Golf's Chicago Rule: What, When, And Why

what

The golf game Chicago is a tournament-style game that is most fun when played in a foursome. To start, each player adds their course handicap to the number minus 39, with the goal of getting their number into positive territory. Players win points for bogey or better: 1 for bogey, 2 for par, 4 for birdie, and 8 for eagle. It may have been invented by Frank Sinatra or a '70s band famous for its horn players.

Characteristics Values
How to play Everyone adds their course handicap to the number minus 39. For example, if your handicap is 10, you would start at -29.
Scoring Players win points for bogey or better: 1 for bogey, 2 for par, 4 for birdie and 8 for eagle.
Objective To get your number into positive territory.
Handicap High handicappers start with the lead.
Number of players Works as a tournament game, but is most fun in a foursome.

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Chicago Golf Club

The Chicago Golf Club is a private golf club located in the Midwestern United States, in Wheaton, Illinois, a suburb west of Chicago. It is considered one of the most historic and prestigious golf clubs in the country.

The club was founded in 1892 by renowned course designer and World Golf Hall of Fame member Charles Blair Macdonald, also known as the "Father of Golf in Chicago". Macdonald, who went to college in Scotland at the University of St Andrews, brought golf to the Chicago area and designed the Chicago Golf Club's original course himself. The club started with a 9-hole course at Belmont, DuPage County, which was soon expanded to 18 holes, becoming the first 18-hole golf course in North America.

In 1894, the club moved to its current location in Wheaton, leasing and later purchasing a 200-acre parcel of the Patrick farm. Macdonald built another 18-hole course on this site, which opened in 1895. This course was redesigned by Seth Raynor in 1923 using Macdonald's "ideal hole" concepts. The course has remained largely unchanged since then, with only minor upgrades and restorations being made over the years.

The Chicago Golf Club has a rich history and has hosted several prominent events, including multiple U.S. Opens, Walker Cups, and the inaugural U.S. Senior Women's Open in 2018. It was one of the five founding clubs of the United States Golf Association (USGA) in 1894 and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2020.

The club has a luxurious wood-panelled club car with a well-stocked bar and linen tablecloth dinner service, which was used to ferry golfers from downtown Chicago to the club on weekends and special occasions. The Chicago clubhouse was designed by renowned Chicago architect Jarvis Hunt, and the landscape architecture for the course was designed by Ossian Cole Simonds.

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Chicago Golf Courses

Chicago is home to an array of legendary pro sports teams, from the iconic Bulls basketball team to the Cubs vs. Sox baseball rivalry. The city is also known for its golf courses, with more than 200 courses to choose from. The Chicago Park District is spread across more than 8,100 acres of green space in the heart of the city, offering six different golf courses, three driving ranges, and two miniature courses.

The Chicago Park District Golf maintains several scenic courses, a driving range, and a miniature golf course all within the heart of the city and at affordable rates. The Robert A. Black Golf Course is the newest among the Chicago Park District golf courses. This par-33 layout was designed by the renowned Dick Nugent. Short in distance, this north side 9-hole course is a great choice for all skill levels. The Sydney R. Marovitz Golf Course is another popular option, with its waterfront location just north of downtown, tight greens, numerous bunkers, and championship length.

Harborside International Golf Center is located just 25 minutes from Chicago’s Loop and features two links-style courses designed by Dick Nugent, built on reclaimed land that showcases the city skyline at many of the holes. The Glen Club, designed by renowned golf course architect Tom Fazio, is located on the former site of a Naval Air Base and is filled with beautiful rolling hills and lakes.

Outside of the city in Lemont, Cog Hill Golf & Country Club, host to the Western Open and BMW Championships, is another popular public golf facility that boasts four award-winning 18-hole courses, including the famous Course #4 Dubsdread, ranked among the top 100 in the country. Pine Meadow Golf Club in Mundelein, Illinois, is considered by some to be a mini-Cog Hill, with its towering evergreens and hardwood trees as a backdrop to its 18 holes.

Chicago Golf Club, a private golf club located in the suburb of Wheaton, Illinois, is one of the oldest and most historic clubs in the country. It was one of the five founding clubs of the United States Golf Association (USGA) in 1894 and has hosted several prominent events, including multiple U.S. Opens and Walker Cups. The club features a links-style layout designed by renowned course designer and World Golf Hall of Fame member Charles Blair Macdonald, who is known as the "Father of Golf in Chicago."

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Chicago Golf Association

The Chicago Golf Club is a private golf club located in the Midwestern United States, in Wheaton, Illinois, a suburb west of Chicago. It was founded by renowned course designer and World Golf Hall of Fame member Charles Blair Macdonald, who is known as the "Father of Golf in Chicago". Macdonald went to college in Scotland at the University of St Andrews, where he learned to play the game. He brought the game back to Chicago and, in 1892, laid out a nine-hole course about 23 miles west of Chicago Union Station. In 1893, he increased the number of holes at Belmont to 18, creating the first 18-hole golf course in North America. The Chicago Golf Club was officially established in 1894 and became one of the five founding clubs of the United States Golf Association (USGA).

