Chicagoland Signature Golf Courses

The Chicagoland area boasts some of the top-rated golf courses in America. Designers have carved out dozens of championship layouts surrounded by lakes and ponds to produce a few of the most natural settings in the game. Below is a list of golfer’s guide’s signature courses where you’ll be able to find affordable and challenging places to play with a few four-star courses sprinkled in.

Chicagoland Signature Golf Course List

Plum Tree National Golf Club
Plum Tree National Golf Club

Nestled in the rolling hills of Northern Illinois lies Plum Tree National Golf Club, one of the most picturesque golf courses in the Chicagoland area. Rated consistently among the top courses on the Chicago golf scene, Plum Tree offers players a test of strategy, skill and patien... more

Nettle Creek Country Club
Nettle Creek Country Club

Nettle Creek Country Club is links-style golf in a beautiful prairie environment rich with wildlife. Renowned for its fabulous greens, this upscale, 18-hole championship course is an easy 30-minute interstate drive from the populous Naperville-Bolingbrook-Plainfield area and just... more

Bloomington-Normal Area Golf Courses
Bloomington-Normal Area Golf Courses

Bloomington-Normal was named the "5th Best American City for Golf" by Golf Digest in both their 2005 and 2006 Metro Rankings. Golf enthusiasts will love the Den at Fox Creek in Bloomington, a 6,926-yard par-72, four-star Arnold Palmer Signature-Designed Course that features be... more

Turkey Creek Golf Club
Turkey Creek Golf Club

Founded in 1928 Turkey Creek Golf Club, a Lake County Parks facility, continues to provide great golf to Northwest Indiana. The course offers hilly, tree-lined fairways with slightly sloping greens that provide the golfer with a feeling of a classic golf course. Turkey Creek also... more

The Links at Carillon
The Links at Carillon

Rated 4.5 Stars by Chicagoland Golf Magazine and called one of the “Best Places to Play” by Golf Digest, The Links at Carillon is a public-access golf facility featuring 27 holes of championship golf, a multi-faceted Links Learning Center, a golf shop carrying the lat... more

Foxford Hills Golf Club
Foxford Hills Golf Club

Eighteen distinctly spectacular holes…an atmosphere that evokes Carolina resort golf...all at a fraction of the resort golf price tag. That’s Foxford Hills Golf Club in Cary. At 7,023 yards from the tips, Foxford Hills tests golfer’s stamina and shot-making savv... more

The Arboretum Club
The Arboretum Club

T his is a spectacular Dick Nugent design with country club-style bentgrass fairways, tees and greens. The entire course is as picturesque as it is tightly bunkered, with plenty of water to keep you honest and provide a supreme test of shot-making ability. A new clubhouse and b... more

Arrowhead Golf Club
Arrowhead Golf Club

Arrowhead Golf Club in Wheaton, Illinois is known and recognized for its beautifully maintained course, exceptional views, professional staff and inviting atmosphere. Surrounded by forest preserve, Arrowhead is one of a few courses in the chicagoland area to boast that there are... more

Deer Valley Golf Course
Deer Valley Golf Course

Playing 1,358 yards from the tips, 9-hole Deer Valley is ideal for beginners, juniors and seniors, families, and golfers looking to hone their short game. Big Rock Creek meanders across the property, coming into play on several holes, while other holes are framed by heavy timber,... more

Aldeen Golf Club
Aldeen Golf Club

Exceptional Golf. Incredibly Close. Unbelievable Price! Exceptional Golf. - The "must play" golf experience in the Midwest, Rockford's premiere public golf experience is found at Aldeen Golf Club. Eighteen championship holes with expertly manicured Penncross bentgrass gre... more

WeaverRidge Golf Club
WeaverRidge Golf Club

WeaverRidge Golf Club, in Peoria, Ill.,the second-place course on the Upscale Public list, is a visually stunning, strategically superior design by Michael Hurdzan and Dana Fry. The front nine features some holes edged by housing, but the lots are hardly noticeable. A highlight i... more

Shepherd’s Crook Golf Course
Shepherd’s Crook Golf Course

Return to the roots of golf at Shepherd's Crook, a Zion Park District owned and operated layout that offers a passage back to golf's heritage. Designed by Keith Foster and opened in August 1999, Shepherd's Crook has earned rave reviews as a course that is both challenging and e... more

Blackstone Golf Club
Blackstone Golf Club

Blackstone Golf Club is truly a home for golf. We offer unique and affordable membership programs, allowing golfers to enjoy all the benefits of membership without making a bogey with their budget! Blackstone also features some of the greatest daily green fee values in all of Nor... more

Klein Creek Golf Club
Klein Creek Golf Club

Klein Creek Golf Club is an 18-hole "must-play"- the more you play it, the lower you'll score! Conveniently located in suburban DuPage County, just south of Route 64 and County Farm Road, Klein Creek features contrasting gentle doglegs bounded by forest contrast with strategicall... more

