Bittersweet GC
A view of a hole at Bittersweet Golf Club.
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4.3
350 Reviews (350)
5 Stars
126
4 Stars
184
3 Stars
28
2 Stars
8
1 Stars
4
Conditions
4.1
Value
4.1
Layout
4.4
Friendliness
4.6
Pace
3.8
Amenities
4.1
93.0%
Recommend this course
323 out of 350 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.5
20 Reviews (20)
5 Stars
11
4 Stars
8
3 Stars
1
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.3
Value
4.0
Layout
4.4
Pace
3.8
Amenities
4.1
StaffFriendliness
4.6
95.0%
Recommend this course
19 out of 20 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.3
39 Reviews (39)
5 Stars
14
4 Stars
23
3 Stars
2
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.1
Value
3.9
Layout
4.4
Pace
3.8
Amenities
4.1
StaffFriendliness
4.5
94.9%
Recommend this course
37 out of 39 reviews
Read Reviews

About

Holes 18
Type Public
Par 72
Length 6751 yards
Slope 135
Rating 73.3

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.

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Course Details

Year Built 1996
Golf Season Open: 3/15 Closed: 11/15

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes
Caddies No
Clubs Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Golf School/Academy Yes
Teaching Pro Yes
Putting Green Yes

Policies

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

Food & Beverage

Restaurant

Available Facilities

Clubhouse, Banquet Facilities

Accolades

  • Golf Advisor: Top Courses in Illinois (2016 #12)
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Reviews

4.3
350 Reviews (350)
Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 49
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart

Always worth the drive.

Course was in great shape. Staff always friendly. Great senior rate!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Response from on 06/18/2025:
We really appreciate the five-star rating! It’s great to know you enjoyed your visit — we’ll keep working to make every experience just as good.
Played On
Reviews 16
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 35
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 35
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 35
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Fair
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 35
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 10
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Turtle pace

Nice course, played it a long time ago, didn’t remember it so got a hot deal and tried it out, hot deals only way to play these days, courses these days are way overpriced and had to drive an hour each way on top of it. Almost every hole there were 2 groups at every tee box.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Poor
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Fair
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Fair
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 18
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser

Interesting layout, good for the right price

Over all the course is an interesting layout with pretty good condition when it comes to tea boxes Fairways and greens. Nothing particularly super special outside the course layout and for the right price I would come back. Not sure that I would pay the regular price of 70 plus dollars but for the $50 Mark it's a great course

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Played On
Reviews 12
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Good Test

Bittersweet is a demanding course off the tees as keeping the ball in play is critical. Approach shots on many holes allow for run ups to greens if can’t get height and distance. Greens were excellent , ball rolled true and greens were quick. I think Bittersweet is a solid test of all skills and decent value for a N On L course

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 2
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

I don’t understand why the walking rate and rate with cart are the same, I was told by a member of staff that it was something to do with pace of play, I don’t quite understand stand the logic there. Usually courses have a different walking rate but I like this course so I would play again

Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 18
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser

Solid Deal for $55 but wouldn't pay $77

Overall this course has a solid layout with every whole being unique. Some holes are shorter than average. Greens were solid but not very fast. Tee boxes and Fairways were average. I think it's a great option for the $50 range but getting close to 80 is pretty outrageous in my opinion for this course.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

The Sweet is still a little bitter

Staff are amazing, new range balls 👍, the layout still one of my faves. Now if the conditions were a bit better it would all be SWEET!

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Played On
Reviews 44
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 3
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Average
Value Fair
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 123
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 500 Contributor
Previously Played
Windy weather
Used cart

First Round of 2025

Considering it’s early April the course was in good condition. A little water on a couple fairways and a few greens were a little hard and bumpy. Other than that, it was pretty good.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 23
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Good
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