Cog Hill No. 4 Dubsdread
For decades the best public test in Chicago and a fixture on the PGA Tour, Dubsdread is the jewel of Cog Hill's four courses. Dick Wilson and Joe Lee built it in 1964, and its deep bunkering and elevated greens still give the everyday golfer a taste of championship golf.
Photo: Cog Hill Golf and Country Club via Google.
The verdict
Dubsdread, formally Course No. 4 at Cog Hill, is one of the most important public courses in American golf. Dick Wilson and Joe Lee laid it out in 1964 in Lemont, southwest of Chicago, and its nickname, a knot of dread for the duffer, set the tone for a long, heavily bunkered par 71 that punishes the wayward and rewards the brave. For years it hosted the Western Open and then the BMW Championship, which means amateurs can walk the same fairways where the best players in the world competed for a FedEx Cup playoff title.
That combination of championship pedigree and genuine public access is what makes it special. There are not many courses where a visitor can pay a green fee and play a recent PGA Tour venue, and fewer still that test the game as fully as Dubsdread does. The bunkering is bold and plentiful, the greens are elevated and firm, and the round leaves you with a real sense of what tournament golf demands. Cog Hill's other three courses round out a day or two of golf for a group.
Dubsdread at a glance
- Opened
- 1964
- Designer
- Dick Wilson, Joe Lee
- Type
- Parkland championship
- Par
- 71
- Yardage
- About 7,550 yds
- Green fee
- From around $150
Designer, opening year, par and length verified June 2026 from Cog Hill and leading course databases. Dubsdread was designed by Dick Wilson and Joe Lee and opened in 1964, a par 71 of about 7,550 yards from the championship tees. Indicative 2026 peak season green fees run from around 150 dollars, lower in shoulder season and for twilight play. Fees change by season and year, so always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
Dubsdread asks for two things above all: length and accuracy. The bunkering is the signature, deep and white sanded, pinching the landing zones off the tee and ringing the greens so that a missed approach often leaves an awkward recovery from below the putting surface. Wilson and Lee built the greens up and away from the player, which makes judging distance and spin the heart of the test.
The par 3s are strong and well defended, and the long par 4s demand a confident drive followed by a precise mid or long iron into elevated targets. There is little respite in the routing, which builds steadily toward a demanding closing stretch that decided more than one PGA Tour event. From the back tees it is a genuine examination of every club in the bag, which is why it is best enjoyed from a set of tees that matches your game.
The conditioning is reliably good for a high volume public facility, and Cog Hill grooms Dubsdread to a higher standard than the everyday daily fee. Take a caddie if you can, play it from a sensible tee, and you will come away understanding exactly why this course earned its place on the professional schedule for so long.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Public access; Dubsdread is the flagship of Cog Hill's four courses and open to visitors on a daily fee basis |
| Green fee | Around 150 dollars at peak for Dubsdread, lower in shoulder season and for twilight play; the other Cog Hill courses are priced below it (indicative, 2026) |
| Booking | Reserve online or by phone; prime summer weekend mornings fill early, so book ahead |
| On the day | Walking with a caddie suits the classical layout; carts are available; a collared shirt and the usual daily fee dress |
| Getting there | At Lemont southwest of Chicago, about 40 minutes from downtown and close to Midway Airport |
| Best months | May through October, with high summer the most reliable for warm, settled weather and firm turf |
Access and indicative green fees verified June 2026; they change without notice, so always confirm directly before booking with the club or your trip planner. Check tee time availability.
Where to stay nearby
Most visitors base themselves in downtown Chicago, about 40 minutes northeast, where the full range of luxury hotels, dining and the attractions of one of America's great cities make a rewarding base for a golf trip. A city base also keeps the other great Chicago area courses within reach for a multi day itinerary.
Closer to Cog Hill, the southwest suburbs near Lemont and toward Midway offer plenty of comfortable hotels for golfers who want to be near the first tee for an early round. It is an ideal anchor for a Chicago public golf trip, pairing Dubsdread with the area's other accessible courses. We can build the lodging and the routing around the rounds you want to play.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts around Chicago.
Build a Chicago golf trip
We build a trip around a round at Dubsdread, add the best of Chicago public golf within reach and sort lodging, transfers and tee times. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Cog Hill questions
Who designed Cog Hill No. 4 Dubsdread and when did it open?
Course No. 4, known as Dubsdread, was designed by Dick Wilson and Joe Lee and opened in 1964 at Cog Hill Golf and Country Club in Lemont, Illinois, southwest of Chicago.
What is the par and length of Cog Hill No. 4?
Dubsdread is a par 71 that stretches to about 7,550 yards from the championship tees, a long, heavily bunkered test with elevated, well defended greens.
How much does it cost to play Cog Hill Dubsdread in 2026?
Indicative 2026 peak season green fees run from around 150 dollars, lower in shoulder season and for twilight play. Fees change by season and year, so always confirm directly before booking.
Is Cog Hill Dubsdread a public course?
Yes, Dubsdread is open to the public as the flagship of Cog Hill's four courses. It hosted the Western Open and the BMW Championship for many years, making it one of the most accessible tournament courses in the country.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.