Settler's Hill GC
A view of a green protected by a bunker at Settler's Hill Golf Course
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Rating Index Rating
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3.1
666 Reviews (666)
5 Stars
121
4 Stars
219
3 Stars
152
2 Stars
101
1 Stars
73
Conditions
2.6
Value
3.0
Layout
3.8
Friendliness
4.0
Pace
3.4
Amenities
2.7
53.9%
Recommend this course
420 out of 666 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
3.5
31 Reviews (31)
5 Stars
10
4 Stars
7
3 Stars
6
2 Stars
4
1 Stars
4
Conditions
3.3
Value
3.3
Layout
4.0
Pace
3.8
Amenities
3.1
StaffFriendliness
4.1
64.5%
Recommend this course
20 out of 31 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
3.1
57 Reviews (57)
5 Stars
12
4 Stars
13
3 Stars
11
2 Stars
10
1 Stars
11
Conditions
2.6
Value
2.9
Layout
3.8
Pace
3.3
Amenities
2.7
StaffFriendliness
4.0
50.9%
Recommend this course
29 out of 57 reviews
Read Reviews
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AI summaries based on real golfer reviews
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Course Highlights
The redesigned layout offers a compelling mix of challenging and birdie-friendly holes, with varied elevation adding a technical dimension to every round. Friendly, accommodating staff consistently stand out as a genuine highlight of the experience.

About

Holes 18
Type Public
Style Links/Parkland
Par 71
Length 6487 yards
Slope 129
Rating 71.5

Settler's Hill Golf Course sprawls across a diverse landscape that ranges from windswept highlands to mature woodlands. The course actually sits on the site of a former landfill but you would never be able to tell with its rolling topography that has become its signature characteristic. When playing, you'll be transported from the Scottish highlands to the forests of northern Michigan without even having to leave Chicagoland. Links-style and parkland holes are interspersed with water to create a test of your skills you won't soon forget. The greens have their interesting quirks and they are framed with deep bunkers and the rolling fairways demand accuracy. Besides the challenging round and affordable rates, Settler's Hill Golf Course's west-central location in Batavia near the Fox River also makes it a popular choice for meeting friends for a round.

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Settler's Hill Golf Course
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Course Details

Year Built 1988
Fairways Bent Grass
Greens Bent Grass
Golf Season Open: 4/01 Closed: 11/01
Architect Bob Lohmann (1988)

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes
Pull-carts Yes
Clubs Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range No
Teaching Pro Yes
Putting Green Yes

Policies

Credit Cards Accepted VISA, MasterCard Welcomed
Metal Spikes Allowed No
Walking Allowed Yes

Food & Beverage

Snacks

Available Facilities

Clubhouse
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Reviews

3.1
666 Reviews (666)

What Golfers Are Saying

The 19th Hole is Great For:
Drinks 10
Course Challenges Include:
Elevation Changes 38
Undulating Greens 29
Water Hazards 21
This course/club is great for:
Locals 28
Advanced Golfers 23
Wildlife/ Scenic Views 18
This Course's Location is:
In the 'Burbs 39
Worth the Drive 16
Convenient to the City 10

Numbers based on reviews tagged with attribute.

Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Moved along just fine. A nice test of golf. You'll hit a lot of different clubs here. Lower areas tend to be a little wet, even after no rain...and settling issues around the course and on cart paths is evident--likely since it's actually on a landfill. Enjoyable day all the way around. I recommend this golf course. Really had no interaction with staff and had to leave right after the round, so can't really comment on off-course amenities or staff friendliness...but couldn't write the review without rating them. I chose to give them 5.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Poor
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Average link style course

No water coolers on the course, greens and tee boxes need to be improved. Bunkers are in bad condition and some of the fairways are pretty horrible. Played here twice, dont think I'll play here again .

Conditions Fair
Value Fair
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Excitement from every tee box

The course isn't the greatest in condition, but what it lacks in plush carpeting, it makes up for in the uniqueness of the layout. No two holes are the same, and you get a plethora of different looks from tee boxes. The first hole is a gold mine of lost balls if you you're willing to sniff around. Trust me, I haven't paid for a ball since 'nam. The greens are quite challenging, with many hidden idulations. "Sand" in the bunkers could use replacing (hint hint settlers hill) but overall a very fun course for the money you pay. All the par three's have a decent amount of elevation change, and the par 5's make you use your noodle, and I don't mean the golf ball brand. Recommend this course all day everyday.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Greens are slow

I play this course often. Overall, the course is in great shape. However, the greens are extremely slow. Be aware that there is no practice range and the practice putting green is small. Also, there is no half-way house. These are the only complaints I have, but not enough that would prevent me from playing the course again.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 16
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Better than I remeber

I played here about 6-7 years ago and remembering that I liked it. The reviews the last couple years have not been kind so I stayed away. Great deal on GN so we tried it. It was better than I remeber. It's has some rough and beat up areas, but all in all I'd go back in a heartbeat.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 76
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 1000 Contributor
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 80
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 1000 Contributor
First Time Playing
Windy weather
Used cart

Course was nice

Although the weather was cold, wet, and windy for a August day we enjoyed the day. Course is good mix of holes with some more challenging then others not long. No real trouble to get into. Greens were in very nice shape very soft and held well. Patrons didn't fix ball marks as well as they could have. Amenities were pretty few. Beverage cart was around several times, but selection very limited. Inside very limited food and beverages.

