6700 Howard St,
Niles, Illinois IL 60714
Office
+1 (847) 965 2344Pro shop
+1 (847) 965 2344Website
Visit websiteGolf pro
Chris Urgo (Director of Golf Instruction)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.
42.019604
-87.795187
In Niles, IL / 15 mi NW of downtown Chicago.
Tam O'Shanter, IL
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.
Visitors welcome on weekdays and weekends.
Must book in advance.
Walking permitted. Golf carts available to rent.
Limited
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).
Sony Open in Hawaii: played at Waialae Country Club near Honolulu, the Sony Open takes over the spotlight from The Sentry as the PGA Tour’s calendar-year opening event (Jan 15-18). The Sentry (not being played in 2026) was formerly known as the Tournament of Champions, with a field typically restricted to golfers who won a PGA Tour event in the previous calendar year.
Dubai Desert Classic: the DP World Tour’s first Rolex Series event of 2026, is contested for the 37th time (Jan 22-25). First won by Englishman Mark James in 1989, it now boasts a four-time winner, Rory McIlroy. Played on the Emirates Golf Club’s Majlis course, this once desert-surrounded course is the long-time flagship for Golf in Dubai.
Our visit last month included two rounds at Golf de Chantilly, one of France’s most prestigious clubs.
It offers two superb layouts: Le Vineuil, a five-star championship course with a rich history, and Longères, an excellent four-star course that provides a strong and enjoyable test.
The wider Paris region offers plenty more. Courses such as Fontainebleau, Golf de Saint-Germain, and several other top-rated layouts make this area one of Europe’s most rewarding golf destinations, offering a mix of woodland, heathland, and parkland designs.
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.
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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