Best Golf Courses in Illinois

With nearly 700 golf courses to choose from, historic venues and memorable moments from the many Major Championships hosted in Illinois, it’s easy to see why the state has been a staple for golf for over 100 years. Also, who can forget the inspiration for Caddyshack was Indian Hill Country Club, a golf course that Bill Murray caddied for located right off Lake Michigan. As one might imagine, golf in Illinois centers around the greater Chicago area. Chicago arguably has the best selection of public and private golf courses of any city in the United States. Opened in 1892, the exclusive Chicago Golf Club was a founding member of the USGA and is still widely considered the crowned jewel of Illinois. Additionally, the Chicago area is home to several iconic golf courses including Skokie Country Club, Shoreacres, Old Elm Club and Olympia Fields County Club. These golf courses have a century’s worth of history and many of which are widely considered top 100 golf courses in the United States. While these courses are private, Illinois is home to some of the best public golf courses in the United States. Cog Hill in Lemont, TPC Deere Run and Annbriar Golf Course all score extremely well on GolfAdvisor and other well-known publications.