Cog Hill No. 3
Located about 25 minutes from downtown Chicago, Cog Hill offers four of the region's best public courses. Courses No. 3 Red and No. 4 Dubsdread are the most challenging. The 6,402-yard No. 3 course, selected by Golf Digest as one of the best courses to play in 2008 and 2009, specializes in sloped greens and wooded areas off the fairways. Nearly half of the course is contains traditional holes -- narrow, straight fairways -- but mishit off the tee and the trees will make you pay. Two of the par-3s have water directly in play. The 133-yard fourth is the most difficult, with a bunker protecting the front of the green and water bordering up front and on the sides of the green. Pin placement is usually up front, making a birdie on this hole very tough to come by.
Cog Hill No. 4
If you've managed to survive No. 3 at Cog Hill, sack up some courage and make your way over to the 7,554-yard No. 4 Dubsdread. Ranked as the top public course in the state by Golf Week and Golf World Magazines, this course can eat up even the most composed golfer. It is a yearly stop on the PGA Tour (Western Open 1991-2007, BMW Championship 2007-current), with golfers such as Jim Furyk and Tiger Woods taking home titles. Like the No. 3 course, the layout won't kill you, but the more than 100 bunkers certainly will. Each hole has a tight landing area, and the greens are encompassed by deep bunkers. The 497-yard par-4 seventh is one of the signature holes, with a newly designed green pushed right up against a pond. The 456-yard, par-4 16th is also a staple. It's a steep dogleg left, with two fairway bunkers just off the landing area and three bunkers bordering the green.
Best of the Rest
Pine Meadow Golf Club. This 7,238-yard course has more water than most courses in this area, with the wet stuff coming into play on seven holes. The toughest stretch comes late in the round, with streams cutting into the fairways at the 13th and 14th, and another stream darting in front of 15th green and circling up around it.
Harborside International Golf Center. This stop has two courses, with the Port course overshadowing the Starboard course. The 7,164-yard Portside offers the best view of the Chicago skyline of any course in the area and is lined with beautiful lakes while still staying true to its links design. Off the course, enjoy the magnificent views and great food at its pier restaurant.
Orchard Valley Golf Course. This 6,800-yard course has a bit of everything -- wetlands, lakes, bunkers and even a waterfall. The facility is one of the best in the region, with a 15,000-square foot clubhouse with gift shops and a full-service restaurant.
Navy Pier
While the golfer in your family is on the course, make sure to stop at Navy Pier. With more than 40,000 square feet of retail spaces and restaurants, the pier is an absolute must for the first-time Chicagoland visitor. Located on Lake Michigan, just east of downtown Chi-Town, the pier is particularly bustling on big holidays, such as New Year's Eve and the Fourth of July. It houses and IMAX and a park, which regularly hosts festivals. You'll be sure to encounter something new on every trip.
About The Author
Sean Quinn is a writer and editor based in New York City. He has spent the last decade covering major sporting events from the NFL playoffs to the U.S. Open. He has written for the Kansas City Star and ESPN, among others. He is a graduate of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University.
