Just minutes from downtown Chicago, Harborside International Golf Center has earned a reputation as one of the Midwest’s premier public golf facilities. Since opening in 1995, the 36-hole complex has combined championship-caliber golf, one of the nation’s top practice facilities and sweeping views of the Chicago skyline to create a destination unlike any other in the region.
Designed by acclaimed golf course architect Dick Nugent, Harborside’s Port and Starboard Courses were inspired by the classic links layouts of Scotland and Ireland. Wide fairways, towering fescue, dramatic bunkering and nearly constant winds challenge golfers to think strategically, while rewarding creativity and shot-making. The links-style experience is particularly unique considering the facility sits only minutes from Chicago’s Loop.
The golf courses themselves have consistently garnered national recognition. Both layouts have been ranked among Golfweek’s “Best Courses You Can Play” in Illinois, with the Starboard Course recently earning a place among the state’s top public-access courses. Their reputation has helped make Harborside a favorite for local golfers, corporate outings, charity events and visitors looking to experience championship golf without leaving the city.
One of Harborside’s greatest strengths, however, extends beyond its fairways. The expansive practice complex has become a destination in its own right. Featuring both bent grass and mat hitting areas, multiple target greens, a comprehensive short-game area and putting greens, the facility has been recognized by the Golf Range Association of America (GRAA) as a Top 50 Public Facility for more than a decade. The range serves golfers of every ability, from beginners learning the game to accomplished players preparing for tournament competition.
Instruction is another important part of the Harborside experience. Golf professionals provide private lessons, group clinics and club-fitting services, creating opportunities for golfers to improve every aspect of their game. Combined with the facility’s extensive practice amenities, Harborside has become one of Chicago’s premier player development centers.
Special programming is a staple at Harborside. In 2017, Harborside was vital in expanding the reach of First Tee – Greater Chicago across the South Side of the city, as they provided essential classroom and office space for the First Tee staff, along with access to the facility’s expansive 57-acre practice area. This new space was even more important during the pandemic, enabling First Tee Site Director Erika Shavers to continue virtual instruction when in-person engagement was restricted. It offered a vital resource for children seeking safe, recreational and social opportunities during those very uncertain months.
In September 2023, First Tee – Greater Chicago inaugurated the Harborside Youth Learning Center, the first dedicated youth golf facility on Chicago’s South Side. This state-of-the-art center features a Foresight simulator, a dedicated learning environment and advanced technology, serving as a hub for personal and athletic development. They say it’s not just about golf; it’s about nurturing young golfers and individuals alike. The center continues to offer and fill programming five days a week, year-round.
The facility’s history is equally impressive. Built on reclaimed industrial land near Lake Calumet, Harborside transformed a former landfill into a thriving recreational destination. The project demonstrated how environmental restoration and thoughtful golf course design could create one of the country’s most distinctive public golf experiences. Extensive bunker renovations completed in 2017 further enhanced both playability and course conditioning while preserving the dramatic links aesthetic.
Beyond daily-fee play, Harborside has established itself as one of Chicago’s premier venues for golf outings and special events. Its spacious clubhouse, restaurant, banquet facilities and experienced event staff host everything from corporate tournaments and fundraising events to weddings and private celebrations throughout the golf season.
For golfers, perhaps the facility’s greatest appeal is its versatility. Competitive players appreciate the challenge presented by the wind, rugged bunkering and firm playing conditions, while recreational golfers enjoy generous landing areas and multiple tee options that make both courses accessible to a wide range of skill levels.
More than three decades after opening, Harborside International Golf Center continues to define public golf in Chicago. By combining nationally recognized golf courses, an award-winning practice facility, first-class instruction and an unforgettable urban setting, it has become much more than a place to play — it is one of the city’s signature golf destinations and a model for what a modern public golf facility can be.