Cantigny Golf’s Renovated Hillside-9 is Now Open

Press releases in 2023 announced that Cantigny Golf would undertake a 3-year project to renovate its three nine-hole courses, which had opened 34-years prior in 1989.

The renovation design work will be done by golf course architect Todd Quitno and earth moving under the supervision of Wadsworth Construction. By sequencing renovation work nine holes at a time, Cantigny Golf has been / will be able to remain open with a full 18-hole routing throughout the 36 month construction period.

Having been closed in the summer of 2024, Cantigny opened the renovated holes of the Hillside-9 on June 3, 2025. On that same day, the Woodside course was closed and will re-open during the summer of 2026; lastly, the Lakeside will close during the summer of 2026 and re-open in 2027.

Originally designed by Roger Packard, Cantigny Golf opened in 1989 and was named “Best Public Golf Course in America” by Golf Digest. While the facility was updated in 2003, this current renovation work marks the first significant upgrade to the property and its infrastructure since its opening.

This renovation project is the evolution and modernization of Cantigny’s 35-year commitment to delivering one of the top golf experiences in Chicagoland public golf.

McCormick Foundation CEO Tim Knight said “This renovation will ensure the long-term playability of our classic public golf course while highlighting the beautiful natural setting of Cantigny Park.”

Consensus among the McCormick Foundation (owners), KemperSports (management) and Quitno Golf (renovation project designer) put forth the following objectives for the Cantigny renovation:

• Replacing irrigation systems for increased sustainability and water conservation.
• Redesigning and renovating bunkers to improve playability.
• Rebuilding and re-grassing all greens complexes and tee boxes.
• Developing an expanded putting green that will double as a practice area for players of all ages and levels.
• Adding a new halfway house for expanded event capabilities.

On a micro-examination basis, golfers returning to play Cantigny’s Hillside-9 may miss the subtle or hidden upgrades; however, on the macro-experience basis, playability on the refreshed Hillside routing will surely be felt by all golfers as greatly improved.

Cantigny Golf – Hillside 9

In a session briefing the media as to the renovations, Todd Quitno explained that completely replacing the 35-year old irrigation system was financially and technologically a better decision than repairing worn equipment. A new placement grid with an increased number of sprinkler heads, which are directional rather than rotational, will save on water use and produce greener and healthier turfgrass.

Thirty-five years of wind and water erosion, sand explosions, annual edging, and foot traffic tends to enlarge bunkers. The Cantigny renovation work reconstructed all greenside and fairway bunkers resulting in a smaller sand-covered area, but with just as large a trouble-area owing to sloping sod positioning.

The Cantigny Park covers 500 acres; included on the grounds are gardens, a military museum, and a golf course. Cantigny Golf occupies 300 of the 500 acres, and thus the majority of the property’s thousands of trees – the bane of amateur golfers. While Quitno’s new routing eliminated a minimal number of Hillside’s wooden hazards (less than 30), the removal of these trees (all in critical shot paths) has resulted in maximum playability benefits.

All tee boxes and greens on the Hillside-9 have been rebuilt and re-grassed. Hillside’s tee boxes are flat and level; Hillside’s green complexes are not (spoiler alert). Todd Quitno explained that the new greens are larger and ‘dramatically’ undulating, allowing for a greater number of (challenging) hole locations.

Cantigny Golf – Hillside 9

The new expanded putting green is now open. Totaling 30,000 square feet of 007XL turf, this green will double as a practice area for players of all ages and levels. Presently, nine holes are cut into this massive practice green, and the future calls for a pre-planned 9-hole putting routing with cup-holders.

Not yet open, but in the near future, a silver Airstream travel trailer will be outfitted to be the ‘halfway house’ with a vast food and beverage selection. Conveniently located at the clubhouse terrace with cart paths leading from each of the three courses, it is truly at the halfway point of any 18-hole round.

Cantigny Hillside tops the list of ‘Best Renovated 35-Year Old Golf Facilities’ in the USA. Come on out to Wheaton and experience it for yourself.