'd say The Preserve at Oak Meadows for sure.  Like everyone else, I'd say skip Bolingbrook but if you were willing to drive south towards Bolingbrook, i'd say Mistwood would be a better option.  I've always also loved playing Heritage Bluffs but i haven't played it in years.  Others to consider:

 

Thunderhawk (mentioned above)

Cinder Ridge

Prairie Landing

Village Links of Glen Ellyn

Stonewall Orchard (you mentioned, i really liked it when I played it)

Really like Mistwood and owners have put a ton of money/amenities there. Heritage Bluffs was wonderful in Channahon, but don't think it has been kept in as good of shape recently.

 

George Dunne in Oak Forest has a very nice public 18 holes, owned by the Forest Preserve.

[Springsteennut]

Play the Elgin double. Half hour from the airport. Maybe 10 minutes apart. Both excellent courses. Price is not nearly as outrageous as some courses.

[ldchristopher]

On 5/8/2025 at 5:50 PM, AdamCV said:

Thanks for the fast responses. I think I will need the advice to skip Bolingbrook. How is Mt prospect?

 

Nothing set in stone still trying to explore a few avenues to try for Olympia, Medinah or Butler

Mt. Prospect is a weird course. It’s absolutely slammed into a tiny footprint and tee to green it’s fairly benign. But the  green complexes are enormous and super tricked out. 
The top public courses in the area are probably 

Dubs

Glen Club

Cantigny

Stonewall

Thunderhawk

Harborside

Prairie Landing

Mistwood

Highlands of Elgin

Bowes Creek

The Preserve 

 

The next tier is probably 

Shepherd’s Crook

Pine Meadow

White Deer Run

Blackstone

White Tail Ridge

Heritage Bluffs

Sunset Valley

Redtail

Ravisloe

White Hawk

Bolingbrook

Arrowhead

Village Links of Glen Elyn

Foxford Hills

Prairie Bluff

George Dunne National

There’s plenty more. But you’ll enjoy yourself at all of the above. 

[AdamCV]

That is quite the list and it is super appreciated. 

 

Curious if anyone has any tips to potentially being able to get on some of the Chicago private clubs as an international with no local contacts.

 

Thanks again for all the guidance

[MountainKing]

On 5/9/2025 at 7:46 PM, AdamCV said:

That is quite the list and it is super appreciated. 

 

Curious if anyone has any tips to potentially being able to get on some of the Chicago private clubs as an international with no local contacts.

 

Thanks again for all the guidance

 

You probably have no shot at getting on any of the big name clubs without something, but it could be worth a phone call, especially if you can go out later in the day.    Odds are good you'll get a no,  but you can't get a yes without asking. 

 

Beyond that,  my hot take is most of the clubs that aren't known, aren't worth the effort.   They're either very average layouts, or squeezed into housing.  

 

[parbung]

Schaumburg is really well manicured, especially considering the price.  

 

course itself is one of the easiest ones in the area.

 

Randall Oaks is another good course. 

[AdamCV]

Thanks again for all the suggestions.

 

Am definitely going to plays Cog Hill and then maybe see what golfnow has closer to for the other recommended courses since I am a single. 

[Chanceman]

On 5/18/2025 at 11:31 AM, AdamCV said:

Thanks again for all the suggestions.

 

Am definitely going to plays Cog Hill and then maybe see what golfnow has closer to for the other recommended courses since I am a single. 

We played Cog Hill, Highlands of Elgin and Thunderhawk on our trip last year. You are playing Cogs so Thunderhawk would be my recommendation. It’s a terrific layout. Fairly testing and beautiful in parts.

[Schley]

Adam I'm a big proponent of charity auctions and they are many times around a Monday fundraiser at a private club.  The 23rd has some good opportunities to play and give back.  North Shore CC, Crystal Tree CC, Onwentsia Club, Harborside, Medinah, Morris CC, Olympia Fields, etc.    I think you get the idea. Privates host Monday charity outings so there is a good chance, many of them are having something.

 

https://windycity.acsgolf.org/

https://www.silvercross.org/giving/events/34th-annual-silver-cross-charity-golf--pickleball-classic/

https://foundersboard.luriechildrens.org/en/our-events/pro-amateur-golf-championship

https://illinoishotels.atlasams.com/events/2025-IHLA-Golf-Classic-2139/details

https://e.givesmart.com/events/HDX/

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2025-golf-outing-registration-1225687427089

https://www.ivcafoundation.org/ivca-invitational

[golfortennis]

On 5/19/2025 at 6:34 AM, Chanceman said:

We played Cog Hill, Highlands of Elgin and Thunderhawk on our trip last year. You are playing Cogs so Thunderhawk would be my recommendation. It’s a terrific layout. Fairly testing and beautiful in parts.

 

Can you walk Thunderhawk?

[TheBear95]

3 hours ago, golfortennis said:

 

Can you walk Thunderhawk?

 

Yes. Easy walk, like most of the courses in Chicagoland. 

[Argonne69]

15 hours ago, TheBear95 said:

 

Yes. Easy walk, like most of the courses in Chicagoland. 

 

Is there actually a course in the Chicago area that mandates carts? I can't think of one. I've walked pretty much every one.

 

[TheBear95]

2 hours ago, Argonne69 said:

 

Is there actually a course in the Chicago area that mandates carts? I can't think of one. I've walked pretty much every one.

 

 

At certain times (weekend mornings), yes. Because as you know, carts play faster, lol.

 

Thankfully, it just seems to be a few.