Robert A. Black

Chicago's park district golf system is one of the most democratic in American sports — dozens of public courses spread across the city's neighborhoods, where the game belongs to everyone. Robert A. Black Golf Course, operated by the Chicago Park District on the Far North Side near Rogers Park, is a cornerstone of that tradition: an accessible, walkable layout that has introduced the sport to generations of Chicagoans who might never have found their way onto a private fairway.

At par 66, the course plays as a shorter, executive-style track — expect a healthy mix of par 3s and shorter par 4s that reward accuracy and course management over raw distance. That format makes it genuinely welcoming to beginners and high-handicappers, while still offering enough variety to keep experienced players engaged in working their short irons and scoring game.

The Far North Side setting puts you squarely in a vibrant, densely residential corner of the city, with the feel of a neighborhood amenity rather than a destination resort. This is urban golf at its most honest — practical, social, and rooted in the community it serves.