Top 10 Hardest Public Golf Courses in Chicagoland

Dubsdread sits in a class by itself among Chicagoland public courses. With a staggering 78.0 course rating, it's a full 2.6 strokes harder than the next course on this list, and its 153 slope is just two ticks below the USGA maximum of 155. At 7,554 yards from the championship tees, it's also one of the longest courses in the entire Midwest.

Originally opened in 1964 and designed by Dick Wilson and Joe Lee, this storied layout hosted the PGA Tour's Western Open from 1991 to 2006, plus multiple BMW Championship events and the 1997 US Amateur. Tiger Woods won five times at Cog Hill and set the Dubsdread course record with a 62 during the 2009 BMW Championship. Rees Jones later renovated the course in 2008. The layout punishes errant shots at every turn, with elevation changes, strategic bunkering, and greens that demand precise iron play. Simply put, there's nothing else like it in the area.

When this Cook County Forest Preserve gem opened in 1982, the local press called it the kind of course "that brings you to your knees, then kicks you in the teeth." Decades later, that assessment still holds up. Designed by Dick Nugent and Ken Killian, the par-72 layout stretches over 7,200 yards and earns a 75.4 rating that trails only Dubsdread in the entire Chicagoland public course database.

Eight ponds create water hazards on eleven holes, and enormous bunkers guard irregularly shaped greens with narrow landing zones. The course architects left nothing to chance here -- every hole is designed to confound. A sign at the first tee box recommends that only golfers carrying a 3 handicap or lower attempt the back tees. It's a real badge of honor to score well at Dunne.

Arthur Hills designed this Grayslake masterpiece, which has served as a US Open qualifying venue four times. The layout winds through a dense forest of over 60,000 trees, with water encroaching on 10 holes. Every hole feels deliberate and requires careful strategy to navigate effectively.

The 150 slope rating is the second highest on this list (behind only Dubsdread), which tells you how severely the course punishes higher-handicap players. Greens are full of tricky, deceptive breaks that reward local knowledge. The par-5 18th is a fitting closer -- a long, dramatic hole that will test every club in your bag before you sign your card.

Tucked away near the Wisconsin border in Harvard, Oak Grove is a hidden track that packs a serious punch. Steven Halberg designed this par-71 layout across 223 acres of rolling terrain featuring a mix of open meadows, wetlands, mature woodlands, and ponds. It opened in 1997 and has earned recognition from the CDGA as one of the toughest courses in the Chicago district.

At just over 7,000 yards from the back tees, Oak Grove relies less on raw length and more on strategic challenge. Five tee placements per hole give every skill level a fair fight, but the championship tees are no joke -- the 75.0 rating and 144 slope confirm that. Bentgrass fairways, tees, and greens are woven through over 50 acres of wetlands and native prairie, creating a course that feels far removed from the typical suburban layout. The drive to Harvard takes some commitment; stay vigilant when you get there.

Tom Fazio transformed a former naval air station into one of the most acclaimed public courses in the midwest. Built at a cost of $27 million, The Glen Club involved moving over 2 million cubic yards of earth and planting 4,000 trees to convert miles of military runways into sweeping fairways. Upon opening in 2001, it became the only course in U.S. history to land on all three major "Top 10 New Course" lists simultaneously.

The 7,170-yard layout features 40 feet of elevation changes and man-made ponds strategically placed throughout. Fazio positioned most water hazards on the left side, theorizing that right-handed golfers tend to miss with a slice. The 74.9 rating and 141 slope put it in the same difficulty tier as Village Links and Mistwood, but the premium green fees (topping out around $220 in 2025) and the beautiful 50,000-square-foot clubhouse give it a distinctly upscale feel. The Glen Club currently hosts the Korn Ferry Tour's NV5 Invitational annually.

Village Links is a beautifully maintained 18-hole course that delivers a surprisingly stiff challenge at municipal prices. At over 7,200 yards from the tips, it's one of the longest muni courses in the area, and the 74.9 rating reflects its teeth. Water comes into play on 14 holes, bunkers are scattered generously, and the greens -- while generally large -- run fast and feature subtle breaks that fool even experienced players.

The entire course was renovated in 2004 by the son of the original architect, adding bentgrass greens and fairways that elevated the playing surface considerably. Village Links has hosted 25 Western Open qualifiers and 5 US Open Sectional Qualifiers, a credential that speaks volumes about the quality and difficulty of the layout. The practice facilities are also top-notch, featuring a grass-tee driving range and a dedicated short game area. For DuPage County golfers, this is championship-caliber golf without the championship price tag.

Broken Arrow is a 27-hole facility in Lockport with three distinct nines -- East, North, and South -- that combine into three different 18-hole configurations. The East/North combination is the one that lands on this list, carrying a 74.9 course rating from the back tees. Bob Lohmann designed all 27 holes in 1996, creating a varied landscape carved from woodlands and rolling terrain.

The East nine is widely considered the most demanding of the three, with sloped fairways, hidden water hazards, and bunkers that require careful course management. The North nine brings a unique twist: it's one of the only courses in the Midwest with a dual-green concept, giving golfers a choice of two flags on each hole to control the difficulty. With 30 bunkers, mature trees, and those massive dual greens full of undulation, the back nine demands precision and smart decision-making. A full driving range and the West Short Links practice facility round out the amenities.

Mistwood is an award-winning layout that leans heavily on strategic design rather than brute length. At just over 7,000 yards, it's the shortest course in the top 10 by yardage, but the 147 slope rating -- third highest on this list -- reveals the truth: this course is a puzzle, and it punishes mistakes severely. These holes look confusing from the tee and demand careful planning.

The stretch from holes 14 through 17, known as Kelpie's Korner, is the signature gauntlet. These four holes surround a 65-acre pond called Loch St. James, and the par-3 14th alone requires a 200-plus yard carry over water from the back tees. Nearly 20 deep sod-wall bunkers are scattered across the property, including one positioned dead center in the 2nd fairway. Playing here with a local who knows the course is highly recommended, because blind approaches and hidden hazards reward experience as much as skill.

Pine Meadow occupies land with deep roots -- a 9-hole course called Libertyville Golf Club opened here in 1927, expanding to 18 holes in 1930. The Jemsek family (who also own Cog Hill) invested an estimated $3 million to rebuild the property in 1985 as Pine Meadow Golf Club, and it opened to widespread acclaim.

The course is both beautiful and relentless. At 7,221 yards, it combines length with nuanced greens that are tough to read correctly. Saint Marys Lake supplies water hazards that come into play on multiple holes, and rolling hills add variety without any jarring elevation swings. Each hole feels like its own distinct challenge, separated enough from its neighbors to create a sense of seclusion. The practice facilities are outstanding, with two driving ranges and multiple greens and bunkers for short game work.

With water in play on 14 of 18 holes, Seven Bridges lives up to its name and then some. The East Branch of the DuPage River runs directly through the heart of this Dick Nugent design, creating an obstacle course that demands accuracy above all else. At 7,111 yards with a 74.6 rating and 144 slope, this course rounds out the top 10 with a layout that combines length and relentless water to create one of the most unforgiving tests in the area.

The layout is as pretty as it is punishing. Heart-shaped bunkers guard the green on the 579-yard 9th hole, a monster par 5 that ranks among the toughest holes on the course. GPS-equipped carts help you navigate the twisting layout and calculate those recovery shots you'll inevitably need. Five tee boxes ensure there's an appropriate challenge for every skill level, with the shortest men's tees playing a more manageable 5,818 yards.