Chicago
Highlands of Elgin
Modern public golf on rugged terrain
Highlands of Elgin is the value-insider pick. It has big land movement, better visuals than expected, and enough quality to justify the drive if the itinerary is northwest/west.
Course gallery
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The take
Highlands of Elgin is the value-insider pick. It has big land movement, better visuals than expected, and enough quality to justify the drive if the itinerary is northwest/west.
Best for
Groups that want this course to anchor the trip.
Watch out
Far from many bases
How to play it
Great if routing fits. Do not cross the entire city for it on a short trip.
Course intelligence
What you need to know
Strengths
- Strong value
- Dramatic terrain
- Good public access
- Memorable for the price.
Watch-outs
- Far from many bases
- Less premium service
- Not ideal for a tight itinerary.
Signature holes
4, 8, 14, 18.
Book it right
Cost, access, and timing
Green fees
Public/resident and non-resident rates vary by season and time.
Best season
Spring: Playable but inconsistent; May is better than April.
Caddies / walking
Walking policies vary.
Booking move
Choose course cluster first: downtown/Harborside, southwest/Cog Hill-Mistwood-Cantigny, north/Glen-Ravisloe.
Weather read
Pick the right window.
Spring: Playable but inconsistent; May is better than April.
Jan
28F / 15F
Sun Low; rain Snow
Feb
31F / 16F
Sun Low; rain Snow
Mar
43F / 25F
Sun Mixed; rain Medium
Apr
57F / 36F
Sun Good; rain Medium
May
69F / 47F
Sun Best; rain Medium
Jun
78F / 57F
Sun Best; rain Medium
Google review
5/5 - 3 months ago
Best course in the area for the money, Hands down. The Course is always in good shape with a lot of risk and reward holes. Hard to get a good time though, and a no refund cancellation policy.. But super cheap so it makes sense.
Best course in the area for the money, Hands down. The Course is always in good shape with a lot of risk and reward holes. Hard to get a good time though, and a no refund cancellation policy.. But super cheap so it makes sense.
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Google review
4/5 - a year ago
Very nice course with enough lake, bunkers and huddles. Nicely designed course with lots of up and downs and tricky ones but with limited trees and rough around, you can freely power your shots through. I was bit disappointed when they told me what it costs over phone and when I
Very nice course with enough lake, bunkers and huddles. Nicely designed course with lots of up and downs and tricky ones but with limited trees and rough around, you can freely power your shots through. I was bit disappointed when they told me what it costs over phone and when I
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Google review
3/5 - a year ago
I was excited to play the Highlands because I heard good things about the layout. It’s an open links style course designed by Keith Foster who has a great pedigree of courses. My disappointment wasn’t so much with the design which requires strategic shot making, but with the gree
I was excited to play the Highlands because I heard good things about the layout. It’s an open links style course designed by Keith Foster who has a great pedigree of courses. My disappointment wasn’t so much with the design which requires strategic shot making, but with the gree
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Keep planning
What should you do next?
Use Highlands of Elgin as one piece of the Chicago trip. Build the routing, compare the destination, or ask how it fits your group.
Keep exploring Chicago
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Mistwood Golf Club
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Ravisloe is the classic-architecture changeup.
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