4 Best Golf Courses in Chicago (2026)

Independently ranked by our review of ratings, reviews and reputation · How we chose

By Vespera Quill, Expert in Local Experiences and Cultural Analysis · ✓ Data verified August 2026 · 8 min read

A tee time in Chicago can mean a $25 muni round on the North Side or a $200 Fazio-designed round in Glenview, and the gap between them is bigger than the scorecard. These golf courses in Chicago have logged over 2,100 Google reviews between them, and the ratings run from 4.3 up to a perfect 5.0, so the real work is matching the course to what you actually want out of eighteen (or nine) holes.

Short answer: Five Iron Golf holds a perfect 5.0 rating across 654 reviews, the top score on this page, with simulators, coaching, and a sports bar built for year-round play. The Glen Club carries the most reviews at 709 and is the closest thing here to a championship experience, with green fees running well past $200, while Diversey Driving Range and Robert A. Black Golf Club offer budget-friendly practice and 9-hole rounds on the North Side.

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1. Five Iron Golf
2. The Glen Club
3. Diversey Driving Range…
4. Robert A. Black Golf C…
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Chicago's Golf Spots, Side by Side

#	Business	Rating	Reviews	Best for
1	Five Iron Golf	5.0 ★	654	Simulator play and coaching	View ›
2	The Glen Club	4.5 ★	709	Premium golf and overnight stays	View ›
3	Diversey Driving Range & Mini Golf	4.3 ★	406	Practice range and casual mini golf	View ›
4	Robert A. Black Golf Club	4.3 ★	375	Budget-friendly 9-hole rounds	View ›

Where to play, reviewed

#1 Overall🕑 Open 7 days

Five Iron Golf

5.0654 Google reviews

Five Iron Golf in Lincoln Park is an indoor golf simulator lounge with Trackman technology, on-site instructors, and a sports bar attached. It's built for year-round practice in a city where outdoor courses close for months, offering everything from casual sim rentals to custom club fittings with Callaway Tour Fitting. Coaches run one-on-one and small-group lessons alongside swing evaluations.

What people praise

A perfect 5.0 rating, the highest on this page
Reviewers repeatedly name specific coaches for genuinely improving their swing
Simulators let you play courses like Pebble Beach regardless of Chicago weather
Kid-friendly rentals including lefty clubs

Reputation scorecardrank in Chicago

Rating5 / 5

Review volume654 · 86th

Confidencevery high

Recency4 weeks ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown97% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The top rating on this page, and the reviews back it up with specifics rather than vague praise. The best pick if you want instruction or a place to practice through a Chicago winter.

Website +1800-513-5153 Directions

1000 W North Ave A200, Chicago, IL 60642

#2↩ Responds to reviews

The Glen Club

4.5709 Google reviews

The Glen Club in Glenview is a Tom Fazio-designed championship course built on the former Glenview Naval Air Station, about 20 miles north of downtown Chicago. It pairs the course with a 48,000-square-foot clubhouse, overnight accommodations, and a full-service restaurant, and it's been recognized as a Top 100 golf course. It's the closest thing on this page to a destination golf experience rather than a quick round.

What people praise

Consistently praised for course conditioning and scenic terrain
Full hotel and dining on site, useful for out-of-town groups
Staff and front-desk service draw specific, repeated praise

Worth knowing

Pace-of-play enforcement frustrated at least one reviewer during a busy round
Green fees run well over $200, the steepest on this page

Reputation scorecardrank in Chicago

Rating4.5 / 5

Review volume709 · 92nd

Confidencehigh

Recency5 weeks ago

Info completenesssite · phone

Rating breakdown67% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The rating sits a notch below the top two, weighed down by a handful of service complaints, but the course itself and the overall experience are the most upscale here by a wide margin.

Website +1847-724-7272 Directions

2901 W Lake Ave, Glenview, IL 60026

#3🕑 Open 7 days↩ Responds to reviews

Diversey Driving Range & Mini Golf

4.3406 Google reviews

Diversey Driving Range & Mini Golf is a Chicago Park District facility on Lake Michigan, offering a synthetic turf driving range, two putting greens, and eighteen holes of miniature golf with heated hitting bays for cold-weather practice. It's a public, budget-friendly option aimed at casual golfers and families rather than serious course play.

