Best Golf Courses in Illinois
From the north suburbs of Chicago to Effingham and throughout the state, Illinois is dotted with great golf courses that virtually every golfer will enjoy playing. Once the state finally shakes off the winter weather, you’ll be in for a treat with gorgeous greens and rolling fairways. And whether you’re near the Windy City or taking a tour of one of the state’s flagship universities, make sure that you carve out a little time for a round of golf when you’re there. Here are just four of our golfers’ favorites to give you a good start at playing at some of the best golf courses in Illinois.
Located less than an hour away from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Turtle Run Golf Club in Danville is well worth the short drive. Local golfers and visitors alike agree that the creeks and streams winding throughout the property, the trees and bunkers that are strategically placed, and the four tee box options make this an excellent place to get familiar with nearly every club in your bag. And the quiet setting, hidden among farming land and prairie grasses, lets you focus on and enjoy your full round.
Arrowhead Golf Club, just outside the big city in Wheaton, Illinois, combines three 9-hole layouts into 27 holes of golf from which you can put together a great 18-hole round. Our golfers love the combination of South and East courses, which makes excellent use of the mature trees, well-placed water, and many of the 77 total bunkers. No matter which combination of 18 holes you go for, though, the unique and challenging character makes for a great experience on the course.
Make your way to the northern part of Illinois, northwest of Chicago and just south of the Wisconsin state line, and plan to enjoy a round of golf at Aldeen Golf Club in Rockford. The wide and forgiving fairways invite golfers of every skill level, while the long yardages make sure you are working to keep your score in check. Golfers love that the grounds are consistently well kept, too, and the excellently placed bunkers make sure you take a moment to line up those critical shots.
Built in 1901, Ravisloe Country Club in Homewood, Illinois has been a players’ favorite for decades and considered one of the best golf courses in Illinois. The first hole eases you into your round, but holes 2 and 3 immediately demand some serious drives for their par-5 length (535 and 490 yards, respectively). The final par-5, a 550-yard 13th, really lets golfers cut loose with their driver, but the smaller, protected green will make you sharpen your approach shot or your short game to keep the scorecard tidy.