Edition: Kidding Around Chicago
Culture & Attractions: Fore! Chicago's Best Golf Courses
Author: Jennifer Nunez
Skyscrapers and jam-packed streets leave little room in Chicago for sprawling golf courses. But, we've searched and found the best spots to take a swing.
Chicago Golf Club: The Chicago Golf Club in Wheaton ranks #17 in the top 100 courses in the United States. In 1894 CGC was the site of the Nation's first 18-hole course; and it was the first course outside of the Northeast to hold the U.S. Open. It is one of the most excluaive clubs in the world, with sand bunkers and water hazards keeping difficulty at a high. This course is meant for serious golfers with serious money: $125 covers just one game on the green.
Sydney R. Marovitz Golf Course: Sydney R. Marovitz is one of the
most challenging courses in Chicago, with a par 36 on championship-length green. This 9-hole course runs along Lake Michigan and is located on the North Side at Addison and Lake Shore Drive. Be sure to reserve your tee-time early, for reservations fill up quickly up to 14 days in advance. Prices vary depending on day and age, but $26 covers an adult on the weekend.
Jackson Park Golf Course: Jackson Park Golf Course rests on Chicago's South side next to Yacht Harbor, just south of the Museum of Science and Industry. This 18-hole course was the city's first public golf course; it was built in 1899 on top of a landfill of waste and debris from the World's Columbian Exposition. Today, the beautiful green costs $26 for adults on weekends, but offers seniors, junior and weekday rates as well.
The Green at Grant Park: The Green at Grant Park is an 18-hole
putting course that runs alongside Grant Park with views of Monroe Harbor and the spectacular Chicago skyline. The Green is no put-put course, however; it is a true golf-on-the-green, featuring player's turf, varying contours, dramatic elevation changes and sand traps. A round at The Green only costs $9, so be sure to splurge a little at the patio restaurant after sinking your 18th hole.
