Big Run Golf Club

4:15 pace on a beautiful weekday. I decided to play it forward to the senior tees (I qualify) and was glad I did. But a few of the markers were down on the short tee boxes, giving an unrealistic yardage advantage on a few holes. I played it backward there.

Greens were fairly consistent, keeping up with the recent uptick of conditioning. Diabolical pin placement on #11.

This course could easily earn a 5 star if it had a range, had better marshaling/flow control on weekends (not an issue on this day), and more consistent conditioning.

This course requires target shots to elevated greens. Many old oak trees lining fairways. Could use more sand in the bunkers. They were pretty hard and Rocky.

This course is incredible! It challenges you to use every club in the bag while offering stunning views & elevations! Though it is fairly difficult, it’s also very forgiving. I played the entire round without losing a ball.

Course is in great shape. I was in awe with the layout. The scenery is amazing. All see is skyline on majority of the holes. Just splendid. Greens are very well taken care of. Rough and fast. Disappointment is what I felt not playing this course in my 12 years golfing.

First, the layout is challenging, but not absurd. Grass fairways and rough were in great shape. Lots of elevation changes make you think through shot selection and hit your targets.

For the money, it’s not that great though. You can play arrowhead, seven bridges and other Chicago staples for the rate they charge here and those courses are much better maintained.

The course cart paths are a mess, weeds around all the flower beds, a mower must have been leaking oil because half the greens had tiny dark spots and all the ball washers & on-course fixtures looked like they’d been there for years longer than designed to last. Bunkers were also mostly dirt with little to no sand.

It’s obvious when you play it that they haven’t invested much in the 30 years since the course was last updated.The pace of play was 4:45 hours on a Saturday.

No marshal on a great June day! 5 1/2 + hours. People were playing in fivesomes! Good layout. Poor, poor everything else. Won’t play again.

The golf course was in good condition and the greens were fair. The greens can be impossible if they’re faster. Played the front nine in 1 hour and 45 minutes. Unfortunately, the back nine took 3 1/2 hours. There were several 5somes and no marshals too keep the pace. This has happened to me before and we’ve given up after a few holes on the back nine. I suggest only playing here early on a weekday when a 4 hour round is possible.

Very beautiful course big Oak trees everywhere. Long course challanging but fun. Greens are in fair condotion not too fast but because it rained I half expected that. The pace of play was staggering at best. We had no where to go so it did not bother us. But I would avoid this course if you want to have a sub four hour round. I think our round was close to 5 hours.

Rough was high, you could be 5 -7 yards off fairway and not find your ball. Good time. HOLIDAY pace of play ( slow) but not a deal breaker. Rangers were out on course. Fairways were lush but some needed a bit of trimming. Ball on fairway sometimes wasn't sitting up. Again, not a deal breaker and I would play it again under same conditions.

I've been playing Big Run a few times per year over the past 10 years, and I've developed quite the love-hate relationship with it over that time. I love the hilly layout with elevated tees, plus there are 5 or 6 memorable holes on this course. However, the greens have extreme slopes and the pins are positioned right on the edge of these slopes on many of the holes. All of which makes it very difficult to make putts or even not 3 putt. Now, if this course wasn't over 7,000 yards long, with hills and trees everywhere, I could understand having tougher greens. But the course is already quite difficult as it is, with the slope on the greens and where they put the pins, it makes the course almost too difficult at times. Also, the sand traps on this course have barely any sand in them, which for a course that is asking $50 to play is unacceptable. The other big issue I have with Big Run is the first hole. It's a very confusing downhill short par 4 with no clear place to aim your tee shot. All you see from the tee box is a bunch of trees. It's pretty much the worse starting golf hole in all of Chicago-land. I played the tips at Big Run this past week and hit the ball from tee to green almost as well as I possibly can, but still came away shooting an 82. I 3-putted 4 different holes, and I consider myself to be a pretty solid putter. Overall, I give Big Run a 3 star rating, but that could easily be a 4 if a few key improvements were made there.

I've enjoyed Big Run for over 35 years now. Our group plays every Thursday before Memorial Day - the track never disappoints. See my reviews dated 5/25/17 and 5/26/16 for good tips and hints. With all of the May rain the course is extremely lush and the grounds crew is doing their best to keep up with the grass cutting. Upcoming hot holiday weather the next few days I have no doubt they'll catch up. Right now the greens are tad slower than normal but that's actually a blessing and makes the course more playable. Stay on the straight and narrow here the rough currently is US Open length. Tee to green Big Run is in great shape. Lots of elevation changes. If they would renovate the sand traps or at least replenish them with sand this could be very close to 5 star venue. No range but nets to warm up. Awesome old school clubhouse with a 40's style bar and locker room. Friendly folks. If you're not a long hitter do yourself a favor and play the green tees here...you'll have much more fun. Green tees a burly 133 slope almost 6200 yards. From the whites 138/6670 and you'll shoot a least 5 stokes above your hdcp. 4.25 stars (bad traps and no full range). I never hesitate recommending this venue it's a great adventure.

Course was in tremendous shape due to ideal spring weather. Rough very thick but not overly long. Greens fast and true. If you have never played here, play the tee boxes that are appropriate for your skill level. Due to many elevated greens this course plays much longer than the listed yardage.

Big Run is a great challenge to your game. Fairly long with lots of old oak trees. Course has been around forever. Conditions are not pristine, but still pretty good for early season. Great hot deal for 25 bucks.

Big Run is a local favorite of mine. Grew up in Woodridge, IL and now I live downtown chicago. I always make it out to Big Run once or twice per year with friends. Staff is as nice as can be, and the course is so much fun. Not pristine conditions, but the bones of the course are so good. Hilly, a good variance in holes, distances, etc. Course makes you hit challenging shots and the course is very fair.

My buddies and I saw the Hot Deal for Big Run and decided to book it. When we got to the course, there was a frost delay. The delay lasted about 45 minutes, but on a weekday; the course was wide open. We let a single pass us on the second hole and then never say another person in front of us or behind us. Good times!

Have played here many times. Never disappoints. Challenging, beautiful classic course. Terrain is unique to Chicago area. Top public course in Chicago area in my opinion.