Fox Run Golf Links
Fox Run Golf Links

Located in Elk Grove Village, Fox Run Golf Links is a true hidden gem. Built in 1984 by William Newcomb, the course features Bentgrass greens, bluegrass fairways and a design that brings water into play on 12 of its 18 holes. A unique golf course in the northwest suburbs, Fox Run... more

The Den at Fox Creek
The Den at Fox Creek

The Den at Fox Creek is the city of Bloomington's third golf course.Bentgrass tees, greens and fairways compliment the Wild Prairie Grasses which grow in the rough to make a picturesque Scottish Links Style golf course. The course features 131 strategically placed sand traps,mak... more

HeatherRidge Golf Course
HeatherRidge Golf Course

Among Chicagoland’s finest 9-holers, HeatherRidge is a picturesque and engaging full-length layout that is fun for all levels. Beautiful mature trees frame tees, fairways and some greens, while lovely creeks and ponds add interest and challenge on seven of nine holes. Heath... more

Orchard Valley Golf Club
Orchard Valley Golf Club

Rated as one of Chicagoland's top five public courses, Orchard Valley is an 18-hole, 6,745-yard, par-72 championship layout. Designed by Ken Kavanaugh and opened in 1993, this impeccably conditioned course features bentgrass tees, greens and fairways. Having hosted numerous PGA s... more

The Sanctuary Golf Course
The Sanctuary Golf Course

Located in the suburbs south of Chicago in New Lenox, The Sanctuary Golf Course is considered by many to be the best golfing value in the Chicagoland area. In fact, local authority Golf Chicago magazine rated The Sanctuary as a “Best Buy.” Designed by noted architect... more

Prairie Vista Golf Course
Prairie Vista Golf Course

The city of Bloomington opened Prairie Vista Golf Course in 1991. The course, which is an American Contemporary Style, has Bentgrass tees,greens and fairways and is a treat to play with water hazards located on 16 of the 18 holes.... more

Orchard Valley Golf Course
Orchard Valley Golf Course

Ranked as one of Chicagoland's top five courses, Orchard Valley Golf Course has been honored with 4-1/2 stars from Golf Digest's Places-to-Play for its diverse blend of natural challenges including wetlands, a waterfall and other intriguing water hazards.... more

Cardinal Creek Golf Course
Cardinal Creek Golf Course

Cardinal Creek Golf Course is a 27-hole public course, conveniently located 35 minutes from Chicago on Route 1, in Beecher, Illinois. The course sits on 200 acres of gently rolling land and offers numerous ponds and thousands of mature trees to test the skill level of every golfe... more

Bolingbrook Golf Club
Bolingbrook Golf Club

Come play the course critics are still raving about as it matures into its 6th season. The Village of Bolingbrook has turned some former farmland into one of the top municipal golf courses in the country and one of the best places in all of Chicagoland to golf, dine, entertain an... more

Seven Bridges Golf Club
Seven Bridges Golf Club

Set in the western suburbs of Chicago, Seven Bridges Golf Club is an upscale public facility that features an 18-hole championship layout by Dick Nugent, a pristine clubhouse with unparalleled views of the course, a staff with an uncompromising commitment to excellence and an aw... more

Indiana National Golf Club at Swan Lake Resort
Indiana National Golf Club at Swan Lake Resort

Each of the two courses designed by Al Humphrey in the late ‘60s is 4-Star rated in Golf Digest’s Places-to-Play, and each offers unique challenges. The East Course is a bit more target-oriented than the West with water in-play on all 18 holes. There’s great var... more

Hilton Chicago/Indian Lakes Resort & Conference Center
Hilton Chicago/Indian Lakes Resort & Conference Center

I magine 250 acres of beautifully landscaped hills encompassing 27 holes of championship golf, 308 oversized guest rooms, superb dining experienes and a state-of-the-art conference center. It’s a reality at Hilton Chicago/Indian Lakes, Chicago’s premier golf resort a... more

Hunter Country Club
Hunter Country Club

The relaxed atmosphere at this pretty, well-groomed, sporty 18-holer makes it welcoming and fun for all ages and ability levels. Hunter Country Club is a terrific place for a recreational round with friends...for parents playing with youngsters...for beginners, juniors, seniors..... more

Hilldale Golf Club
Hilldale Golf Club

Designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr., Hilldale Golf Club is a good test for any skill level. While Hilldale might come across as a scaled down version of the super long courses touring pros play today, don't let the yardage fool you, this par-71 course has a rating of 71.6 and a s... more

Ravisloe Country Club
Ravisloe Country Club

After 108 storied years as a private club, Ravisloe Country Club went public in 2009 to enthusiastic reviews and critical acclaim. This venerable facility has benefited from further updates and is poised for a stellar sophomore season. Boasting a Donald Ross pedigree (from a 191... more

Woodruff Golf Course
Woodruff Golf Course

Due to its hilly terrain, this course can be both very demanding and remarkably scenic. Water hazards (creeks and ponds) come into play on a number of holes, and numerous large trees will frequently threaten to affect your shots. Larry Packard redesigned this course in 1966. ... more

