Jackson Park Golf Course

Jackson park golf course (est 1899) is the first public golf course in Illinois. It is also one of the earliest public courses in the nation, and world. Its success may have contributed to the growth of public courses, and the game of golf as a whole.
The course, by today’s standards would be considered basic and simple. However, distances are challenging, there are a few very competitive 3s, 4s, and a 560yrd par 5. A fair number of greens are protected by hazards too.
Course conditions could always improve. Greens are not the best, fairways are not perfect, neighborhood isn’t desirable… but,
This course should be played by every golfer! Too much history to be denied.
I am from the opposite side of town and played this course 50+ times over 35 years. I love this course.

Very scenic, there is a club house for parking. It is to the right of the statue if you are facing the back of the statue.
Very nice people who come play here. The park rangers are also very helpful and nice as well. The golf course is huge! You can also drive down to the driving range and practice your swings. That is to the left of the statue and then you just cross the bridge and to your left there will be a sign that reads «driving range» turn into there and park. There is complimentary water provided at the driving range. The owner downer is no shades, when it gets hot out, it is VERY hot! Also parking costs money at the driving range, may be better off parking at the club house and walking over. though I do see people parking all the way up to where the range is, but I did read a sign that says authorized vehicles only, so not sure if it is permitted. Though think of it as you are contributing back to the fees to maintain this park!

This is a great walking course and the greens crew has really done a good job keeping it in relatively good shape considering the amount of play it gets (except the bunkers). My only complaint is the lack of a starter OR marshall on the course so there is no order to the tee groups. You can have a single behind a five some followed by a threesome. I stopped by the course Friday around 1pm thinking I could sneak in a quick 18 but saw six guys in the first fairway playing together. There was two holes open between them and the next group so I turned around and left. Most players are respectful and considerate of their pace of play but six guys are going to hold up everyone behind them. Get a course marshall, and buy some sand for the bunkers. I moved here in 1996 and have played JP regularly since that time. I don’t ever recall the bunkers having any actual sand, just powdered dirt or mud.

Great course. Had an amazing time here. Some positives.
Course wasn’t crowded on a gorgeous day. Huge plus. Way better than stupid Sydney Marovitz.
I was putting lights out.
Course is in good shape. For the price, it’s incredible.
We had a cheering section from the bus stop near one of the tee boxes. Commuters were cheering for me after I absolutely piped my drive like Shooter McGavin.
Great course. Good management. Easy in and easy out. If you want to roll in putts, hit up Jackson Park. I was slam dunking putts from all over the place and I’m not even good at putting. This course made me feel like Ben Crenshaw.

I played this course for the first time in late November. I got a deal online, 18 holes for $ 16 bucks.
I’m sitting there on a Par 5, not a soul in site. How can I have a massive expanse of land, in the middle of a major urban city, all to myself, for just $ 16 bucks? No rush, no fuss, take as much time as you damn well please.
Sure, the course isn’t exquisitely manicured, but neither were the original links courses in Scotland. The value here is off the charts.
If you’re a spoiled, rarified dandy that needs perfect conditions, this isn’t your place. For everyone else, Jackson Park rocks out loud.

Half of the fun is guarding your clubs from hobos as you tee off from an intersection on the 13^th hole. Can’t beat JP National!

Very well maintained for late in the season. Had a great time, both challenging and relaxed at the same time. Great Chicago gem.

With new management the city courses are looking better, pace is slightly improved, and price is still good. Fairways are now distinguishable from the greens. Bunkers still need work. JP is fun, close, inexpensive, and improving.

I played this course last summer, and was very disappointed. The course was in brutal condition. I wondered if they every watered it? The fairways were brown, the sand was as hard as rock, and the greens weren’t in great shape either. CPDG really needs to step their game up if they’re going to charge what they do.

I have written a review of a few other Chicago golf courses, this one ranks as my favorite. Not only does it offer 18 holes of golf, but it comes at a great price. For a weekend rate prime time, you can play through it for 40 with a cart… great deal for Chicago (in the city) golf, in my opinion.
The staff is very nice, the clubhouse offers everything you might need (sometimes small events too)… they are working to make the course nicer (tee box and green work) but they are not in terrible shape as is. Most of the time the place is in good condition and you can play through a fast 18 without having to wait. The layout is not terribly difficult, but every aspect of this place is worth the price.
A few holes have water, a few you need to draw around trees, and the rest you are smooth sailing to a nice round of 18 holes just south of the city.

This is the best public place to play golf in the city. I’m still a newer player and there is a lot of waiting and does take a long time to play on a busy day but the people here make it great! Cary runs the golf shop and he is outstanding!
We still travel out to the suburbs on weekends but Jackson Park is a great place to play and visit while still in the city.
We will be there numerous times this summer!

Agree with Marc C… Course is perfect for beginning to mediocre golfers or anyone just going out to have a leisurely round. Sand traps might as well be concrete, and tee boxes leave something to be deisred but for the $$$ and location really not a bad course.

