More than a century ago, in 1916, poet Gertrude Stein wrote “a rose is a rose is a rose.” More recently television golf announcers have stated “some pars are better than others.” What is the relevance of these quotes when it comes to practice putting greens? Arguably, ‘a putting green is a putting green is a putting green’. More likely, though, the truth is: ‘some putting greens are better than others’.
The importance of putting and putting practice cannot, and should not, be overlooked. On a regulation par-72 golf course, achieving a nominal score of seventy-two would mean that 50% of the strokes taken would have been putts. Serious competition for junior golfers begins by incorporating putting skills along with driving and chipping. With dedicated practice and mechanical understanding of the putting stroke any one could become the world’s best putter. So, when Chicago’s climate is permissible, grab a putter that feels right and one or more golf balls, and head on out to the ‘real thing’ – a public course’s practice putting green.
With an emphasis on conditioning, convenience, similarity to the course’s real greens, size, and challenge here is our Chicago Golf Report’s list of the Top-10 putting greens at public courses in the Chicago area. In addition to these top ten, many more public courses offer exceptional practice putting greens, therefore, our apologies are extended if your favorite was omitted from this list. (No additional consideration for chipping and / or bunker areas; just pure putting.)
10 – Boone Creek Golf Club (Bull Valley)
Boone Creek Golf Club
For starters, the putting green at Boone Creek Golf Club is a half-acre green (13,250 sq. ft) with a moderate number of undulations. Situated just a step from the cart path leading to each of Boone Creek’s three opening holes, the placement of the putting green bodes well for golfers about to begin their round.
Boone Creek gains many extra bonus points for its convenience for pure putting practice. The Boone Creek parking lot is not large and is adjacent to the clubhouse. Stepping out of your car, it is approximately a sixty yard stroll to reach the putting green; no fences, gates, or hedges to maneuver around. After finishing a practice putting session, or to merely take a break, you are just steps away from the rear entrance to the bar and grill. In addition, the outdoor pavilion stretches out from the edge of the clubhouse and looks out to the putting green; events incorporating the use of the pavilion have a ‘ringside view’ of any putting competitions.
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Harborside International Golf Center
With continued success of service to golfers, the practice facility at Harborside International Golf Center has been winning awards like “Golf Range Association of America Top 50 Public Facility” for the past ten years (2014 – 2023). The 57-acre practice facility at Harborside not only satisfies the desires for ‘long game’ practice, but also includes a 7,000 square-foot practice putting green to satisfy the wants for ‘short game’ practice.
Additionally, there is a 5,000 square-foot practice putting green by Harborside’s Port Course. Both putting greens feature bentgrass, and there is no fee to use either of the greens, just bring your own putter and balls.
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Lake Bluff Golf Club
‘Spacious’ and ‘practical’ are two adjectives that come to mind when describing the practice putting green at Lake Bluff Golf Club. With consistent measurements of 64 yards long by 22 yards wide, this putting green area totals 12,672 square feet. Nine holes are cut into this green providing for a lengthy and challenging nine hole round of putting. This green is large enough to provide plenty of room for the 30 to 40 kids in the junior golf camp, the entirety of shotgun-start putters, and tournaments like the annual Lake County Amateur.
The putting green is positioned between the tee for hole number 1 and the practice chipping / bunker green, and just below the balcony deck at the rear of the clubhouse.
Old-timers who have played Lake Bluff Golf Club for decades stated that the practice putting green has been in this same position ever since the course opened in 1968, but about 10 years ago this green was was re-surfaced with new turfgrass that more readily handles Lake County’s weather conditions.
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Heritage Oaks Golf Club
The Northbrook Parks’ enduring golf complex was completely remodeled and opened again to the public on August 16, 2021 with the new moniker: Heritage Oaks Golf Club. The total makeover included upgrades to both golf courses (18 hole and 9 hole), the clubhouse and all practice amenities. The Northbrook Park District Board of Commissioners along with the Golf Project Team selected Rick Jacobson, President, Jacobson Golf Course Design, Inc., of Libertyville, IL, as architect for the improvements at both golf courses and the range at Heritage Oaks.
The practice components, driving / chipping / putting, have their own separate designated areas at Heritage Oaks. The 10,000 square-foot practice putting green is strategically positioned behind the new clubhouse, between the #1 tee and the 18th green – warming up or settling bets. Furthermore, the sightlines from the restaurant’s glass wall windows and patio are direct to the practice putting green. The new putting green’s surface is 007 bent grass which was developed by Rutgers University.
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The Glen Club
The motto on the seal of an historic golf course in Chicago is ‘Far and Sure’. The motto for the putting green at The Glen Club could easily be ‘Fast and True’. Golfers who have warmed up on The Glen Club’s driving range will move past the practice putting green on their way to the starter’s post.
A modest size for a practice green, The Glen Club’s green measures 7,126 sq.-ft. of Penncross A4. But its worth lies in its similarity to the eighteen related greens out on the course. A subtle slope here on the practice green allows golfers to test the speed of uphill putts (fast) and downhill putts (fast+); becoming accustomed to TGC’s green speed is foremost for good scoring here.
Competitors in previous important tournaments have had to spend sufficient time here to feel and learn the green speed. Having benefited the likes of Korn-Ferry Tour golfers and Illinois Open contestants, so, too will time spent on this splendid practice putting green benefit Glen Club members, guests, visitors and amateur golfers of all kinds.
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Mistwood Golf Club
The 10,000 square-foot bentgrass putting green of Mistwood Golf Club is located in front of Mistwood’s Performance Center building. After checking in and paying green fees at the clubhouse, golfers will journey past this large green on their way to the tee of hole number one. Owing to its size and positioning, the practice putting green is sending both a visual and a subliminal message to Mistwood golfers: “try me”.
