In the Loop on Chicago Golf

Sydney Marovitz is the people’s course of Chicago’s North Side; a place where scratch golfers and first-timers alike come together. It’s the one course everyone seems to know about. What makes Sydney unique is something that can’t easily be replicated: golf on the lakefront, just minutes from the neighborhoods surrounding the Loop. Add to that its forgiving layout, affordable rates, and walkability for players of all skill levels, and it’s easy to see why Marovitz holds a special place in the city’s golf scene.

The North Side muni occasionally offers great views of Lake Michigan and plenty of time to take them in during what can be a three-hour nine holes. The course itself lacks much in the way of character, though it plays more challenging and is in better shape than most of its park district peers. The most memorable hole is the par-5 4th, which provides a glimpse of the Lakefront Trail and city skyline. The drivable 8th is another highlight, a fun birdie or eagle opportunity for golfers across skill levels.

Sydney shines brightest at the fringe hours of the day. Primetime here is 7:00am after a weekend night in, 6:00am round before work, or a late evening racing the sunset.

My personal favorite memories at Sydney include holing a chip for eagle on the 8th and my Uber driver becoming confused on how to enter the course parking lot and turning down the bike trail. He continued to drive slowly down the trail while bikers and runners moved out of the way and yelled profanities. There was no real danger and no one was hurt, so it was hard not to laugh when asking him if we could “get out here” in the middle of the trail.