ChicagoGolf3493

Tuckaway is a fun course. Most holes have a very open layout with a few trees lining the wide fairways, but the greens are very small and crowned. The course is very playable for the beginner but the greens make it challenging enough to keep better players interested. Fairways and rough are spotty but at $38 for a weekend morning is still a great value if you're willing to make the 45 minute drive from downtown Chicago.

I played Sandy Pines during the COVID-19 pandemic so I can't speak to the off-course amenities, but everything about this course is top-notch, from the range, to the brand new GPS carts, to the conditions of the track itself. There's a level of public courses that are like Sandy Pines-they've figured out how to make the golfing experience the best that it can be- and then there's everybody else. The course is absolutely beautiful with so many memorable shots and views. My only complaint is that there are too many par-4s that feel a little gimmicky and you have to hit a mid-long iron off the tee to avoid water or bunkering. However, it does keep the round fun and interesting and I would prefer that over the playing the same dead straight 400 yard par 4 over and over again. I drove about an hour and 20 minutes from Chicago to play and it was well worth the $30 to play 18 at 3pm with a cart. Sandy Pines is an absolute no brainer to play in Northwest Indiana.

This is not your typical 9 hole muni/parks district course. Centennial Park is a hidden gem, just 30 minutes south of Downtown Chicago. The pro shop staff was friendly and accommodating, and there's a full driving range with grass tees and a practice green. The course has a beautiful layout with a linksy feel and rolling mounds on both sides of the fairways. Unlike most small muni courses, there are 4 sets of dedicated tee boxes and a variety of different hole setups including 500+ yard par 5's, par 3's that require accurate long irons, and a few driveable par 4's that are anything but boring with elevation changes and bunkers guarding the greens for high risk/reward shots. The course is not the most walkable, and I would probably get a cart next time, but it's still a great value at $11 on a weekday afternoon. This course was an incredibly pleasant surprise, I may never play any Chicago Park District courses again after stumbling on Centennial Park.

The Meadows is a great little course that's only 25-30 minutes from downtown without traffic. Probably the best value for the money in the area, you can get on for $25-50 for the most part depending on when you play. Wide open links-style feel on most holes with 4 sets of tees, grass bunkers and sand traps guard most greens, with not much water. As long as you don't show up expecting a country club you'll have a great time playing here, although for the most part the greens and fairways are in very good shape. Good food in the clubhouse for cheap prices. This is the ideal course if you live close to the city on a budget.

Love playing Lost Marsh. As other reviews state, the first 5 holes are challenging (bring extra balls) but the view from the first tee is incredible. You can easily forget you are in NW Indiana because it feels like Florida golf...almost. After you get through the first five holes, the course gets a lot easier with some driveable par-4s and more of a links-feel that will make you feel like you're up the road at Harborside. Great halfway house that you pass after the 7th and 11th holes, and there is almost always a beverage cart out. My only knock on this course is the pace, it will take you at least 4.5 hours on a weekend but thats more due to the course's design than poor management. Grass driving range with a nice short game area and a very nice clubhouse. This course is only about 30 minutes from the Chicago loop and costs about $30 less than you would pay at Harborside. Lost Marsh is perfect for city golfers who are up for a challenge.

Probably will not play this course again unless I'm desperate. Showed up for my tee time and it was a 20 minute wait for carts. The group coming off 9 was playing in a 9 person group with 3 carts, starter saw and didn't do anything. Finally got to play and 9 holes took 3 hours which seems almost impossible. Group ahead of us was still waiting to tee off on every hole when we got to the tee box... inexcusable and just poor management. The course itself is easy, no sand and barely any water. The only perk is that it's about 20 minutes from the city.

Walked 18 yesterday morning for $31 and was pleasantly surprised by Sportsman’s. The course is in great shape and wasn’t overcrowded. Food at the turn was well above average for a halfway shack. Wish they had a grass range. Will definitely be back.

I always enjoy playing Waters Edge, not too bad getting to from the loop and a solid course. Fairways and rough are in good condition, greens typically are beat up but they weren’t bad today. Some challenging holes but not overpowering for a 20+ handicap. Negatives: busy weekday and the halfway house was closed, but there was a cart girl out; traps had basically no sand in them; and the pace is always awful... 2.5 hour back 9 on a Tuesday afternoon... This course is close to becoming a really nice place to play if they can figure a few things out.

Thought course #3 would be in much better shape considering this is Cog Hill. Course #3 is supposed to be an easier course and is cheaper than the others, but was not worth the $55 to play. The rough is overgrown, full of dandelions and other weeds, and looks like it hadn't been cut in weeks. I shouldn't be losing balls when I hit them two yards off the fairway. Even the grass around the tee boxes didn't look like it hadn't been cut in a while either. The fairways were also covered in clumps of grass clippings. I know its earlier in the season but Cog #3 was one of the worst courses I have played in the Chicago area.

White Pines West is a solid course and for $40 after 1pm its a great value. The West course provides a test with some longer par 5's than the East. They recently upgraded their carts with GPS included. Pace of play was slow (5 hour round) but mostly due to cart path only, and bunkers need more sand, but other than that it is a well maintained track. Great option close to the North side of Chicago.