Best values out there? Going down for 4 days, staying in the city and looking to play a couple rounds. What are the best public tracks out there? I have played cog hill, which I think is the highest rated public.

thanks fellas.

Depends on the area, where exactly are you staying...City, Suburb...North, South.

Cog Hill is nice.. in that same area you have Ruffled Feathers, and GlenEagles CC. If you travel 10-15 miles west you will hit Bolingbrook GC (head pro Carl Rabito), and the western suburbs hidden gem - Links of Carillon. Heading North you have Tamarack, Indian Lakes, St. Andrews and Pheasant Run. These are all suburban courses. I'd check golfnow for the best pricing.

Here's a good site with descriptions, ratings, and price ranges depending on the area you're looking to play at.

http://chicagogolfguide.com/

Here's a quick couple that are good public courses. Makray Memorial, Chalet Hills, The Glen Club (#1 public course rated in 2008, but can be pricey), Harborside (if you want to play on Lake Michigan near the city), Seven Bridges, Balmoral Woods, Oak Brook Golf Club. You can't go wrong with any of those courses.

Lots of good tracks in the area if you are willing to drive a bit. Personal favorites are Stonewall Orchard(just had sectional qualifying for 2009 US Open), Pine Meadow, Thunderhawk, Prairie Landing to name a few. Dubsdread and Harborside are worth the drive as well.

What you must realize- and this is true for ANYWHERE YOU PLAY- if you are staying downtown and are heading back from your round anytime after 2:30 pm, expect traffic. Everywhere. As sure as the sun will set in the west you will hit traffic, delays, construction and $2.00 tolls. The last thanks to our ex-guv... Its brutal but really no escaping it.

Pine Meadow is in pretty solid shape right now, not too bad price wise.

Another vote for Ruffled Feathers, very nice Pete Dye Design, mid week rates can range from $55 to $75, more on weekends. Just past Cog Hill, easy to get to on I-55.

Don't forget, there's always Big Fun at Big Run!!

In addition to what has been already listed check out Prairie Landing, Blackhawk Trace at Indian Lakes, Dubs Dread at Cog Hill, Seven Bridges, Cantigny, The Glen and Klein Creek for the pricier tracks, all nice and all in great shape at anytime during the golf season in Chicago. You are looking at $65-$150 per round during the week and slightly higher on a weekend at peak times. I think Dubs is $150 no matter when you play it but well worth the price of admission. This is where they play the BMW Championship, what was once the Western Open on tour.

For mid priced courses, $40-$60 check out Highland Woods, Cog Hill (normal courses), St. Andrews, George Dunn, The Highlands, and even White Pines in Bensenville. White Pines can be a great golf course at a great price depending on which 9's you play, it can be very long too if you play from the tips, I have always found this course to be in decent shape year round and it's pretty easy to get to from the city.

As someone already posted, allow yourself plenty of time for traffic especially in the morning and mid to late afternoon coming in and out of the city. Of course with that said, there is no great time for traffic especially on 90/94 which always seems to be backed up due to all of the airport traffic it receives. 290 is much better out of the city mid morning and early afternoon. Same goes for 55.

One other note, if you play any of the above courses I have listed or any other course someone else has mentioned, allow yourself a 5 hr to 6 hr round minimum if you play during peak times especially on weekends. I find I have to tee off fairly early in the morning on a Sat or Sun at any course I play in the Chicagoland area in order to finish in 4-4.5 hrs. Last weekend I had an 8 hour round and it was brutal. The weekend before, a 7 hr round, both tee times were on a Sat between 9a-10am.

Best of luck.

Good recommendations in here although I'd skip Highland Woods (basically a muni) and Chalet Hills in my opinion is over rated. Ditto for Pheasant Run. All are worth trying if you're local but I wouldn't recommend going out of your way to play any of them.

Three great tracks I played when visiting Chicago for a reasonable rate...

Stonewall Orchard - check online specials
Pine Meadow
Cantigny (Hillside/Woodside)

Nice track reasonably priced...
Mistwood - Romeoville, IL

In the "Best Value" category, I nominate Ravisloe in the South (second: George Dunne), Pine Meadow in the North (second: Stonewall Orchard), and Big Run in the West (second: Cog Hill #2).

I'm on my way to St. Joe MI next weekend and then back up 2 weeks later. Does anyone have tips for that area, or a cool hookup!

I'm playing Lake MI Hills while I'm there, my father-in law works there, played there a ton. I'll take a drive to get to a really nice course! Would love to get on Point 'O Woods, or other TOP notch courses while I'm on my much needed vacation.

Thanks
Matt

The better combo is Lakeside/Woodside. That's the combo they use for most 18 hole rounds. And those are the courses they use for all of the tournaments.


I agree w/ most of the suggestions here but I'd stay away from Pheasant Run, Chalet Hills, Klein Creek, Balmoral Woods and Indian Lakes. They're just not nice courses- IMO.

And if you play Harborside, the Portside course is the nicer of the two.

Skip The Glen Club - not worth the cash. You should be more specific on where your staying, too. Driving around Chicago and the suburbs might be tough.