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 123
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 500 Contributor
Previously Played
Cold weather
Used cart

Overall the course was in good condition. However, the greens were extremely fast and difficult to read. Pace of play was a little slow.

Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
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
Perfect weather
Used cart

Slow round

Overall the course was in good condition except for the fairway on hole one. There was lots of water on it and a few greens had fallen leaves on them. The pace was too slow. It took us 4 hours and 45 minutes to play 18 holes.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Poor
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 8
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Pace Good
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

My favorite local course.

Excellent from start to finish. Challenging layout and pin placement. The only negative was an extremely slow foursome ahead of us a few groups that slowed the back nine to a crawl.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 8
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 9
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Beautiful course

Loved playing a round of golf here at this beautiful course. It was challenging and forgiving and inspiring. Would definitely play here again.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Good time

We got paired up with a fun group. The course was in good shape and the range and practice area was nice.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 30
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Jeff

Course layout was good except the areas around the greens. Most greens were elevated and the slopes around them were so severe that many times shots that hit side of greens would go out of bounds. Course was in great shape from tee to green

Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Fair
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Course Review 1st time played

The greens and fairways were in good shape. But the rough was a challenge, ground was hard like concrete.

Conditions Average
Value Fair
Layout Fair
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Played On
Reviews 7
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Tough course, fun

Tough curse but really fun Love this course, especially the back nine! Lot of water and hazards.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 12
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart

Nice course - challenging

Hot day. 7:30 start time...pace of play was too slow for that time of day on a monday.

course was in great shape. greens were running. mostly target golf. I should have left the driver in the trunk.

Play it . you wont be sorry.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
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
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 19
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Played On
Reviews 3
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 5
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Challenging, bring the wood off the tee

Challenging course design with lots of hazards and water, not as driver, friendly as other courses. Lots and lots of T-shirts that may not work on, especially if you can’t keep them straight consistently. Greens were Challenging to read, the day we played was very hot and on the back nine lots of the turf became hard pan. Piece of play was slow on a Weekend, would definitely try during the week next time

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Poor
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 12
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Solid course

Bittersweet is very underrated if looking for a good test. T shots are pretty demanding but I feel there is enough room. Greens were excellent, fairways in nice tight shape. Always enjoy Bittersweet because you have to every shot with a purpose

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 15-19
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart

Wrong 9!!!

they sent us off back 9 and when we got to front they said they made a mistake.and we'd have to wait to follow all the people they were starting on the front. We weren't going to wait a half hour for a very slow 9.

Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 5
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing

Challenging course

Very challenging course, in particular if you struggle off the tee. Lots of teeshots that need to carry large obstacles such as water and tall grass areas. It was a super hot day so on the back 9, the course became hardpan in many areas, so come prepared for that if the weather is hot. Quite a few narrow fairways with trees as well. Great challenge, would definitely come again. Weekend round, pace of play was slow. Will probably try during the week next time.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Excellent
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