Chicago Munis

[Gary Daughters]

Does anyone have perspective to share regarding municipal golf courses in Chicago? Are they abundant relative to other metro areas? Are there any that stand out in terms of quality/popularity or that are actively engaged in growing the game through various outreach programs? Thanks for any responses.

[Ian Mackenzie]

Gary -


Are you seeking info on munis in the CITY of Chicago (~3m people) or in the greater Chicagoland area (~12M people)?


In the city, the Chicago Park District has several courses that are now managed by Kemper Sports (who also manages Bandon and Sand Valley, btw...;-)


https://www.cpdgolf.com/


If you are looking in the area, then:


1. Chicagoland has TONS of munis; too many to count.
2. Notables:
 - https://www.golfmtprospect.com/
 - https://glencoegolfclub.com/
3. Active community outeach:
 - https://www.canalshores.org/
 - https://firstteegreaterchicago.org/canal-shores-capital-campaign/
 

[Adam Lawrence]

I’d like to play the Downers Grove muni, which was CBM’s original Chicago Golf Club course, the first eighteen hole course in America. I believe a couple of his holes survive (but don’t have proof). I’m amazed the city doesn’t make more of it.

[Gary Daughters]

Canal Shores looks a lot like a Chicago muni I played in 1996 during the Democratic convention. I hooked up with two locals, one of whom was playing barefoot, and they were kind enough to introduce me afterward to their favorite neighborhood haunts. It was a great time and the genesis for my interest.

[Ira Fishman]

Gary,


A very long time ago, I grew up playing munis in the Chicago area. Ian's post is spot on. There are still a bunch (I moved away a long time ago) so the answer really depends on what and why you are looking. If you are relocating to the Chicago area, there are several posters on here that can help.


Ira

[Daryl "Turboe" Boe]

I’d like to play the Downers Grove muni, which was CBM’s original Chicago Golf Club course, the first eighteen hole course in America. I believe a couple of his holes survive (but don’t have proof). I’m amazed the city doesn’t make more of it.

I played it a couple years ago after finishing up my day at Chicago Golf Club.  I could not resist the common history, but what I knew would be very uncommon realities.  After one of the greatest mornings of my golfing life, not only finally playing a place I had wanted so bad to see, loving every inch of the place, playing one of the best rounds of my life, I headed over. 


It was unique (if not architecturally stunning), and suffice it to say my morning foursome did not include a guy in jean shorts, a guy in a tee-shirt, and a guy in a Cubs jersey!   But it was a glorious day overall...

[MCirba]

I’d like to play the Downers Grove muni, which was CBM’s original Chicago Golf Club course, the first eighteen hole course in America. I believe a couple of his holes survive (but don’t have proof). I’m amazed the city doesn’t make more of it.

Agreed.  For those who have played Downers Grove, is it worth a visit?  Anyone know how much CBM is left?

[John Challenger]

Sometime before COVID, I played Downers Grove GC. It's a great piece of land that somehow survived amongst the highway and commercial development around it.  Someone or some group seems to be working on the course because the name was changed in 2023 to Belmont GC and they apparently reconstituted some of the original bunkers. Six of the original holes still exist. This all from the website. Need to go visit it again this summer.


There are so many good munis in Chicago. Dubsdread at Cog Hill, Cantigny, Ruffled Feathers (Pete Dye), Pine Meadow (originally William Flynn...now disappeared), George W. Dunne National, Mount Prospect, Mistwood, Glen Club, Village Links of Glen Ellyn, Winnetka GC (William Langford), Glencoe GC, Canal Shores (unique and built in and around the city of Evanston), Ravisloe CC (Donald Ross), Bonnie Brook GC (James Foulis), Highlands of Elgin.

[Jeff_Brauer]

I’d like to play the Downers Grove muni, which was CBM’s original Chicago Golf Club course, the first eighteen hole course in America. I believe a couple of his holes survive (but don’t have proof). I’m amazed the city doesn’t make more of it.

Curious, I looked at their website.  It says holes holes 1, 2, 4, 7, 8 & 9 are part of the original routing.  Almost all features appear to be changed.


I haven't been at a Chicago Muni since I moved to DFW in 1984, but at the time, I recall having a course list and there were approximately 130 t 140 of both private and public courses at the time, said to be as many as any area in the country.  I certainly never had trouble finding a place to play.  I was close to Mt. Prospect, and always enjoyed it.  It is probably better now after a renovation.


