Cantigny Golf
A polished 27 hole public course in the western Chicago suburbs, designed by Roger Packard and named Best New Public Course in America when it opened in 1989, set in the rolling parkland of Cantigny Park.
Photo: Cantigny Golf via Google.
The verdict
Cantigny is one of the best public golf experiences in the Chicago area, a 27 hole Roger Packard design that opened in 1989 and was immediately named Best New Public Course in America by Golf Digest. Laid out across 300 acres of rolling parkland on the former estate of Chicago Tribune publisher Robert McCormick, it offers three distinct nines, the Woodside, Lakeside and Hillside, that combine into three different 18 hole rounds.
What you get is championship conditioning and a genuine test at a public price. The combinations play to a par 72 of roughly 6,831 to 7,055 yards, with mature trees, water and well shaped bunkering giving each nine its own character. Add a serious practice facility and the gardens and museums of Cantigny Park next door, and it is a polished, family friendly day out that punches well above the typical municipal round for a traveling golfer passing through the western suburbs.
Cantigny Golf at a glance
- Opened
- 1989
- Designer
- Roger Packard
- Type
- Public parkland
- Holes
- 27, three nines
- Yardage
- About 6,831 to 7,055 yards
- Green fee
- From about 60 dollars
Designer and details verified June 2026: Cantigny Golf was designed by Roger Packard and opened in 1989 in Wheaton, Illinois, a 27 hole facility whose three nines combine into 18 hole rounds playing to a par 72 of roughly 6,831 to 7,055 yards. Indicative 2026 green fees run from around 60 dollars to 110 dollars including cart, varying by day and season; always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The joy of Cantigny is the variety three nines give you. The Woodside winds through mature trees, the Lakeside brings water into play on several holes, and the Hillside uses the gentle elevation of the old estate, so each 18 hole combination has its own rhythm and you can return and play a genuinely different round. The bunkering is generous and well placed, and the greens are large and true.
It is a course that rewards a thoughtful round rather than just length. Water and trees pinch the right lines on several holes, the par 3s are strong and varied, and the conditioning is consistently among the best of any public course in the region. Five sets of tees on each nine mean a group of mixed abilities can all find a fair test.
For traveling golfers, Cantigny is the smart public round on a Chicago golf trip: well conditioned, varied, easy to book and paired with the parkland setting and museums of Cantigny Park, which makes it an easy add for groups travelling with non golfers.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Public; open to all golfers across the three nines, booked online or through the golf shop |
| Green fee | From about 60 to 110 dollars including cart, indicative 2026; varies by day, season and nine combination |
| Booking | Book online or by phone; weekend mornings in summer fill early |
| On the day | Cart and walking golf with a large practice facility; standard golf dress; an Academy nine and youth links also on site |
| Getting there | In Wheaton in the western Chicago suburbs, about a 45 minute drive from downtown Chicago and the major airports |
| Best months | Roughly April to November; late spring through early fall is prime in the upper Midwest |
Access and fees verified June 2026; public green fees change by day, season and nine combination, so always confirm current rates and availability directly before booking.
Where to stay nearby
Wheaton and the western Chicago suburbs offer plenty of hotels within a short drive of the first tee, and downtown Chicago is close enough for groups who want the city in the evenings. It is an easy, central base for a Chicago area golf trip built around the best public courses in the region.
For a wider Chicago golf trip, Cantigny pairs with the upscale parkland of The Glen Club in Glenview and the forest preserve test at ThunderHawk Golf Club to the north, or see all our United States golf holidays.
Looking for a base nearby? See our recommended hotels and resorts.
Build a Chicago golf trip
We arrange tee times at Cantigny, pair the best public golf across the Chicago area and book the lodging around them. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Cantigny Golf questions
Who designed Cantigny Golf?
Cantigny Golf was designed by Roger Packard and opened in 1989 in Wheaton, Illinois. It is a 27 hole facility whose three nines combine into 18 hole rounds playing to a par 72 of roughly 6,831 to 7,055 yards.
How many holes does Cantigny Golf have?
Cantigny has 27 holes across three nines, the Woodside, Lakeside and Hillside, which combine into three different 18 hole rounds, plus a separate Academy nine and youth links on site.
Is Cantigny Golf open to the public?
Yes. Cantigny is a public course open to all golfers, booked online or through the golf shop, and set in the parkland of Cantigny Park in the western Chicago suburbs.
How much does it cost to play Cantigny Golf?
Indicative 2026 green fees run from around 60 dollars to 110 dollars including cart, varying by day, season and nine combination. Always confirm directly before booking.
Related
The Tee Sheet
Tee time windows, course access changes and the trips worth taking. Every other week.
Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year and design concept verified June 2026; yardage and indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.