Chicagoland Golf Course Hot Dog Review

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Over the past few seasons, we have undertaken the daunting research task of rating the food fair of our favorite ½ way houses. Because, who, at some point isn’t tempted for wolf down something at the turn in an attempt to quite that rumbling gut because you ran out of the house late. This, of course, is a public service at no charge to the general public. You may not agree with the ratings, but this isn’t your project now is it? If you have a contender that we’ve missed, let us know.

5/15/24 Ruffled Feathers

· Large plump dog, cooked outside on a flat top, hole, not split. sesame bun

· Good Garden selection but no celery salt

· Pepsi, no coke, chip selection was a tad weak

· Dog/Chips/Beer $15.00

Overall Rating: 3.00

· 7/4/25 Rerated and a disappointment. The kid on the grill made no effort, he was just tired of cooking this day. The bun, still a nice sesame and a nice touch. The dog is too big for said bun and makes eating awkward. Rerated: 2.50

#1 TOP DOG

5/12/24 Cog Hill

· A foil Wrapped full package dog. Steamed bun (standard, no sesame) seeds the dog is plump and fits into snuggly into the bun.

· The garden was full, finely chopped onions, celery salt available.

· Pepsi, no coke, good accouchement selection

· May 25th update. They offer hard boiled eggs in the ½ way house. Not sure that is a good thing.

· Note that we prefer the on course  location for the general ambiance of the event but the dogs made in the clubhouse are the same.

· 9/28/25 update, all is well, the Jemsek family continues to deliver.

Overall Rating: 4.80

5/16/24 Mistwood Golf

Plump dog that fits in a standard bun. Juicy and steamed, not cooked.

Cooked in back, presented with the garden as requested. No Celery salt however.

Coke is available, nothing special with the accruements.

Overall Raging: 3.75

Updated on 5/10/2025 the logo Ball metal cups are the bomb with beer or pop. The dogs are still good but the need for the celery salt is paramount.

We’ll hold the rating

7/5/25 Flossmoor CC

A great in the 19thhole presentation. No food on the course. It’s a full and stuffed bun, made to order, stuffed as you like it. The bun is steamed but no celery salt. The home made chips seal the deal

Overall Rating: 3.00

7/8/25 Village Links of Glen Ellyn

A good selection of beverages in the 1/2 -way house. Dogs & Brats are grilled and placed in warming bags. The garden was weak, celery salt is available, prices are reasonable. Uninspiring at best. 

Overall Rating: 2.25

A CLOSE 2nd! 

7/20/24 Long Beach Country Club

Jeeze, hard not to love this joint. A steamed poppy seed bun with a grilled dog, split open was the ticket. They cooked it, you dressed it. Grab a bag of chips and a beer and you are on your way to the 10thtee. The only negative, no celery salt. Come on guys!

Overall Rating: 4.25 stars

8/4/24  7 Bridges Golf

Certainly no Cog dog. Pre-made and wrapped in foil, these dogs were over done, plain and simple. The plain buns didn’t help the presentation. Yes the garden was full, celery salt was available, the chip selection was weak.

Overall Rating: 1.75 stars

8/24/24 Idlewild Country Club 

The small little old school brick ½ way house is nestled behind the range and off the 11th tee. They pre-cool the dogs but give them a little char upon ordering. Done right with a standard steamed bun with a nice oversized dog. Celery salt is front and center as is a full garden. Nice touch with the cheese, crackers and peanut butter offerings.

Overall Rating: 3.75 stars

n Rerated on 10/4/25 as the season winds down. The enthusiasm isn’t what it was but they are still knocking out the dogs at a competitive level.

9/15/2024 Cantigny Golf 

The dogs are acceptable with nothing special. Wrapped in foil, on a plan bun these dogs are just average. The garden is full, celery salt is plentiful and things are reasonably priced. Chip and beverage selection are on par and the ½ way house gals are pleasant.

Overall Rating 2.50

Updated on 6/29/25

They were out of dogs so a Brat would have to do. The bun was too oversized, just ok, nothing special. The garden was a little beat up but the price point was still good.

9/21/24 Heritage Bluffs 

The dogs are made behind the scenes in the kitchen and shuttled out, wrapped in foil to the bar where they are kept warm. The plain bun is too small for these oversized boys so the garden falls out when eating. Average chip and garden, celery salt is there but the bar area is really cool.

Overall Rating 2.50

10/26/24 The Preserve @ Oak Meadows/Elmhurst CC 

There will be no prizes given out here. The end-of-the-9 dog was a half assed effort at best. The garden was bare, with no celery salt. Two bad choices for chips. Its like a government agency was running the joint. Oh yeah, it is.

Overall 1.50

11/11/24 The Links @ Carillon  

Given this was a very late season round, the ½ way house was closed for the season. It looks like they are grilling everything outside the shack. But, the club house was serving dogs this day, cooked in the kitchen served in a foil pack. No chips, they applied the condiments and she found some celery salt. To be reviewed again in season.

Overall: 2.0

6/9/2025 Big Run 

I like the outdoor grill set-up with convent ordering at the window close by. Good set up with tables over looking that messy 9th green. Watch out for the no cash policy. The garden wasn’t as full as expected but the dogs matched the buns.

Overall: 2.75

7/12/25 Prairie Bluff 

Impressive set up outside with a nice touch grilling the dogs. He should have asked if we wanted them split, maybe some cheese, but no. The garden was fully stocked, celery salt at hand, reasonable price. Chips were included by the barkeeps who looked like they may have been sampling a few of the dogs themselves.

Overall 3.0

#3 – WORTH A TRY

7/27/25 Prairie Landing, West Chicago 

Woah, we have a serious contender for Dog of the Year here. The dogs and buns were seamed to perfection, presentation in a foil wrap, very tasty. The only thing that hurts them is the lack of a good garden. Mushroom and mayo packets, no onions and they didn’t even consider the celery salt here. Reasonably priced, they even provided a bag of ice on this, one hot damn day.

Overall Rating: 3.50

8/30/25 Klein Creek Golf 

Service is from the Deck bar overlooking a lake off the 10th hole. That’s the highlight. These dogs are made inside, wrapped in foil and barely kept warm in a warming tray. They were generally overdone and expensive relative to what we’ve seen. The dog, a bag of chips and a short pour cola was $13. The garden is marginal, like the way the onions were finely cut but no salt. A big disappointment.

Overall Rating: 1.50

9/15/2025 Arrowhead Golf 

Conveniently located between all three nines it’s housed in a food truck. The service wasn’t very pleasant, and the dogs were disappointing. Run of the mill dog and plain bun wrapped in foil. The garden had ketchup as an option, no onions and packaged relish shows a lack of effort. They did, however have celery salt. Reasonably priced but not winning any awards.

Overall Rating: 1.50

Brick & Morter Joints

Portillo’s Occasionally visited

Its tough to beat this Chicago All-American. With numerous locations, the are the McDonalds of Hot Dogs. You can pick your garden favorites that include celery salt and finely chopped onions. The steamed seed packed buns are wrapped in wax paper to contain the goodness. The dogs occasionally are crispy biting into them but they are tasty and match the size of he bun perfectly. Old Frank figured it out.

Overall: 4.75 stars

7/31/25 Boss Dawgz Hotdogs Rt 53, Lisle 

Woah, this is a must visit. To say that this guy is into his dogs is an understatement. This joint is the gold standard for all that is hot dogs.

He makes his own buns, cuts his own Frys. You can get buns with seeds or plain. He cuts his buns from the top, not the sides!

Will have to venture in there for a 2nd visit to deliver a proper rating.