Big Run GC
A view over the water of a hole at Big Run Golf Club.
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3.9
893 Reviews (893)
5 Stars
258
4 Stars
327
3 Stars
151
2 Stars
92
1 Stars
65
Conditions
3.6
Value
3.9
Layout
4.4
Friendliness
4.3
Pace
4.0
Amenities
3.3
79.0%
Recommend this course
656 out of 893 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
3.9
19 Reviews (19)
5 Stars
3
4 Stars
13
3 Stars
2
2 Stars
1
1 Stars
0
Conditions
3.6
Value
3.8
Layout
4.6
Pace
3.7
Amenities
3.3
StaffFriendliness
4.3
84.2%
Recommend this course
16 out of 19 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.2
82 Reviews (82)
5 Stars
31
4 Stars
41
3 Stars
7
2 Stars
2
1 Stars
1
Conditions
4.0
Value
4.2
Layout
4.5
Pace
4.2
Amenities
3.6
StaffFriendliness
4.4
90.2%
Recommend this course
74 out of 82 reviews
Read Reviews

About

Holes 18
Type Public
Par 72
Length 7028 yards
Slope 142
Rating 74.6
Book a Tee Time at
Big Run Golf Club
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Course Details

Year Built 1930
Fairways Blue Grass
Greens Bent Grass
Golf Season Year round
Architect Harry B. Smead (1930) Dick Nugent (1986) Ken Killian (1982)

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes
Clubs Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range No
Teaching Pro Yes
Pitching/Chipping Area Yes
Putting Green Yes

Policies

Credit Cards Accepted VISA, MasterCard, Dicover Welcomed
Metal Spikes Allowed No
Walking Allowed Yes
Dress code Proper attire is required.

Available Facilities

Banquet Facilities

Accolades

  • Golf Advisor: Top 25 Most Improved U.S. Golf Courses (2025 #24)
The Best Way To Book Is With GolfPass+
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10 rounds of waived fees
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$120 in tee time credits
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Tee Time Protection
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Reviews

3.9
893 Reviews (893)
Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 13
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played
Fair weather
Used cart

Big-Run review

tee time ran half hour late, then played in 5 hrs.

course in good shape, staff and pricing very fair

Conditions Good
Value Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Poor
Amenities Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing
Excellent weather
Used cart

Challenging layout

Loved the course and the challenging layout. The pace was brutally slow, even for a Sunday.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Poor
Amenities Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 3
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Excellent weather
Used cart

Big Run

Big Run is a tough, challenging grind. There are not many flat lies on this course. The hilly topography is rare for a course in Illinois. The hills add to the beauty of the course but also adds many blind shots. The facilities are a little tired but the course condition and landscaping is very nice. Narrow tree lined fairwarys forces you to stay in the fairwary or you will add strokes punching out of trouble. This is not a course I would want to play every week, but a must play 1-2 times per season.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 25+
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Poor weather
Used cart

Always liked the course, brought new friends.

Really like how this course has matured. The putting green play similar to the course, which is not common in my experience. Just a fun adventure if you are a casual player.

Conditions Good
Value Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 5
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Amazing

Beautiful course. Super challenging. Pace was brutal but on a Saturday afternoon it's to be expected. Love everything about it.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Poor
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 11
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Good

I enjoyed. I will be back again. It was in great shape. Some of the markers for the tee boxes were missing

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 8
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Excellent weather
Used cart

Challeging, makes you keep coming

Some greens were not clean at all, the rest was awesome...

Conditions Average
Value Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 4
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Good weather
Used cart

Elevation changes and contoured greens

This course has elevation changes on most of the holes. That is something the Illinois golfer doesn't get very often. The course was challenging for me because I hadn't played it before and didn't know where to place certain shots. I am looking forward to playing the course again using the knowledge I have gained. It is long but if you place your tee shot in the fairway you will have a chance to attack the flag. The greens are contoured and I don't recall ever having a flat putt. Some of the greens are near impossible if you are on the wrong side or tier. The carts have laser link to find distance to pin only. Distances to doglegs (which there are many) are not marked and make it hard to determine tee shot angle or distance. Definitely worth a play and may become a course I frequent more often. No beverage cart on course and I was there on Fathers Day Sunday with the course packed. Halfway house at the turn was only option other than the two vending machines out on the course. Low on amenities but the high on the quality of golf.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Fair
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Good weather
Used cart

A classic with huge elevations

This is one old classic golf course. In my mind, it's reputatation was that of "fantastic layout, but poor course conditions". Not true anymore. The layout is still treelined and classic, but conditions are much improved. The greens could use some rolling for improved speed, but overall this course is a value for the $.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Poor
Amenities Average
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Excellent weather
Used cart

Overall, enjoyed the round.

