Tam O' Shanter Golf Course

Nice little nine hole golf course just north of Chicago. Short course but nice layout. Most people walk so no need to get a cart.

It’s a rather short course, but it was a blast to play. If your driver isn’t flying straight, you can definitely tee off with a long iron. The course was in superb condition, especially the bunkers and greens. Very walkable as well.

Really cool and unexpected history...layout is bizarre, but honestly can be confidence boosting. Who doesn’t love a couple of 270 par 4s. Even with the odd layout because of the 3 original and awesome holes, the fairways were in perfect shape even after a lot of rain, and the greens rolled nicely. Great place for 9 holes.

Great 9 holes to test your skills. You have all the challenges you could expect from a golf course. some holes are hilly, you have water obstacles, I really enjoyed playing here.

The only missing piece is probably a warm-up area but if you are looking for a quick round with challenges, this is a good place to go to.

This course is the most convenient for me to play so fortunately for me it is well kept, pretty and challenging enough. The bunkers are fairly placed. There's water on only one hole and only in play if you shank. The fairways are mostly straight but long enough for big hitters. You will be using your driver often. The greens are large and receptive but can be challenging to putt. In short, it's a very nice course that we'll delivers on what it's supposed to.

Great course, well maintained trained fairways and greens!

Caldwell was backed up so we shot up to Tam... course was in great shape and the starter even went out of his way to accommodate a friend of ours who is always late. Can’t say enough about the conditions and staff. If you’re looking for a quick 9, look no further

Great course conditions, engaged starter, challenging for both newbies and experienced players, nice clubhouse bar and resto. Great day out!

Always in great shape for a heavily trafficked public 9 hole track...caldwell and willow hill can't compare. Layout is short and par is only 33, but there are plenty of challenging holes and even the short par 4s have some risk/reward decisions to make off the tee to keep things interesting. Pace can be a little slow when the place gets packed, but it's never taken me over 2 hr 15 to play. Staff is also exceptionally friendly. Definitely worth checking out.

I used to golf at this course with my grandpa many times before he passed away. After a year since his passing, I came back to play, only to discover that the staff got worse. The starter yelled at our group for being late too our tee time, despite us showing up 15 minutes early. The course itself is in decent condition, but having terrible staff will definitely make you not want to come back.

So...I take back all those wonderful things I said about Tam O'Shanter. I actually wanted to play a course further away this morning because Tam was closed yesterday due to flooding. The website (tee time booking) said it would be closed until yesterday afternoon. However, I saw that there were tee times available for this morning when I looked yesterday and 3 spots (early) were taken last night when I looked before going to bed.

Instead of getting up early and driving to the other course (I've wanted to play it and figured if Tam was closed I'd have the perfect opportunity), I woke up an hour later and checked the website...no notice of Tam being closed (this was at 6:15, and they open at 6:00). Three times available between 7:12 and 7:28...perfect for me. Checked the site before I took off at 7:30-ish, and no notice about closure and those tee times still available.

I think you see where I'm going with this. I drove up there in lighter rush hour (but still rush hour) traffic, put my shoes on and was about to go pay for the round when two guys came up to me and said, "We're not going to be open until 10:00...for walkers only. Course was flooded." (I was walking anyway.) I mentioned that the website said closed yesterday, but nothing on there last night or this morning about being closed. The guy speaking said, "Even if we were open, we have a ladies league this morning, and you would have a tough time playing."

Don't you think you'd take the times off the website if you have a league playing that morning? Also, since THEY didn't update the website, don't you think they should have given me a credit for a free round for making the trip (had to drive back in rush hour traffic)? Nope...nothing...no mention of anything.

I'm a man of principal, and although I love many things about this course, but I try not to treat places right that don't treat me right, so I'm not sure I'll be playing here anytime in the near future.

Tam 0'Shanter isn't my "local muni', but it is close enough. It's a 15 minute drive (which, in Chicago, is nothing), and worth going there over the closer Edgebrook or Billy Caldwell (not a fan).

I guess back in the day this used to be an 18 hole course and hosted the Western Open and the World Golf Championship. FYI, I LOVE this course for what it is...moderately difficult, cheap and pretty. There are hardly any real water hazards (maybe 3 holes), and tall grass hazards only come into play on really 2 main holes (East and West boundaries of the course). So, for high handicappers, it's a great course to get your feet wet and have something that isn't just too easy and boring.

My only negative is that I play early mornings, and they haven't watered early enough for the course not to be soaked almost the entire round. I guess that's why they make waterproof golf shoes!