Big Run Golf Club

The Good: Big Run is a 90-year old Harry B. Smead design (with an influence from Nugent/Killian in the 80’s) in the southwest suburbs of Chicago that is one of the most dynamic, interesting public designs in the area. Fun topography throughout with many downhill drives & uphill approaches, but the Par-3’s are the true standout of the design. Both closing holes of each nine are tough Par-5’s that require precise drivers & strategically placed approaches. The greens complexes were expansive and very undulating, particularly with their Sunday pins. When in good shape, it can be one of the better values in the western burbs.

The Bad: The course conditioning was extremely rough with very spotty fairways and burnt out rough. While it has certainly been a dry summer, all the area courses I’ve played thus far this year have been in better shape. The pace of play was excruciating, at nearly 6-hours on a weekend afternoon. A combination of zero management and a routing not conducive to slow play, but inexcusable regardless. Staff is fairly accommodating in the clubhouse but there was no on-course service, which didn’t aid the experience. Limited practice area with a small putting green and no driving range. At $69 during peak season, a mediocre value considering the better conditioned alternatives nearby.

The Verdict: I’m sure Big Run was a hidden gem in its heyday, but unfortunately its fallen on tough times. An extremely fun design with excellent bones, if only there was enough love from its owners.

Best Hole: Even though I tripled it, I really liked the long Par-4 2nd hole. Your drive must avoid water left and trees right, with an uphill approach to a demanding green guarded by overhanging trees and several traps.

This round was a major let down. The pace of play was absolutely ridiculous. It took almost six hours to play 18. This is not the course that you bring a 10 year old to or if you have a hard time hitting the fairway or even getting the ball off the tee. The three to four groups in front of us had all three of those things going for them. The starter even agreed when we were talking about this.

The course was in terrible shape too. Fairways were burned out, rough was not tough at all, and sand traps were basically dirt. The ground was so hard it was like hitting from the cart path on most holes. There were a lot of areas in the fairways and greens that had missing grass and was just dirt. This would be fine if it was a small area, but some of them were quite massive.

This round was definitely not worth the money!

Good layout, beat up conditions and a ranger who pressured many times to hurry up. Got done under 4:30 on a long course and rangers were all over group to hurry up. I’ll pass and play elsewhere for the staff rudeness and beat up course.

Very scenic course probably too difficult for most amateur golfers. Fairways are in bad shape. The greens are difficult, would be impossible if they were faster. Took almost 3 hours to play front 9. Do not play on weekends!

Fairways are trash, no grass. Rough is just dirt. Bunkers are completely filled with rocks. Tee boxes have weeds growing out and uneven. Green were average and rolled true. Course layout is quality, with elevation changes and multi tier greens. Lots of up hill shots. No beverage cart and no ranger enforcing pace. $60/cart is better spent elsewhere. Food from the grill was tasty though. Stop by to eat, but play elsewhere.

Played 8/27. Course was in terrible shape. Hardly any difference in fairway or rough. Fairway was concrete. Greens were in ok shape. Bunkers completely filled with stones and some standing water (hasn’t rained in weeks). Worst $60 ever spent. Will never be back.

I really like the layout of the course. The tee boxes and fairways were in bad shape.

Horrible conditions, slow play and overpriced. Pictures are deceiving.

Course was in bad shape. Pace of play terrible (5+ hours). The two long par 5's are cool, but unfortunate when on most holes you can't distinguish the fairways from the rough...

Went out on evening as 2 some, made us play with 3 other guys and they were just jamming people together to get money. Didn’t even finish 13 holes and we teed off at 4pm. Tried to play front cause the back was brutally slow and wouldn’t let us. Don’t care about customer just about getting there money. Last time I’ll ever play it

One of a kind course that is over a 100 years old . Biggest elevation changes of any track in the Midwest

Absolutely love this course layout and just downright tough unless you are a lower handicap. #9 is vicious and memorable par 5 that keeps me coming back to make par. For $60+ dollars they need more water on the fairways and just all around better upkeep. Not coming back until they make some improvements.

Only played 15 holes in 4 and a half hours on a 4pm on a Saturday after being behind a group by 5 holes

This course is in terrible condition. Honestly, I paid $45 for a round and I overpaid. I can’t imagine paying $70 for a round. The fairways are like concrete. There’s almost 0 grass in the fairways. Where there aren’t weeds and clover, it’s just bare ground. In the rough it’s even worse. It’s just weeds. The greens were okay, but not cut short and the fringe is the same. Even the cart paths are in bad shape.

It’s honestly a shame. The layout is gorgeous. Huge elevation changes from tee to fairway to green. The par 3’s were beautiful. But apparently the owners have decided to put as little effort and money into the course as possible.

For what I paid for a loop here the place was in really bad shape , many of the traps where like mud pits and loaded with rocks, fairways where choppy , it is sad to see as you could tell this place has the potential to be a great course but the overall condition was just poor, Oh and the cart paths where worse than Illinois roads !!