Sydney R. Marovitz Golf Course

Opened on June 15, 1932, at a reported cost of $2 million, Sydney R. Marovitz Golf Course stands as a testament to ambitious civic engineering and Chicago's enduring love affair with golf. The course was built on 71 acres of land that didn't exist prior to construction -- it was literally reclaimed from Lake Michigan with untold truckloads of dirt. The opening ceremony featured legendary golfer Chick Evans and two-time major winner Jock Hutchinson, with the original green fee set at just 25 cents. Designed by architect Edward B. Dearie and owned by the Chicago Park District, this lakefront track has been serving golf-starved Chicagoans for over nine decades.

Originally known as Waveland Golf Course, the facility underwent a controversial name change in 1991 to honor former Park District commissioner Sydney R. Marovitz -- a decision that didn't sit well with Chicago locals. An August 2nd, 1991 Chicago Tribune article captured the sentiment, noting that the Park District "could have filled the bunkers with toxic sludge or planted poison ivy in the rough" and still wouldn't have met the same resistance as the name change. In fact, there’s a petition to change the property back to its original name. Despite the initial controversy, the course has retained its popularity, becoming one of the busiest courses in Chicagoland due to its prime location and accessibility for urban golfers.

The layout itself offers a conventional 9-hole experience stretching 3,265 yards with a course rating of 35.5 and slope of 127. It’s comparable in difficulty to courses like River Bend, the Village Links of Glen Ellyn 9-hole course, and the three Schaumburg courses. With two par-5s and two par-3s, the flat terrain is lined with mature trees along parallel fairways. Your ordnance must be delivered accurately from tee to green. Technically, water comes into play only on the par-3 6th hole, though Lake Michigan looms large on the right side of the longest hole, the par-5 5th. There’s definitely a ball magnet in the lake. Also, if you hit it too far right on hole 7 or 8, you might hit a car on Lake Shore Drive. All part of the psychological torture of Waveland.

As a Chicago Park District facility, Marovitz prioritizes affordable and playable golf over manicured perfection, and considering the heavy usage it receives, the course has some inevitable warts. The greens, while slow and full of unrepaired ball marks, are generally in decent shape, but the fairways aren't as well groomed. The course has developed a reputation for slow play, as its popularity has perhaps become its Achilles heel. Over the years, I've definitely played some excruciatingly slow rounds here, especially on weekends. However, in my most recent round here, we finished in a very reasonable 2 hours and 15 minutes.

The facilities are modest but functional, reflecting the course's no-frills approach to accessible golf. There's no traditional clubhouse at Marovitz, only a small pro shop with just what you need to get on the course and play. Additionally, there’s not a driving range here, but you can swing down to the Diversey range to hit balls. One modestly-sized putting green allows for practice.

Important note on parking: the lot here is a pay lot run by ParkMobile, which charges anywhere from $1.50 to $3/hour. However, the pro shop will give you a special parking pass that provides all-day parking for $2. Make sure to take advantage.