Pace of play was good, but ranger talked to us about catching up because we were 1/2 hole behind??? No one was waiting behind us and we were on pace. Did pick it up and then we had to wait???

All in all an OK experience. Good value for price paid. Would probably play again at the price.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Fairly Easy
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Fun Layout

Fun course. With a larger budget, this course could be pretty sweet. Fairways decent but tons of crabgrass and weeds in the rough. Bring your scope. No GPS in carts and limited yardage markers make some holes extra difficult when they do not need to be. No halfway house or water on course so plan accordingly. No driving range and pretty useless putting green. Course does have some of the more fun par 3's in the burbs with great elevation. Views on course are terrific and weekend rate was fare. Wished greens would have run a bit more true. Enjoyable course as long as you know course condition going in.

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 20
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Played On
Reviews 10
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Wet weather
Used cart

Fun track

It was over 6 years in between rounds so it was good to see the course mature. The track is challenging 50% and fairly easy 50%. 11th hole is crazy hard requiring 3 perfect shots to be on in regulation.

I enjoyed the course and would play it again

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 6
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 158
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 250 Contributor
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Great course

Interesting course with lots of character holes. Highly recommend. No range and you do not pass the club house at the turn. Normally excellent condition.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 61
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Golf golf golf

A nice place to play anytime

Very nicely kept and the greens were rolling nicely

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap Don't know
Skill Beginner
Plays Once every three months
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Hot weather
Used cart

Settler'sHill

As a beginner I found this to be a somewhat challenging course, lost a few balls in the tall grass. But it was a surprising enjoyable course with changes in elevation. Looking forward to coming back, the reasonably low prices makes it a big plus on my list of courses.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 449
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Illinois Advisor
Top 10 Contributor
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Nice Routing does have some issues

Settler's is a really nice track if you are a decent player. It was in decent shape....greens were okay and rolling acceptably. Sand traps were fairly maintained except for idiots that refuse to rake them properly. A lot of less accomplished players book at this course and there's plenty of trouble - water, gorse, forced carries and pace killing holes. 3 of the four of the par 5's on this course are way too much challenge for high handicappers and result in a 20 minute plus playing time on each of them. The par 5 11th hole is one of the most penal and poorly designed holes tight tree lined featuring a sloped all of 15 wide yard fairway in some places and you always have a significantly long uphill approach shot (usually from a bad downhill lie) to a severely sloping green surrounded by traps. Do yourself a favor on your approach shot on this hole....just aim left of the green - avoid the traps in front and just let the terrain roll the ball down on the green. You almost can't hit your approach shot too far left on this hole!! Took us 25 minutes plus to play the 11th waiting/waiting/waiting.

No warm up range and my real pet peeve is the almost worthless practice green that's so sloped it screws people up because most of the greens aren't even close to that amount of undulation and it's difficult to get a feel for putts longer than 15 or 20 feet. Greens are easily readable but there are significant breaks if you're in the wrong position. No water on the course and provision up (ask if there is a beverage cart) because the course doesn't return to the clubhouse until after the 13th hole. Beverage prices are a tad steep as well. 3.5 stars plus (the course is really fun to play with good shot values - $30/$35 value) and recommend only if you can play here with a light tee sheet and hope you don't have groups spraying balls everywhere in front of you. Otherwise count on a 5 hour plus round.

Conditions Good
Value Fair
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Fair
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 23
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Good experience

Interesting layout, with some great elevated views. Tough slopes on many greens, which can bring 3 putts into the picture. Number 11 requires 3 perfect shots, and even then you need to negotiate the severity of the green.

The previous reviews are correct about the availability of drinking water; you need to bring your own. During our round however, the beverage cart service made frequent visits.

Decent pace of play for a Friday afternoon at 4 hours 20 min, and a friendly starter on number one. Course in good shape.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 4
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 21
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
2.0
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Course Could Better

There was no drinking water anywhere on the course. I used water from the creek to wet my towel to clean my clubs. There is only 1 restroom on the course and that was at hole number 6/8. Course is poorly laid out as the club house is no where near the turn or anywhere close to a hole to make a stop for the restroom or amenities.

Conditions Average
Value Fair
Layout Poor
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser

Yes!

I have been playin this course since it first opened and everytime I play it I remember the first time and think back to how much I loved the layout. Back when it first opened it was still very raw and not fully developed, now it is and I love it even more. I wish I didn't live so far away from Settler's or else I'd play it more often! There are some really nicely designed holes with a mix of easier holes and some really difficult ones. Hole 11 from the tips is one of my favorite holes (even not from the tips). Recommended!!!

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 9
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Course is falling apart. Cart paths were bumpy. hundreds of ball marks on each green not repaired. Very few or poorly seen yardage markers. No GPS. No water coolers anywhere to drink from.

Conditions Poor
Value Fair
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Poor
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FROM $617 (USD)
KOHLER, WI | Enjoy 2 nights’ accommodations at The American Club or the Inn at Woodlake and 3 rounds of golf at Blackwolf Run (River or Meadow Valleys Course) and Whistling Straits (Straits or Irish Course)

Destination Kohler - To Dye Four Golf Package

FROM $557 (USD)
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