The club has a rich history and has hosted several prominent events, including multiple U.S. Opens and Walker Cups. It was also the site of the inaugural U.S. Senior Women's Open in 2018. The course layout was designed by Macdonald himself, with holes routed in a clockwise fashion. The clubhouse was designed by renowned Chicago architect Jarvis Hunt, and the landscape architecture was commissioned to Ossian Cole Simonds, who also designed Lincoln Park and the Morton Arboretum.

The Chicago Golf Club was once accessible by a branch line from the downtown Wheaton station, with a luxurious club car ferrying golfers to and from the club on weekends and special occasions. The club has been recognised for its historical significance, being listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2020.

The Chicago District Golf Association (CDGA) is a separate entity that has been uniting golfers across the Chicago District for over 110 years. It boasts over 112,000 members and aims to create opportunities for its members to grow the game and foster connections. The CDGA hosts events such as the CDGA Amateur Four-Ball Championship and also offers exclusive member benefits, including access to a golf shop with CDGA-logoed apparel and accessories.

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Playing 'Chicago'

When playing the game of golf, there are a number of different formats and side bets that can be utilized to spice up a round and add an extra element of competition. One such side bet is called "Chicago."

Playing Chicago is a popular golf side game, often used in match play formats between two players or teams. It is a simple concept that adds an extra layer of strategy and competition to a round. Essentially, it is a bet to win a hole by a margin of at least two shots. So, if a player or team wins a hole by two or more shots, they are said to have "played Chicago" and win the bet for that hole. This can be a fun way to mix up a traditional match play format and add some extra pressure and rewards for more decisive victories on individual holes.

To incorporate Playing Chicago into your round, it is usually played as a side bet within a broader match play format. Before teeing off on a hole, either player or team can declare their intention to play Chicago for that hole. This means they are betting that they will win the hole by two or more shots. If they succeed, they win the Chicago bet for that hole and are awarded a pre-determined amount or prize. However, if they only win by one shot or lose the hole, they lose the Chicago bet for that hole and may have to concede a prize or incur a penalty as agreed upon before the round.

It is important to note that the bet must be declared before the tee shots on a hole, and both parties should agree on the terms and stakes. Usually, the loser of the Chicago bet on a hole will pay the winner the predetermined amount, or there might be a running total of Chicago bets won and lost that are settled up at the end of the round. The specifics of the bet, including the stakes and payment methods, can be tailored to the players' preferences and the level of competition desired.

Playing Chicago can add excitement and strategy to a round of golf, especially in match play formats. It encourages players to be more aggressive in their efforts to win holes by a larger margin, potentially leading to riskier shot choices and more dramatic moments. It also provides an opportunity for golfers to employ psychological tactics, such as declaring Chicago on a hole to apply pressure, or even bluffing their opponents into making different strategic decisions.

Overall, Playing Chicago is a fun and simple way to introduce a little gambling or friendly competition into a round of golf. It is a test of skill, nerve, and strategy, and it can make for some memorable moments and stories to retell in the clubhouse afterward.

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Golf in Chicago

Golf is a popular sport in Chicago, with the city offering a wide range of courses for players of all skill levels. Chicago is known for its public courses, with the Chicago Park District alone offering six different golf courses, three driving ranges, and two miniature courses. The district's courses are highly affordable and conveniently located in the heart of the city, with beautiful views of Lake Michigan.

The Chicago Golf Club, founded in 1894, is one of the oldest and most prestigious clubs in the city. It was the second home of the club, with the first being Belmont Golf Club in Downers Grove, Illinois, which featured the oldest 18-hole course in North America. The Chicago Golf Club has hosted several prominent events, including multiple U.S. Opens and Walker Cups. The club was founded by renowned course designer and World Golf Hall of Fame member, Charles Blair Macdonald, who is known as the "Father of Golf in Chicago".

There are also many other notable courses in the Chicago area, such as the Cog Hill Golf and Country Club, which has hosted the Western Open and BMW Championships, and the Glen Club, located on a former Naval Air Base. The Sydney R. Marovitz Golf Course is another popular option, offering a waterfront location just north of downtown with tight greens, bunkers, and a championship length.

For those looking for a more unique experience, the Diversey Driving Range & Miniature Golf provides a picturesque setting just off Lake Michigan, with an adjacent 18-hole mini-golf course nestled in Lincoln Park.

Chicago's private club scene is also thriving, with the city ranking third on a list of the best regions for golf based on the breadth of very good golf available. The Old Elm is a male-only club on Chicago's north side, featuring a unique design pedigree from British architect Harry S. Colt, who collaborated with Donald Ross. Other notable private clubs include Medinah Country Club and Pine Meadow Golf Club, which is considered a mini-Cog Hill.

Frequently asked questions

The golf game Chicago is a tournament game, but it is most fun in a foursome, where players can see each other's game and play accordingly.

To start, every player adds their course handicap to the number minus 39. From there, the game is like Stableford in that players win points for bogey or better: 1 for bogey, 2 for par, 4 for birdie and 8 for eagle. The objective of the game is to get your number into positive territory.

It is not known who invented the golf game Chicago. It could have been Frank Sinatra or a '70s band famous for its horn players.

The objective of the golf game Chicago is to get your number into positive territory.

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