



.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.966.644.suffix/1735605899468.jpeg)

Overview
This affordable public course is located among a star-studded roster of neighbors in Chicago’s North Side, most of which are private clubs. The first holes are believed to date to 1917, with nine more added in the 1920s, set on a fairly flat, elongated property that forced the holes to be laid out in north-south directions. Though convenient and accessible, the course drained poorly and the city hired architect Rick Jacobson to renovate it with the principle goal of making it playable after rains and becoming a stormwater retention site for the surrounding community through the expansion of a series of connected lakes and canals that run through the site. Reopened in late summer 2024, Winnetka is more functional than before, and also more attractive due to new turf and Jacobson’s new bunkers that sit better into their surrounds and feature a less formal lacy edge.
About
Panelists
Ratings from our panel of 1,900 course-ranking panelists
Reviews
Review
“Winnetka has improved through the recent renovation but the course is not drastically different or improved enough to contend for a best in state designation in Illinois. Although some of the playing lines, fws and greens have been cleaned up, the routing has largely remained the same and unaltered. The course is a solid value and a great asset for public golfers in northern Chicago. The flat swampy land and high level of play makes the course difficult to keep well maintained. Although the drainage seems drastically improved around the couse, the rennovations are not immediately obvious from the prior course."
Read More2024
Review
“well it has some history being 107 years old. William Langford was the original architect laying out 9 holes that no longer exists in 1917. Charles Wagstaff who designed many courses in Illinois I think is the primary architect here as the renovation/restoration done by local-based architect Rick Jacobson did not alter the routing at all. He spruced up the course visually with jagged-edge bunkers fringed with fescue, moved some water features a little closer to the line of play, thinned out a lot of trees and reshaped and expanded the greens to create more pin positions. The tightness of the golf course and water in a few spots are the ultimate defense. Jacobson’s primary goal was to alleviate the flooding that occurred on the golf course after heavy rains. Mission accomplished as I played it two days after a few days of heavy rains in the area. He did this primarily by creating movement in the fairways so water can drain off them. Holes I liked included the short 6th at 363 yards that really was a tight drive with trees and water in the landing zone. The slight dog-leg right 16th that had an excellent green complex. The hardest hole was the 223 yards 17th that had OB right and water left."
Read More2024
Review
“Recent renovations significantly improved the turf conditions at Winnetka, and puts course on par with several other recently renovated municipal tracks on the North Shore."
Read More2024
Readers
Collection of reviews from our readers
There are no readers reviews yet. Be the first to write a review.