The Greater Chicago area was a golfer's paradise. The country's thriving economy allowed its economic and social elite to have the disposable income and time to devote to the sport. Chicago is home to more than 200 golf courses, giving visitors plenty of opportunities to book a tee time during their trip.
10. Olympia Fields Country Club (South Course)
Olympia Fields Country Club was established in 1923, and within a decade, the club offered its members four separate 18-hole courses. The south course, which is backed by the course's largest and grandest club house, had its tees honed by architect Steve Smyers in 2008, when he also lengthened the course by 500 yards and altered the greens and bunkers. Everything about the course is in pristine condition, from the fairways to the exquisite greens. You'll have a good time if you play from the right tees.
9. Skokie Country Club
The origins of the Skokie Country Club, or SCC, as it was once known, can be traced all the way back to 1897. When a group of wealthy businessmen bought the land on which the current location of the Skokie Country Club stands. This course was originally designed by Tom Bendelow in 1905 to have nine holes, but it was later expanded to its current 18-hole configuration. The eighth hole, which is a par 4 and measures 432 yards, is considered to be the course's signature hole. The only Tom Bendelow hole that still exists at Skokie is also the course's greatest.
8.Old Elm Club
In the United States, there are only about two dozen Men-Only courses left, and four of them are on the outskirts of Chicago. This golf course at Old Elm Club was made by H. S. Colt, and Donald Ross built it in 1913 based on Colt's plans. The course is over 6884 yards long and has a par of 72. The par-4 second hole is one of the more interesting ones. It's a short hole with an elevated green and no bunkers nearby, but if you miss in any direction, it's almost impossible to get back up and play again. The main thing about the green is the steep slope from back to front, which makes any putt downhill a tricky one. The par-5 4th hole is also a great one.
7. Rich Harvest Farms - Links Course
It's about 50 miles west of Chicago, close to the Aurora Municipal Airport, where Rich Harvest Farms is based. In 2009, the Solheim Cup was held at this course. Rich Harvest Links is a challenging yet welcoming course due to its meticulously maintained fairways and greens. The terrain of Rich Harvest Farms is mountainous, and the course features a lake, lagoons, and a creek. This par-72 layout can be played at a maximum of 6,334 yards from the longest tees, and it has a classic 9-hole out, 9-hole back layout.
6. Olympia Fields Country Club (North Course)
In its first decade after its 1915 founding, Olympia Fields Country Club, which formerly held the title of largest private country club in the US, featured four golf courses and plans for a fifth. The No. 4 course was created by Willie Park Jr. and is currently referred to as the North. The layout was extended and the bunkers were upgraded by Mark Mungeam in the 1990s, but it is still essentially Willie's layout that we play today.
5. Canyata Golf Club
Canyata Golf Club was originally envisioned as a three-hole, par-3, par-4, and par-5 course on a portion of the Forsythe family property, but architect Michael Benkusky had other plans. By the year's end in 2001, the course's first nine holes were ready for play, and by 2004 the entire 18-hole layout was ready for business. Some holes make you feel like you're on a links course; others make you feel like you're in North Carolina. Nobody would guess that they were in central Illinois if they were dropped there and allowed to play the golf course without being told where they were.
4. Medina Golf & Country Club - Rolling Green Course
The Medina Golf Course is evidence that excellent golf courses are more often discovered than constructed. It has been a significant venue ever since 1949 and has been the subject of a number of different modifications. In addition to that, the challenge level has been raised with each successive iteration. One famous example is the par-three seventeenth hole. In 1986, it was moved to a new location so that room could be made for the construction of a brand new 18th hole. After 10 years, the position of the 17th hole was changed from by the lake to up on a hill to be closer to the fairway.
3. Shoreacres Golf Course
Shoreacres is located on the north lakefront of Chicago. In 1919, Seth Raynor created Shoreacres. It is an old-fashioned club in the finest sense possible, with kind staff and a lovely membership. The renowned stretch between the 10th and 15th holes is considered Raynor's finest. It begins with a 452 yard version of the Road Hole and concludes with the magnificent 521 yard signature hole of Shoreacres, which requires a daring tee shot that must carry a ravine in order to achieve this par five in two shots. The course is not long, but it is tight, difficult, and always in excellent condition.
2. Butler National Golf Course
The best way to define Butler National is as a very challenging yet fair course. There is a lot of dense rough, small fairways, and quick greens. A fantastic golf course with all the features you could ask for. It has a wonderful design. After the first five, there aren't a ton of opportunities to score. Par 5s and 4s that are long and challenging because of strategically placed bunkers and water hazards. In the past, the Western Open on the PGA TOUR was held at Butler National. This is a men-only club.
1. Chicago Golf Club
With only a touch of elevation on the larger green complexes, this course is lightning fast around the greens. Originally established in 1892, Chicago Golf Club moved to its current site in Belmont that same year. This classic course features a gorgeous color gradient from tee to fairway to rough to greens, with a layout that honors the game's history. The US Amateur, US Open, and the Walker Cup were all played at the club in their early years. The Chicago Golf Club remains one of the most elite clubs in the United States.
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