This course could be one of the best if the bunkers actually had some sand in them and they cut and rolled the greens. Great layout and a real test. Would definitely play it again. Unfortunately, got stuck behind a foursome that was all over the place and didn't seem to care that they were holding up the course. Didn't see a ranger to manage the pace all day.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Amenities Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 26
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played
Excellent weather
Used cart

Be Ready

Be ready to lose a few balls and turn a potential par into a double/triple bogey. The elevation coupled with rolling hills can quickly turn a promising shot into a disaster. Its awesome. There are few courses that have the natural conditions of this course. Fairways and greens were in great condition when I played. If you shoot under 100 your first time out here then you played a good round. The 620 uphill par 5 has to be top 5 hardest holes in the state.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Course is unnecessarily difficult

I know the course should be difficult but Big Run is unfair. There are so many trees that you can hit a good shot and still not have a play at the green. Trees hang over fairways on multiple holes. And if you happen to miss the fairway, forget it. Even by 5 yards you either have to punch out or lose your ball because it's a forest out there. The course layout and extreme hills make it hard enough, playing multiple blind shots that you can lose even with an average shot. Just make the course fair and enjoyable and you will have more loyal customers.

Conditions Fair
Value Fair
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 25
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Previously Played
Good weather
Used cart

slow & slower

played on a sunday morning at 8 am -went off behind a 2some & a 4some- the 4some struggled to keep pace & yet no one said a word-it made for a less than enjoyable day-rough is very high-greens very challenging ...and don't really think this is a $69.00 course.

Conditions Average
Value Fair
Friendliness Average
Pace Poor
Amenities Average
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 21
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Used cart

Big Run was in great condition but.......

Fairways and greens were in great shape especially after the very harsh winter. This course is not for beginners. It is exceptionally difficult. A few suggestions for improvement are: put some sand in the bunkers and remove all of the stones and pebbles( it is too much like dirt), and get a few rangers that can keep an eye on the pace of play. This facility could host parties and even weddings if remodeled and would be a great moneymaker in the area.........

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 26
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing
Good weather
Used cart

Very challenging and hilly course but...

This was my 1st time playing Big Run and it was an interesting course, to say the least. I liked the hilly conditions because most courses in Chicagoland are pretty flat. However, there were a few holes where the hills or trees made them almost unfair to play. Having said that, there are 4 or 5 holes that are simply beautiful and memorable. The 7th, 13th, and 16th holes are 3 of the best par 3's you'll play in the entire area. The greens aren't cut very short because of the severe slopes. I had a few different putts that broke 7 to 10 feet! Overall, a good golfing experience, but I would cut down some trees on a handful of the holes to make them a bit easier to play.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Great course for the novice and experienced golfer

I'm a novice golfer, playing a few times a month when I can. This was by far one of the longest, most challenging and beautiful courses I've played. Great deal found on GolfNow for twilight hours too. The tee boxes and greens were a little dirty, but the landscape was wonderful. Highly recommend this course.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Top Ten Hardest Courses in Chicago!

Tough course. Great value! Amazing track; hilly, hard. Sure, greens are a bit bumpy at times, tee boxes are chewed up in spots, and pace of play can be an issue, but, where in Chicago can you play a course this hard for under $50? (George Dunne is in the running, though not as hard)

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 7
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing
Used cart

Great old school course

Played the course for the first time and will definitely play it again. The conditions were great but the greens were a little slow. Lots of elevation changes which is a nice change for a course in the chciago area. The course also has rough. My only concern is that they don't water the rough so if we have a dry summer the rough will burn out and the course will play probably 4-5 strokes easier. Also the fairways are blue grass so they aren't quite as tight lies as you would get playing on bent grass, but that is pretty picky in my opinion. Overall a great old school course that I would recommend to all of my fellow golfers.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Excellent weather
Used cart

Tough course but I can't wait to get back

The course is long and very challenging. I don't think there is another course in Chicago that gives the hills and contours that this course offers. This was my first time playing the course and I had a great time even though I walked away with my worst score of the season. I can't wait to get back and tackle the course again.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Tough

Well maintain course. Difficult, challenging course

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
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Golf Packages

Destination Kohler - Champions' Trail Golf Package

FROM $617 (USD)
KOHLER, WI | Enjoy 2 nights’ accommodations at The American Club or the Inn at Woodlake and 3 rounds of golf at Blackwolf Run (River or Meadow Valleys Course) and Whistling Straits (Straits or Irish Course)

Destination Kohler - To Dye Four Golf Package

FROM $557 (USD)
KOHLER, WI | Enjoy 3 nights’ accommodations at The American Club or the Inn on Woodlake and 4 rounds of golf at Blackwolf Run (River & Meadow Valley Courses) and Whistling Straits (Straits & Irish Courses).
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