If your visit to Mistwood GC is for a round of golf, there is a paved cart path for golf cart parking along the west and north edges of the practice green. If your visit to Mistwood GC is solely for practice, there is convenient access through four doors to / from driving range to practice putting green and vice versa.
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Cantigny Golf
On September 7, 2023, Cantigny Golf announced major renovation plans for its 27-hole golf complex. Portions of the renovation will include the re-grassing of all greens complexes and tee boxes, redesigning and renovating bunkers to improve playability, and the replacement of irrigation systems for increased sustainability and water conservation. Beyond those enhancements will be the enlargement of the practice putting green.
Being one of Chicago’s most popular public golf courses and with 27 holes in the Cantigny Golf complex results in numbers of golfers practicing putting at the same time. In order to service the many golfers with ease, the decision was made to nearly triple the size of the existing practice putting green.
The former 12,000 square foot green will now occupy 30,000 square feet. This new green complex will have a smooth-rolling surface of 007XL Bentgrass and will be situated closer to the clubhouse. More space for golfers and a great view as well!
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Bolingbrook Golf Club
‘Double your pleasure, double you fun’ was the old slogan from commercials for Wrigley’s Doublemint gum. The same slogan can be applied to Bolingbrook Golf Club when it comes to putting practice. There are two fantastic practice putting greens at the Bolingbrook Golf Club complex.
Incorporated into the Bolingbrook Golf Club Driving Range and Golf Academy, located at the far end of the BGC property, is a 14,500 square foot putting green. With plenty of room and undulations, golfers can practice their putting stroke with few distractions.
The putting green adjacent to the clubhouse is an expansive 18,300 square feet of Providence creeping bentgrass. The clubhouse’s second floor veranda offers an amazing view of this putting green. Come late September 2024, the view will be of LIV golfers practicing their putting, and in October, after they leave, you can putt where some of the wealthiest tour players and celebrities have putted.
There are parking lots near both putting greens at Bolingbrook Golf Club and the putting greens at the clubhouse and at the practice academy are free to use for everyone.
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Shepherd’s Crook
On Saturday, September 2, 2023, the new practice green at Shepherd’s Crook was unveiled and it can be described as immense, measuring 90 yards long by 30 yards wide. That area’s total is more than 23,400 square feet. Mimicking the Crook’s eighteen real greens, the practice green has multiple ridges and undulations with an elevation change of 8 feet. Conveniently located adjacent to the south end of the clubhouse, the practice green is a mere step or two from the cart path leading toward the hole number one tee.
Whether it is warm-up and acclimation before the start of your round, a post-round need of fine-tuning or complete re-tooling, or a stand-alone practice session, the Crook’s new half-acre practice green can help you on your way to an improved short game.
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Deerpath Golf Course
On July 6, 2022, Deerpath Golf Course opened its 30,000 square-foot bentgrass putting green named, The Lawn. Deerpath Golf Course, in partnership with the Friends of Lake Forest Parks and Recreation Foundation, the Wadsworth Golf Charities Foundation, and KemperSports, was proud to have spearheaded the initiative and efforts to produce The Lawn, a community asset with a welcoming, family-friendly atmosphere dedicated to serving golfers from all areas, including the residents of Lake Forest.
Intended for more than just practice putting, The Lawn at Deerpath offers an 18-hole putting course where players of all skill levels will be challenged by the green’s variety of hills, dales, and swales.
The Lawn’s designer, golf architect Todd Quitno, was inspired by the public-access Ladies’ Putting Course in St. Andrews, Scotland and renowned putting courses such as The Punchbowl at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, The Gauntlet at Streamsong Resort, and Thistle Dhu at Pinehurst Resort.
Being free of charge for the general public, The Lawn is designed to cater to all ages and abilities, offering a fun environment for families to gather as well as adult social groups and youth community programs. While the main goal of this space is to bring the community together, The Lawn will also be available to rent for private events when the putting course can place additional colorful obstacles to enhance the fun and challenge.
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The Honorable Mention Section contains two categories. The first category called ‘Not Yet Ready For Prime Time’ has two entries.
A) The Evans at Canal Shores (Evanston)
The Evans at Canal Shores
The recently designed 27,000 square-foot practice green at the recently re-named historic golf course on the Evanston / Wilmette border will satisfy multiple needs, serve multiple functions, and benefit multiple types of clientele when the projected opening date of mid-September 2024 arrives.
Now named ‘The Evans at Canal Shores‘, this facility is the reimagination of the urban golf course. Partnering with the First Tee – Greater Chicago and the Western Golf Association/Evans Scholars Foundation, the practice green at ‘The Evans’ will serve as a beacon for youth golf development (learning the fundamentals of the putting stroke) and as a youth caddie training facility (proper method of repairing ball marks and developing green reading skills).
And, as the primary function of this amenity, the general public can practice putting or play a 9-hole putting round on this 007XL Bentgrass surface.
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Vernon Hills Golf Course
Construction of a new short game practice facility with a 16,000 square-foot putting green has begun at Vernon Hills Golf Course. Designed by renowned golf course architect Todd Quitno, the short game facility will be located adjacent to the first tee and clubhouse, and will shorten the length of hole number one to 309 / 290 / 270 yards. The renovation project started in late June 2024 and the short game facility will be open by Spring 2025.
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C) Destination Geneva National Golf Club (Lake Geneva, WI)
The Dance Floor
The Dance Floor, the huge Himalayas-style putting golf course next to the Geneva National Clubhouse, overlooking the Arnold Palmer Golf Course opened on June 24, 2022. The 44,000 square-foot putting course includes 27 holes, an onsite taco bar and cantina, music, and fire pits. The course is lighted for evening play; there is a charge to play The Dance Floor.
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