Best Golf Courses in Illinois
6 ranked courses in Illinois
All six Illinois courses in this guide are private, and all six are parkland. Chicago Golf Club in Wheaton ranks highest in the state: Charles B. Macdonald's 1895 course, rebuilt by Seth Raynor in 1923, which has hosted the US Open and offers no public play; access is only through a member's invitation. Shoreacres in Lake Bluff is Raynor's 1921 design, restored by Tom Doak's firm in the early 2000s. Old Elm Club in Highland Park was routed by Harry Colt in 1913 and built by Donald Ross, then restored by J. Drew Rogers and David Zinkand. Medinah Country Club's Course No. 3 in Medinah is Tom Bendelow's 1928 design, redesigned by OCM Golf (Geoff Ogilvy, Mike Cocking and Ashley Mead) in 2024; it has hosted the Presidents Cup, the Ryder Cup, the US Open and the PGA Championship, and is available only as a member's guest. Olympia Fields Country Club's North Course, a Willie Park Jr. design with bunkers redone by Mark Mungeam, has hosted the US Open and the PGA Championship. Butler National in Oak Brook is a men-only club by George Fazio, with Tom Fazio supervising construction.
— Top 6 Rankings
Top 6 Best Golf Courses in Illinois
Updated
About Golf Courses in Illinois
Lake Bluff (Shoreacres) and Highland Park (Old Elm) pair as one trip. Wheaton (Chicago Golf Club), Oak Brook (Butler National) and Medinah make a second group, and Olympia Fields stands alone.
- Ranked courses
- 6
- Course styles
- parkland 6
- Access
- private 6
- Opened
- 1895–1928
- Playable without membership
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