Jackson Park Golf Course

Jackson Park Golf Course is a 18 hole Public golf facility located in Chicago, Illinois. The facility was the first public golf course in the Midwest.

Situated on 500 acres of land that once held the World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893, Jackson Park Golf Course opened in 1899 and is the only 18-hole Chicago Park District golf course. Originally a nine-hole layout, Jackson Park expanded to 18 holes in 1900, adding an additional nine the following year.

At the time, the combined 27-hole facility featured clay teeing areas as well as sandy fairways and greens. Jackson Park was the only public golf course in the area until 1907 and the cost to play was free until 1920.

In 1925 260,000 rounds were played at the 27-hole Jackson Park Golf Course, making it the busiest golf course in the world. The course averaged over 200,000 rounds played throughout the 1920s.

Jackson Park and South Shore golf courses are part of the proposal from the Chicago Parks Golf Alliance to transform the two into one 18-hole championship course. The proposed project will be managed by Tiger Woods and not only includes the 18-hole championship course but also ultra-modern practice facilities.

With construction underway of the nearby Obama Center in Jackson Park, there is hope that the Tiger Woods Chicago golf course project could be revitalized. However, there has been no recent movement on the project.