Bittersweet Golf Club
About
Bittersweet Golf Club in Gurnee, Ill. is ideally situated for a scenic round of golf. The diverse landscape flows seamlessly from lush wetlands to native prairies covered with colorful wildflowers. The layout also winds across a 100-year-old sage meadow and through forests of mature hardwoods, which serve as a home to an abundance of wildlife. Beyond the beautiful scenery, the terrain presents many challenges. The undulating fairways demand accuracy as you hit from multi-tiered tee boxes. Water also comes into play on almost every hole and there's an array of strategically placed bunkers you'll have to avoid. The eighth is the toughest hole on the front nine, a par-4 dogleg right with a lightning fast green. Bittersweet Golf Club's back nine is known for its scenery, which is best displayed on the signature par-5 11th hole, which offers not only a challenge but also a spectacular view from the tee.
| Tee | Par | Length | Rating | Slope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 72 | 6751 yards | 73.3 | 135 |
| Blue | 72 | 6345 yards | 71.4 | 131 |
| White | 72 | 5559 yards | 67.8 | 122 |
| White (W) | 72 | 5559 yards | 72.8 | 128 |
| Red (W) | 72 | 4952 yards | 70.0 | 121 |
| Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gold M: 73.3/137 W: 79.5/143 | 338 | 565 | 196 | 344 | 371 | 148 | 346 | 422 | 516 | 3246 | 369 | 546 | 403 | 200 | 506 | 420 | 421 | 203 | 437 | 3505 | 6751 |
| Green M: 71.4/133 W: 77.3/138 | 319 | 531 | 169 | 334 | 361 | 126 | 326 | 404 | 485 | 3055 | 340 | 530 | 363 | 183 | 496 | 376 | 409 | 190 | 403 | 3290 | 6345 |
| Green/White M: 69.7/126 W: 75.1/133 | 319 | 531 | 127 | 334 | 234 | 126 | 326 | 328 | 485 | 2810 | 340 | 507 | 363 | 145 | 496 | 376 | 360 | 133 | 403 | 3123 | 5933 |
| White M: 68.0/120 W: 73.0/129 | 298 | 490 | 127 | 323 | 234 | 106 | 309 | 328 | 410 | 2625 | 329 | 507 | 319 | 145 | 445 | 341 | 360 | 133 | 355 | 2934 | 5559 |
| Orange M: 65.2/113 W: 69.8/122 | 283 | 469 | 93 | 279 | 234 | 76 | 288 | 323 | 402 | 2447 | 241 | 424 | 289 | 115 | 371 | 290 | 327 | 126 | 322 | 2505 | 4952 |
| Handicap | 17 | 1 | 9 | 11 | 7 | 13 | 15 | 3 | 5 | 12 | 2 | 18 | 16 | 10 | 6 | 8 | 14 | 4 | |||
| Par | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 36 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 36 | 72 |
| Handicap (W) | 9 | 1 | 17 | 7 | 13 | 15 | 11 | 3 | 5 | 14 | 2 | 12 | 18 | 8 | 10 | 6 | 16 | 4 |
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Course Details
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Golf Advisor: Top Courses in Illinois (2016 #12)
Reviews
Great Before The Rain
It was a cold May day but course is in good shape. We cruised around because not many people were playing. Started playing 2nd 18 and rain moved in. Came in after 8 holes and we were given full 18 hole rain check. Staff was very nice. Course is tough but fun. I have played here many times. Great bloody mary at the bar.
Get off the tee - have a great day
There is a lot of water on this course...I recall on nearly every hole. However, the trouble is really mostly off the tee - and often it's the trouble directly in front of you (think tall prairie marsh). If you hit worm burners, you will die here.
The course was in very good condition, and it's a good challenge for 10s to 20s in handicap. The greens are very easy. Very little break and not too fast. If you get on the green in regulation, it will be par for the course with an occasional birdie mixed in.
Clubhouse is fine. Decent sandwich fare. Pro Shop is pretty average.
$35.00 with GolfNow on a Thursday morning at 8:30 would bring me back here in a heartbeat. If it were $80, I'd enjoy playing again but not regularly.
good
it's good course but wanted to see good maintenance on the course...
Trouble all over the place
Course is a high handicappers nightmare from the blue tees. Very slow play when crowded. I enjoy playing Bittersweet but it's so target golf oriented and playing so hard and fast with the dry weather it was almost impossible not to lose a ball or two. The back left pin on the 16th was overkill yesterday - no room for error and you'll find yourself under clubbing purposefully on many approach shots just to avoid hazards left/right and behind greens. Course was in decent shape in most areas - sand traps hit or miss. Several really good challenging golf holes on this course. Decent functional clubhouse with grill that has a couple of showers in the mens room. Good range and practice area as well. 3.75 stars.....pace of play issues abound. Two groups on the 15th tee waiting?? Would give it a 4 but high handicappers really have no biz playing this place. Recommended for mid to low hdcps....a nicely routed track.
Bring Hair Spray
Course is in great condition, we played early morning staff dried the seats of the carts and were pleasant. The hair spray poke is about you can't spray the ball at this course. It's fair but has some tough holes. It's a must play.
Bittersweet both Bitter and Sweet
One of the most challenging and beautiful golf course I've ever played. Tight fairways, lots of water and marshes, fast greens. It's not for the faint of heart, but I'm ready to play it again.
A real gem nestled in a great spot.
The golfers were the biggest problem. And no ranger to keep people moving along. That is my biggest issue.
Great good nice
Great course all around. Played the whites because my buddies were beginners so didnt use the full course. Greens rolled real nice and fairways were consistent. Would play again whenever i have time to make the hour long trip.
Got a great deal from GolfNow. Very challenging course. Would recommend to bring some extra balls as it is easy to lose balls. This course offers a mix of long and short holes with different twist and turns. Some of the holes have parts of the fairway blocked off because of the heavy rain we have gotten the last couple of weeks. However the rest of the course is very well maintained and beautiful. Staff was great and very helpful.
Would Play Again
Played on a Monday afternoon. The staff was very helpful and accommodating, The course is a combination of links style and then tree lined fairways, always keeps you thinking. I would have to say there is ample landing areas in the fairways but the greens are protected and challenging to putt
The course was in excellent shape but as to another comment...please repair your ball marks on the greens and fill your divots in the fairways!!! Seriously...every time I filled mine, there were at least 4 -5 others nearby. Congrats to the grounds keeper...well manicured! The only complaint would be the lack of GPS on the carts. Otherwise I look forward to playing there again now that I know my way around. Great course for the money!
Really like this course....
Really like this course.... I drive an hour to play here. Always friendly staff help start your golf out on the right foot! Trees and water add complexity to a well shaped course. It would be nice to have better course information for first timers and us non regulars.
Good golf course that's challenging yet playable. Good mix of marsh and tall grass amongst the tree lined fairways. Good layout and great value. GARP! Golf at a reasonable price.