This course is great if you’re just looking to have a relaxing time with the boys. The course is pretty wide open, it’s well maintained, and extremely reasonable.
Things to remember:
18 Holes
Sometimes get backed up on weekends
Beverage cart on the course
You can either walk or get a cart
Expect to spend about $ 25 for a round of 18

I played Jackson Park Golf Course on a Wednesday in early April when it was a bit windy and around 50 degrees. Despite the subpar weather conditions, JPGC delivered a quality morning of 18-​hole golf that anyone could appreciate, especially in place of heading into work. The greens were well maintained and not too trampled, rough thick but not overgrown, and the fairways wide yet lacking that typical brown beatdown look they typically tend to take on later in the year when its warmer and drier. We did not wait, likely due to the timing and temperature, and finished 18 in around 3.5 hours walking at a leisurely pace.
The best part is clearly the price at this very fun course, with LOTS and LOTS of challenging, well placed bunkers. Use your Chicago card and get $ 5 off for a total of around $ 15 – 22, depending on timing.
JPGC is a great place to work on your game while not breaking the bank.
Definitely will return for another late mid-​week round.
Holes 18
Par 70 (M) 71 (W)

Tees Rating Slope Yardage
Men (B) 65.7 109 5,444
Men (W) 65.1 108 5,327
Men ® 63.5 104 4,982

Women (B) 70.4 113 5,444
Women (W) 69.7 112 5,327
Women ® 67.8 108 4,982

Course Architect: Tom Bendelow
Greens: Bent Grass
Fairways: Rye Grass

Club Rentals: Yes
Practice Facilities:
*- Driving Range
*- Putting Green
*- Mat tees
*- PGA instruction
Dining Facilities: Snack Bar
Dress Code: Appropriate Golf Attire

The best thing about this course is that it only costs $ 19 (on weekdays with a player’s advantage card) and it is easy to drive to from the North side. It is the only 18 hole course operated by Chicago Park District.
The course itself is very easy with only one hole with water in play. Fairways are wide and there are few trees and bunkers in the way. The overall condition was horrible this summer and left some fairways in poor condition. The pace of play can be very slow as there are lots of beginners and hackers that play here. It takes 4:30 to finish when I play Fridays around noon.

Good course, wide fairways
Gas carts are lame, need to be electric!
and can we get a decent parking lot and a drink/​snack cart?

Forget its on the southside for a second. They’ve actually put money into the course. you cant pay $ 22 and compare it to highland park or northbrook — that’s not fair… it is getting better though. For the rate and for the sake of stepping out for an early tee time (6 am, 1 day notice — you can’t beat that)…
By the way, I play alot, so I know you get what you pay for… played some crappy courses in better neighborhoods and parted with $ 50 and felt like crap

Jackson Park fills a need. There really aren’t enough cheap, accessible golf courses within 10 miles of downtown Chicago, but Jackson Park is one of them.
With that said, anybody who thinks this golf course is «well-​maintained» has never played a real golf course before. This course looks like what would happen if Marovitz golf course didn’t shave for 3 weeks. The rough is thick and uneven. The fairway is pretty thick too, which makes driving distances short. This is OK though; the course itself can’t be more than 5500 yards. Many of the greens have huge, gaping imperfections on them, however they are definitely not unplayable.
Be prepared to cross the street a couple times during the course of your round. Be prepared to hear ambulance and police sirens. Be prepared to avoid large packs of children playing in fields that abut the course on the right side of one or two of the early holes. Be prepared to buy a few Busch heavies from the guy selling them out of his backpack around the turn.
There are no riding carts here. Still, for under $ 20 for a full round of golf, this deal is hard to argue with given the location.

I played here for the first time today. It’s a well-​maintained 18-​hole course that we got for $ 15 per person. It’s not pristine by any means but really good for a park district. There were some good views of the lake and it didn’t seem «shady» at all. No bums talked to us so maybe we were lucky!
The most interesting part of this course was that the reds were right by the whites on almost all holes except for the par 5’s. What’s up with that? I didn’t get much of an advantage at all. UGH!
We finished in 4 hours flat which means we played at a good pace and more importantly so did the people in front of us. I would definitely play here again. It’s fairly easy and straight, only a couple dog-​legs and only 2 holes with water. Otherwise it played sort of like Columbus Park but a little better manicured and maintained.
Please note: You will have to fight with the Canadian Geese for your space but they’re not that bad.

I am a beginner golfer and went to the 18-​hole course here with my bf. I really didn’t want to go here because my brother and his friend were once mugged at gunpoint here at 10am on a Sunday like 2 years ago! The guy was on foot and took their money and cell phones etc. Um, YIKES. So… yes it’s stupid that I came here but I was duped by my bf. So that gives you a sense of the area. There are some beggars walking around who come up to you on random holes. One of them randomly went up to my bf and asked if his name was Brian… he said no… and she left. Go figure.
Anyway… the price is good! doesn’t seem well-​manicured but maybe it was because we went a day after it rained? I don’t know. On occasion you get some great views while you’re out there. :) However, I was so not having fun dodging TONS of goose poop somewhere between holes 8 – 10 or something like that (I can’t really remember). But personally I found all the goose poop very distracting! I feel like my ball always seemed to land right next to a big clump of poop for those few holes. Gross. And nowhere to clean your clubs or shoes afterwards.
If it weren’t for the mugging, I would still come back just because it seems novice-​friendly, and it’s a quick drive for us down LSD. But hopefully I can’t be tricked into coming back here because I really don’t want to be mugged! I think that’s just asking for it.