Tam O'Shanter Golf Course

6700 Howard St,

Niles, Illinois IL 60714

  • Office

    +1 (847) 965 2344
  • Pro shop

    +1 (847) 965 2344
  • Golf pro

    Chris Urgo (Director of Golf Instruction)

About the course

  • The Course:

    9 holes. Tree-lined & open parkland. Relatively flat terrain - no effort to walk.

  • Surroundings:

    Woodland and riverside (North Branch Chicago River).

  • Designer:

    Original 18-hole layout was designed by Charles Dudley Wagstaff (1925). The current nine-hole layout was created by Niles Park District and opened in 1974.

Back
tees
Club
tees
Front
tees
Yards
2440
2235
1905
Par
33
33
33
SSS or slope
31.6
30.7
30.7

Location

Latitude:

42.019604

Longitude:

-87.795187

How to get there:

In Niles, IL / 15 mi NW of downtown Chicago.

Tam O'Shanter Golf Course

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.

Est. 1925

Tam O'Shanter Golf Course: the historic and now municipal nine-hole "Tam" golf course, located on the north side of Howard St, lies alongside the North branch of the Chicago River. The nine holes that were lost in the 1970s, were located on the south side of Howard St.

Straightaway parallel running holes characterise the layout, which has been a landmark venue on the American golfing map for generations. The six lightly tree-lined par-4 holes are complemented by three par-3s, two of which (the 6th and 9th) require testing carries over the river.

From 1940 until the mid-1960s, as Tam O’Shanter Country Club, the course was a regular PGA and LPGA Tour stop, hosting the likes of Ben Hogan, Billy Casper, Byron Nelson, Sam Snead, Arnold Palmer, Patty Berg and Babe Zaharias. In 1973 the northern half of the course was bought by Niles Park District. Today's par-33, nine-hole layout was renovated in 2018, and provides a fun round in a pleasantly leafy setting.

List of courses: Around Chicago

Visitors

Who can play and when?

Visitors welcome on weekdays and weekends.

Must book in advance.

Green fees

Contact club for golf rates.

Other information

Walking permitted. Golf carts available to rent.

Practice facilities

Limited

Did you know?

As an 18-hole course in the 1930s, 40s, 50s and 60s, this was one of the most renowned golf courses in the Chicago area. Thanks to its enthusiastic owner, George S. May, the club hosted a prestigious array of PGA Tour and LPGA Tour events. Included amongst them was a Chicago Open, as well as many editions of the PGA and LPGA Tours' All American Open and the big-money World Championship of Golf.

The club also twice hosted the prestigious Western Open, as well as the Women's Public Links Championship. The course lays claim to being the home of the first nationally televised golf tournament (PGA Tour World Championship of Golf, 1953).

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Tournaments

Women’s (British) Open: the last women’s major championship of the season is hosted by Royal Porthcawl GC. It’s the first time this fabulous seaside links course has hosted the event (July 31-Aug 3).

Walker Cup: the 50th playing of this prestigious men’s amateur event sees the GB&I go head-to-head against the defending USA team at Cypress Point Club, California (Sept 6-7). After that, all eyes turn to Bethpage State Park on Long Island, NY, where the American and defending European professional teams engage in the 45th Ryder Cup (Sept 27-29).

Who's Who

Lottie Woad: 21-year-old Woad burst onto the professional scene in July, with wins in the Women’s Irish Open (as an amateur) and three weeks later in the Women’s Scottish Open (as a professional). She nearly picked-up a major championship, placing third in The Evian in the same month.

Pádraig Harrington: the ever-likeable Irishman added the (British) Senior Open Championship title to his stellar array of tournament successes. His win came on Sunningdale’s spectacular Old Course. Harrington had already bagged the U.S. Senior Open title in June this year.

The Dutch GC, The Netherlands

The Dutch: "It's no' just a game", as they say in Scotland, and that's certainly true at The Dutch. With 5-star services throughout, a lavishly comfortable Loch Lomond-inspired clubhouse, and a superbly designed and presented golf course, one could not ask for more from this top-end private club.

Join us at The Dutch from August 21–24 for the Festival of Golf, featuring the HotelPlanner Tour. Experience four days of top-tier sport, live music, incredible food, and unexpected surprises. Explore the grounds, connect with others, embrace new challenges, and dive into an unforgettable celebration. Click here to buy tickets.

Prince's Golf Club, Kent (UK)

Here at Prince’s Golf Club you'll find 27 excellent holes of links golf. Just over the fence and sharing similar terrain is Royal St George’s; but Prince’s is far from overshadowed by its venerable neighbour. The three nine-hole loops at Prince's, laid out over gently undulating terrain, are sure to bring a smile of satisfaction to all lovers of links golf.

Stay&Play at Prince's: excellent onsite Lodge accommodation available

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