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Rating Index Rating
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3.7
352 Reviews (352)
5 Stars
81
4 Stars
152
3 Stars
62
2 Stars
29
1 Stars
28
Conditions
3.7
Value
4.2
Layout
4.2
Friendliness
4.1
Pace
3.7
Amenities
2.9
81.3%
Recommend this course
271 out of 352 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
3.4
5 Reviews (5)
5 Stars
0
4 Stars
3
3 Stars
1
2 Stars
1
1 Stars
0
Conditions
3.0
Value
3.4
Layout
4.4
Pace
4.0
Amenities
2.4
StaffFriendliness
3.8
40.0%
Recommend this course
2 out of 5 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
3.7
58 Reviews (58)
5 Stars
12
4 Stars
28
3 Stars
10
2 Stars
3
1 Stars
5
Conditions
3.7
Value
4.2
Layout
4.1
Pace
3.7
Amenities
2.9
StaffFriendliness
4.1
79.3%
Recommend this course
46 out of 58 reviews
Read Reviews
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AI summaries based on real golfer reviews
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Course Highlights
This well-maintained forest preserve course delivers outstanding value, with clean fairways, fast greens, and a layout that rewards precise shot placement. Friendly staff and solid overall conditions make it a compelling choice for golfers seeking quality at an affordable price.

About

Holes 18
Type Public
Par 72
Length 6742 yards
Slope 124
Rating 71.4
Book a Tee Time at
Joe Louis - The Champ Golf Course
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Course Details

Year Built 1918
Golf Season Open: 4/01 Closed: 11/01
Architect Dick Nugent (1987)

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes
Pull-carts Yes
Caddies No
Clubs Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range No
Bunker Yes
Pitching/Chipping Area Yes
Putting Green Yes

Policies

Credit Cards Accepted VISA, MasterCard Welcomed
Metal Spikes Allowed No
Walking Allowed Yes
Dress code Proper golf attire required.

Available Facilities

Clubhouse
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Reviews

3.7
352 Reviews (352)

What Golfers Are Saying

This course/club is great for:
Locals 6
This Course's Location is:
Convenient to the City 7

Numbers based on reviews tagged with attribute.

Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 55
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
2.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Hot weather
Used cart
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Beginner
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Very Challenging Track

Very nice course. Staff was very accommodating despite the large number of golfers there.

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Walked

Little known Gem

Joe Louis "The Champ" is one of the Forest preserve district courses in the Chicago area that, because of it's location in the South side of the Chicago area, is often overlooked. but if you are looking for value for your golf dollar, this course is hard to beat. The layout offers a good test without being overly penal and has a good variety of holes. The course is well run with a friendly staff and a nice outdoor grill for food at the turn. Course conditions can vary based on the weather (how much rain they get) but the grounds crew works knows where to put in the effort and works hard to keep the greens in generally very good condition. Green fees are very reasonable for the overall course and golf experience. Our group plays here regularly and if you haven't played it you should definitely give it a try.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played

Great staff

The Joe Louis staff and course are always a pleasure. Even on a rainy day they made it great. Staff was super professional!!

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 5
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 9
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Windy weather
Used cart
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Horrible Management!

Management at this course is extremely awful, staff are unprofessional…we have an early tee time but the “manager” said that we could only play the back 9 because of a tournament even though we booked the first tee time of the day!

Arrived at our tee time to find the pro shop & course closed. Management showed up late and pushed us to the back nine because they showed up late. I would not recommend this course at all. Not worth the money & the sand traps have rocks in them. Definitely not worth the money.

We did not enjoy our round here at all.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Good
Friendliness Poor
Pace Poor
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 14
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Much improved

Exceptional Weather for Early October in Chicago

I have not played The Champs course in Serveral years due to poor conditions.Today I was pleasantly surprised . New golf carts with USB PORTS ,The staff was professional in their enforcement of The state of Illinois Covid-19 mandates .The Greens were freshly cut and rolled.a few bunkers needed maintenance, but heck its a Muni Burgers,Dogs and Brats. Were Hot off and outdoor grill. Our Tee times were Honored in fact we went off 9 minutes early. Pace of play was good..I'll be back!

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 13
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played

Great Day

Beautiful day at The Champ. Staff friendly and helpful . Greens good. Pin placement diabolical. Fun time

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Holiday Golf

Pace of play was really slow. Overall the course was in good shape, but the bunkers need attention.

Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Poor
Played On
Reviews 9
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 25
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing

I’d go back if I’m in the area

This was a fun course to play for the first time being here. I loved playing the long par 5’s that are at this course! Was a fun challenge to see how well you can do on them! I’d play again if in the area.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Poor
Value Excellent
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 57
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
4.0
Previously Played
Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Nice 18 holes Near City

Course was in good shape. Some dry spots in fairways but greens were in good condition. Only con I’d say is the layout because holes are practically side by side so hearing “Fore!” is quite common, gotta keep your head on a swivel.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Good
e47081be-0680-56f0-9a9a-e3883606dd96
Commented on 08/17/2021

Thank you so much for your review! We are happy to see you enjoyed our course. We value your feedback, and hope to see you back in the future.

Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Nice Course/Value

Nice course for cost. Nothing over the top but decently taken care of. Some fairways could use some work. Only downside was some ricochet that made it onto the course and gave us all a nice little scare

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Poor
e47081be-0680-56f0-9a9a-e3883606dd96
Commented on 08/17/2021

Thank you so much for your review! We are happy to see you enjoyed our course. We value your feedback, and hope to see you back in the future.

Played On
Reviews 2
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played

Staff

I play this course 3 times a week, the course is well maintained. The staff is friendly and professional especially Jimmy, he has always been very courteous and helpful with questions about the course and if you catch him outside the club house he is willing to give you good advice about playing the game.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
e47081be-0680-56f0-9a9a-e3883606dd96
Commented on 08/17/2021

Thank you so much for your review! We are happy to see you enjoyed our course. We value your feedback, and hope to see you back in the future.

Played On
Reviews 14
Handicap 25+
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

This course has something for everyone

The grounds were well kept and I noticed many improvements to the course. Mr. Cross and the rest of the staff were friendly, professional and helpful.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
e47081be-0680-56f0-9a9a-e3883606dd96
Commented on 08/17/2021

Thank you so much for your review! We are happy to see you enjoyed our course. We value your feedback, and hope to see you back in the future.

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Golf Packages

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Destination Kohler - To Dye Four Golf Package

FROM $557 (USD)
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