I worked at Glencoe Golf Club for two summers, and visited again when I had some consulting work in Chicago in 2016.  Oddly, the pro didn't want me to grab a cart and tour, not believing I ever worked there.  A maintenance worker happened to come in the shop and the pro asked if he knew me.  Of course, he didn't because of how long ago I worked there, but I mentioned that I worked with guys named Jose, Victor, Juan, etc.  He said Victor was his great uncle or something, and with that confirmation they let me take a tour.  I had less trouble getting on Chicago Golf Club, LOL. 


If you play there, you would have the pleasure of playing some Jeff Brauer designed greens, albeit under the brand of Killian and Nugent, including one of my faves, the 15th.  That was significant to me, because after looking at a lot of Colt and Allison greens around Chicago, I noted that they designed roundish greens, but with the high points on the outside corners, which gave the green edge a rolling profile.  K and N always put the mounds on the inside corners, and the profile of the top green edge was always pretty flat.  I remember Ken coming out and saying the green looked nice from the tee, but when we got on the surface, he said we have to change it to put the mounds on the inside curves, because "that is how we do things" despite liking the look of the rolling green and it's "new" (to him) styled. Such is the life of a design associate, LOL.


Sorry for the digression.

[Kalen Braley]

No discussion of Chicago publics is complete without mention of the Reverse Jans National

Can't find the original thread, maybe its gone, but I hope its still out there.  One of the best threads ever produced on GCA, legendary status... right up there with the rabbit at Pebble.

Did find this thou.

https://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,62108.0.html

[SL_Solow]

The thread was about Munis, not Publics.  As our friend Mike Young has reminded us, Munis enjoy significant tax advantages and often our not subject to pressures created by the profit motive.  However, they also are able to provide a lower cost introduction to the game and an amenity to the community they serve.


Several of the courses mentioned are privately owned.  Cog Hill and Pine Meadow are owned by the first family of public golf, the Jemseks.  Mistwood is privately owned as is Ravisloe.  Ruffled Feathers is not a Muni.  I believe Cantigny is owned by a trust created by the McCormick estate.


There are other wonderful Munis.  In the north suburbs Sunset Valley, Deerpath and Lake Bluff are worth playing.  In the south suburbs, Flossmoor transformed a highly forgettable Public into the interesting Coyote Run.


Finally, a reference to the Reverse Jans really speaks to Canal Shores, once named Peter Jans.  It is currently undergoing a remarkable renovation by way of a public/private partnership.  It is a model for what active golfers can do to create a great affordable place to learn and play the game.

[Chris_Blakely]

I’d like to play the Downers Grove muni, which was CBM’s original Chicago Golf Club course, the first eighteen hole course in America. I believe a couple of his holes survive (but don’t have proof). I’m amazed the city doesn’t make more of it.

Agreed.  For those who have played Downers Grove, is it worth a visit?  Anyone know how much CBM is left?

Finally played Belmont (FKA Downers Grove) earlier this Spring on a work trip to Chicago.  There is not much CBM left other than the routing of several holes.  The person I was paired up to golf with was a long time member and said in the 90s the course was renovated and the remaining greens were altered.  My observations after playing other Raynor / CBM / Charles Banks / Ralph Barton courses was in line with the gentleman I played with.  The greens bare no resemblance to any of that school of design that I have played.


However, knowing you are a 'muni rat' as I believe you have said on previous posts, the course plays over some great rolling terrain (that is walkable) and is conditioned very well for a 9 hole muni.  I very much enjoyed my round, but was sad to not see much CBM remaining.


There are other hidden gem courses in the Chicago system (if one is looking for old school features / greens) that I would seek out before this one.


Chris

[MCirba]

Thanks for the info, Shel & Chris B.   


When I finally make it to Chicago Downers Grove and Reverse Jans are on my short list.   

[Jeff Schley]

Like many I played muni's most of my life.  SW suburbs and the Joliet Park District has three (Wedgewood, Innwood, Woodruff). Wedgewood is the strongest, but grew up at Innwood.
Also love George W. Dunne National just a little east in Oak Forest.
Heritage Bluff down in Channahon is a very nice muni, I believe still operated by the Channahon Park District.

[Jim O’Kane]

...

[Mark Smolens]

Thanks for the info, Shel & Chris B.   


When I finally make it to Chicago Downers Grove and Reverse Jans are on my short list.   

It will be hard to make the Reverse Jans happen unless you are here on a playable day in December-February when the course is closed. Watching Phil McDade take out a faux antique gas streetlight while hitting an approach shot across the street was something I'll never forget.