The Evans at Canal Shores

Played for first time in 5 years. Big improvement. Only one green had issue. Course is country club tight. Very charming. Pleasantly surprised.

So, right off the bat: This is NOT a championship course. And if you're the guy who likes the $150, 5-hour rounds at many such courses, you most likely won't enjoy Canal Shores. In fact, PLEASE don't play Canal Shores.

But for the rest of us, this is the type of golf course that we need to grow the game. A mix of par 3's (12) and 4's (6), and you get to use every club in your bag. GREAT value, a beautiful setting, and almost always a great pace (usually about 3 hours for an 18-hole round).

I've been playing this course since 1982, and it's currently in the best shape it's ever been. They're really making it a great place to play. Love it. THANKS.

This course is one-of-a-kind. Snaking through Evanston and Willmette with a 100-year pedigree, it offers interesting challenges to both new players and scratch golfers alike.

Let's be clear: this course has no amenities, is very short, and is not of the groundscape caliber of many courses on the North Shore.

However, it is inexpensive, reasonably well-maintained (think Forest-Preserve) and eager to please. The best thing about this course is its unique layout, snaking it's way along 100-year old homes, waterways, the "El" and street layouts. I guarantee you have never played a course quite like this: and that is a good thing. It has charm and character. Few public courses I play in the Chicago-land area can claim charm and character.

Someone needs to come out and re-evaluate the slope of this course, because it is very narrow and unforgiving. There are only 2-3 holes where you would dare pull driver, and even these will probably result in a poor result for average-to-good golfers. This course actually makes you think about your shots and shape them in ways most courses would never ask.

Overall:

Pros:

- a unique course layout and community environs

- a great place to test your iron mettle

- nice people

- A quick round

- very reasonable rates

- It's a not-for-profit community course

Cons:

- Greens are dull and not very well maintained

- Very unforgiving off the tee

- Short

- No amenities

- Course conditions vary...wait for dry weather

Gentlemen: did you expect Pebble Beach for these prices? You are correct, this is not a country club or PGA tour course (but then the last time the pros played here, they could barely break par). They don't pretend to be Pebble Beach. However, it is very narrow and actually a good test of your iron game. There are only 1 or 2 holes you can even use a driver but you better hit it straight! this is an interesting mix between "pitch and put" and a standard 18 hole golf course. It also doesn't take 5 or 6 hours to get around the course. Play is sometimes a little slow because there are very few scratch golfer's on this course but everybody is friendly and you will still finish in half the time of a standard course. You are correct that there are very few amenities on the course but then you also don't have to pay $5 for a hot dog. if you are golf snob, go elsewhere! If you like a sporty little course that will give you a challenge for a very reasonable price and an excellent value, then golf here.

This. Course is horrendous, it’s difficult to locate, shares a small parking lot with three other entities. The rough looked liked a unkept mess. The greens were not well maintained but the most disturbing aspects were the hole location markers were so hidden that most of the players couldn’t find the appropriate holes. The course intertwineds through the Evanston neighborhoods which requires you to cross multiple intersections with on coming traffic, unbelievable!!

I have played here many times, and I always love it. Every time I come back I feel like it gets better, and I love some of the changes they're making. The staff is always super friendly. Although this course is pretty short, it's extremely narrow, and is a great place to work on your iron shots. If you're looking for a fun track that you can finish in a couple of hours, then I suggest you make your way to Canal Shores!

Great course for a the average golfer, no pressure, can get through a round quickly and very affordable. Despite the 45 minuet drive from my house I would definitely play here again.

Kudos to the Evanston-Wilmette community for trying to make this a better course. Still have a LONG way to go. Greens in great shape. Other parts of the course (tees and fairways/rough) not maintained well compared to municipal courses in the Chicago area.

Saw one person on staff (in the Pro Shop) the entire time we were there. No ranger to monitor pace of play or control people just walking onto the course and play without paying or checking in. Wouldn't care, except it really slows down (what should be 2.5 hours) a round of golf. Course had eight holes closed off - were not told when we booked the tee time a few days in advance, no sign or communication of it when we checked in and paid for a full round. Found out when we got to the first tee box.

Will be a long time if and when we play this cours again. Has potential- but we were really disappointed on how things went. Lots of better options for short courses in the area.

This course is a beautiful family friendly course. It is a narrow little course through a residential neighborhood. This is the perfect place to work on your iron game and really dial them in. The greens are challenging which makes a this course harder then it looks. Overall would recommend it to others for sure.

This course good for control the ball.

Hole 16 &17 my number/birdy .

Thanks

Fabulous, fun, and fast!! Teed off at 6:45 and done by 9:15. This is such a unique and interesting track. I have been playing it once a week this whole season and it keeps getting better. The efforts that the new superintendent and his crew have put into the course this year are reaping huge rewards. It looks and plays better than anytime in the last five years, by miles.. Cheap golf but not cheap on scenery or fun (Bahai'i temple on 6 and 7, tee shots over water on 9 and 16). Dog came and stole my ball off the 11th green and I could not have cared less,(owner was very apologetic) They do an amazing job with Junior golf and are super active in community development. Go support Canal Shores please

I had fun playing this course today that's in the very small nichè market of courses that most golfer's I think call executive golf courses, so if you'd like to golf executively golf at CSGC.

Conditioning continues to improve; unique layout never gets old. Charlie in the golf shop is so friendly! It's great to see the course busy and being enjoyed!!

The staff is working hard to bring the course to a new level.