What people praise

Lakefront views reviewers call a real draw for the price
Friendly, welcoming staff mentioned repeatedly
Good for a low-key afternoon with kids

Worth knowing

Restroom cleanliness came up as a complaint from at least one visitor
Limited nearby free parking

Reputation scorecardrank in Chicago

Rating4.3 / 5

Review volume406 · 75th

Confidencehigh

Recency7 weeks ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown60% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: A solid, affordable practice option rather than a full course. It ranks lower on this page mainly on volume and a slightly softer average rating.

Website +1773-661-0105 Directions

141 W Diversey Pkwy, Chicago, IL 60657

#4🕑 Open 7 days↩ Responds to reviews

Robert A. Black Golf Club

4.3375 Google reviews

Robert A. Black Golf Club is a public nine-hole Chicago Park District course on the city's North Side, built with elevated tees and spacious fairways. It's a walkable neighborhood course aimed at beginners and regulars who want a quick, inexpensive round without driving out to the suburbs.

What people praise

Reviewers repeatedly call it a well-conditioned course for the price, around $25
Short enough to walk, but not so short it feels like a pitch-and-putt
Popular with regulars who play it weekly

Worth knowing

Can get busy at peak times

Reputation scorecardrank in Chicago

Rating4.3 / 5

Review volume375 · 64th

Confidencehigh

Recency5 weeks ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown59% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The smallest review base on this page, but the sentiment is strongly positive for what it is: a well-kept, budget municipal course for a fast local round.

Website Book now +1773-596-2581 Directions

2045 W Pratt Blvd, Chicago, IL 60645

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How we score

Rating is the live Google average for each business. Review volume measures how many customers actually left a review, ranked against the others on this page. Confidence blends the two, so a strong rating backed by thousands of reviews scores higher than the same rating on a handful. Recency checks how recently people are still reviewing. No business can pay to change any of these numbers.

How much does golf cost in Chicago? (2026)

Prices vary sharply by whether you’re playing a municipal park district course, an indoor simulator lounge, or a private championship club. Time of day, day of week, and season all move the number.

Job	Typical price
9-hole municipal round (e.g. Robert A. Black)	around $25
Championship round at The Glen Club	over $200

Prices compiled August 2026 directly from each business’s own published pricing and reviewer mentions.

Serving all of Chicago

These courses and facilities span the city and North Shore, from Fulton Market and Lincoln Park inside the city to Glenview and the lakefront driving range near Diversey Harbor. Whether you’re searching for a golf course near me downtown or a suburban round with the family, there’s a fit here within a short drive or an easy train ride from most Chicago neighborhoods.

What to ask before you book

Is tee time reservation required, or can you walk on?
What’s included in the green fee (cart, range balls, clubs)?
Are lessons or club fittings available on site?
Is the course or venue walkable, or cart-only?
What’s the cancellation or weather policy for booked tee times?
Are there age restrictions or kid-friendly hours?

Frequently asked questions

Are these rankings paid?

No. Rankings come from public Google data. A business can pay to be a Featured Partner (badge and top placement), but that never changes another business’s score or position.

How did you choose these golf courses?

We pulled real Google ratings and review counts for golf courses, driving ranges, and indoor golf venues across Chicago, then ranked them by a mix of rating, review volume, and how recently people are still reviewing.

What’s the difference between Five Iron Golf and a traditional course?

Five Iron Golf is an indoor simulator lounge, not an outdoor course. It’s built for coaching, club fitting, and practice year-round, including through Chicago winters, while The Glen Club, Diversey Driving Range, and Robert A. Black are all real outdoor golf facilities.

Where can I golf indoors in Chicago during winter?

Five Iron Golf in Lincoln Park runs simulators and lessons year-round, and Diversey Driving Range has heated, covered hitting bays for cold-weather practice.

How often is this updated?

We refresh ratings and review counts periodically. This page reflects data verified in August 2026.

The bottom line

For a genuine round, Robert A. Black is the safe, budget-friendly default and The Glen Club is the splurge. Book tee times ahead for weekends no matter which course you pick.

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