Golf in Illinois
Overview
Golf in Illinois
What golf looks like for retirement in Illinois: where to do it, what the state costs, and the towns that fit.
Golf in Illinois
Illinois state parks include public golf courses such as the 18-hole course at Moraine View State Park near Bloomington, and several DNR-managed courses around the state offer weekday and senior rates. The Chicago Park District also runs public golf programs across the city.
Published local price
Cantigny Golf (Wheaton, public 18-hole): $130 weekday, $160 weekend/holiday; senior (60+) rate $77 walking any day. Rates vary by season and tee time.
Published range: $130 to $160.
cantignygolf.com · as of 2026What Illinois costs
Cost of living
100
BEA index, U.S. = 100
State income tax
~1.0% state income-tax planning rate
Social Security
Not taxed
How people start
- 1
Map the public and municipal courses nearby
Most metros list city-run courses with published fee schedules. Those set the affordable floor before any private club enters the picture.
- 2
Ask about senior and resident rates
Many courses post a reduced weekday senior rate and a season pass. The difference between pay-per-round and a pass is the number that usually drives the yearly cost.
- 3
Price the season, not the round
In warm states the season runs most of the year; in cold ones it is a few months. The yearly cost is rounds-per-year times rate, plus cart and equipment.
Towns in Illinois
Where to do it, town by town.
Chicago Park District Golf operates multiple courses across the city, with Chicago residents receiving discounted fees at all facilities and tee times bookable directly through cpdgolf.com. Jackson Park on the South Side offers the only 18-hole layout in the city park system, while facilities like Sydney Marovitz on the lakefront draw steady play.
Chicago Park DistrictCommon questions
Is Illinois a good place to retire for golf?
Illinois state parks include public golf courses such as the 18-hole course at Moraine View State Park near Bloomington, and several DNR-managed courses around the state offer weekday and senior rates. The Chicago Park District also runs public golf programs across the city. Towns like Chicago have their own local options.
What does it cost to retire in Illinois?
Illinois has a cost-of-living index near 100 (U.S. = 100), about a 1.0% state income-tax planning rate, and does not tax Social Security. The full state guide breaks down property tax, sales tax, and long-term-care costs, each sourced.
Sources
The life your money is for