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Winnetka Golf Club
Winnetka Golf Club
1300 Oak St
Winnetka, IL 60093-1618
United States
Telephone
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
100 GREATEST/BEST IN STATE SCORES
Shot Options
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Aesthetics
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Reviews
Review
“I really enjoyed Winnetka Golf Club. It's an easy walk, in great shape, and playable for just about any skill level. The course is fairly tight, so it makes you think a little off the tee, with plenty of risk-reward decisions throughout the round. On many holes, the smart play is to lay back and take advantage of the wider landing areas, but if you're driving it well, there are a lot of opportunities to be aggressive and make birdies. Overall, it's a fun course that rewards good decisions more than pure distance."
Read More2026
Review
“Enjoyable public course at an affordable price point in an area loaded with high end private clubs. Recent renovation has improved drainage but course still plays rather soft and slow."
Read More2026
Review
“This William Langford design that was recently renovated to improve drainage and modernize the grounds has created a better playing surface this year. The architecture now balances classic elements with new features like strategically re-modeled bunkers and rolling, pitched fairways to move water. While some original characteristics the recent redesign significantly updated the course's functionality and aesthetics."
Read More2025
Review
“Pretty public course located just north of Chicago. Very green course winding through forests and meandering around a branch of the Chicago river. Very tight fairways, bring your straight ball. Shot selections on many of the par 4's and a couple of the par 5's require strategy in possibly leaving the driver in the bag. Jacobson renovation last year added more pitched fairways, newer bunkers, and new bent greens. Fairways were very soft, and greens were receptive, but didnt have any pace to them. Not a lot of roll out in either the fairway or on the greens. I was told the course historically has had bad drainage issues, perhaps the reasoning for the soft fairways, and the incredibly bad mosquito problem. Bring your irons and bug spray.... both are needed."
Read More2025
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
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