Evergreen Golf Club
Evergreen Golf Club

Evergreen Golf Club has a long and rich tradition in Wisconsin golf as one of the state’s premier places to play, a club dedicated to giving you gracious and friendly professional service along with excellent conditions and value. We’re proud to be ranked as a 4-Star ... more

Stonewall Orchard Golf Club
Stonewall Orchard Golf Club

Renowned golf course architect Arthur Hills brings his award-winning design talent to Illinois for the first time with the classic layout of Stonewall Orchard Golf Club. Hailed as the world's No. 2 designer by Golf World Magazine in 1998, Hills allowed the natural rolling land... more

Glendale Lakes Golf Club
Glendale Lakes Golf Club

Glendale Lakes Golf Club is an 18-hole public golf course located in the western suburb of Glendale Heights. Golfers can enjoy bentgrass tees, fairways and greens at this Dick Nugent-designed golf course that will challenge golfers of all skill levels. Glendale Lakes has the adde... more

Hughes Creek Golf Club
Hughes Creek Golf Club

Built on a 170-acre tract of rolling farmland in western Kane County, Hughes Creek Golf Club is an Illinois golf destination that gets better each year. A truly peaceful setting with a sympathetic relationship with nature, Hughes Creek contains gentle rolling hills, wetlands, nat... more

White Pines Golf Club
White Pines Golf Club

Year-round, golf experience! White Pines Golf Club has been a favorite and best value among Chicagoland golfers since 1928. Situated on over 240 beautiful acres, White Pines is 10 minutes from O'Hare Airport and 30 minutes of downtown Chicago. White Pines offers players a choice ... more

Settler’s Hill Golf Course
Settler’s Hill Golf Course

Nestled in the heart of Kane County, Settler’s Hill Golf Course lives up to its name with dramatic elevation changes across a layout that traverses mature woodlands, vibrant wetlands and windswept highlands. The course’s distinctive look underscores its unique history... more

Village Green Golf Club
Village Green Golf Club

Village Green Golf Course is experiencing a rebirth. Under new management since January, this sporty, parkland-style course had long enjoyed a loyal following thanks to its fun layout and convenient location. But it desperately needed refurbishment. New operator GolfVisions has a... more

Blue Needles Golf Course
Blue Needles Golf Course

Blue Needles Golf Course is today's state-of-the-art 18 hole course with excellent club house facilities, driving range, eight lakes, elevated greens, cart paths from tee to green, and plent of sand. This course is the "Hidden Jewel" of Central Illinois and puts a premium on... more

Poplar Creek Country Club
Poplar Creek Country Club

From formidable fairways to exacting greens, Poplar Creek Country Club provides golfers with an 18-hole championship golf course that will challenge even the most adept pro. This par-70 course was designed by Ken Killian and Dick Nugent and features a winding creek and other chal... more

Buffalo Grove Golf Club
Buffalo Grove Golf Club

This is one of the finest municipal facilities in the area, with bluegrass fairways and tees, and bentgrass greens. There is plenty of sand and water to provide hazards, with mature trees sprinkled throughout. The course is playable from three different sets of tees and features ... more

Heritage Bluffs Public Golf Club
Heritage Bluffs Public Golf Club

Come see for yourself why Heritage Bluffs Public Golf Club ranked as a five-star course in Chicagoland Golf Magazine. Situated on 166 rolling, wooded acres, Heritage Bluffs hosts an incredible 18 holes of championship golf on a setting seldom seen in the Chicagoland area. The cou... more

Oak Grove Golf Course
Oak Grove Golf Course

Pure golf, in a magnificent natural landscape unsullied by development. That’s what you’ll experience at Oak Grove Golf Course in McHenry County. Oak Grove is among an elite handful of Illinois golf courses ranked 4-1/2 stars by Golf Digest. This championship 18 nest... more

Fox Bend Golf Course
Fox Bend Golf Course

Fox Bend Golf Course, Oswego’s own welcoming and challenging public course is recognized as a Five-Star course by Chicagoland Golf Magazine. This premier facility has hosted the Illinois Open in 1979, 1997 and 1999, the Illinois PGA Championship in 1978 and Western Open Qualifyin... more

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Chicagoland Golf News

Windy City Golf League Kicks off its 2010 Spring Season
Tuesday, 02 March 2010

Chicago's only flexible, yet competitive, amateur golf league is ready to tee off its spring season. Featuring individual head-to-head and new two-person team scramble leagues, the Windy City Golf...
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Golf World Ranks Sydney R. Marovitz Course as One of America's Best Nine-Hole Tracks
Tuesday, 23 February 2010

Sydney R. Marovitz Golf Course, managed by Billy Casper Golf, has been ranked the 18th best nine-hole course in the United States by Golf World in the magazine's just-released Top 25...
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Above Average Amateur Wins Golfer's Guide's "Dream Golf Giveaway"
Thursday, 11 February 2010

Kevin Webber isn't your typical Golfer's Guide reader. The 35-year-old software engineer and father of two from Hoffman Estates does exhibit an obvious passion for the game - you can...
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