Big Run Golf Club

It really hurts for.me to have to give such a bad review of a course that I have played at over the last 40 years, but this once wonderful course is in shambles. There aren't enough adjectives to describe the horrendous conditions. Dozens of dead trees, dead grass on the tee boxes, dead spots on many greens, weeds everywhere, ponds are disgusting, cart paths are too rough to drive on, most of the bridges are falling apart and seem unsafe, Long Run creek running thru the course needs a good clean out, most of the "sand'" traps are dirt/gravel/clay, fairways have dead spots, the landscaping is neglected or non-existant, golf carts run but are old and dilapidated (need GPS, too). No cart beverage service even on Sunday, used to have vending machines in the shelters along the way but those are gone as well. This course was once beautiful, but unless there is a MAJOR effort and lots of money spent to rejuvenate it, I'm afraid it will cease to draw any golfers.

Extremely bumby cart paths; fairways not in good shape. Fun course and good layout though

The greens at this course are in really good condition. Challenging and well laid out. Bunkers and hazards are inconsistent. Some are in good conditions, some are not. Fairway is not in good condition, weeds, bare spots and dry. Rough is also hit or miss.

Course was in good shape. Multiple brown short grass fairways. Very patchy. Greens were very nice.

We played on a day that few golfers were playing. I don't know why as the weather was terrific. So, pace of play was great.

The course is not in great shape. Fairways were burnt and had lots of weeds.

The pro shop guys were pleasant enough, even though I was kind of ignored when I tried to check in.

My biggest complaint is about whoever set the pins. Doesn't really know what he's doing. 18th green was just silly. Pin set on a severe down slope. If a putt wasn't perfect, the ball would end up down the hill in the fairway. There are better ways to set a pin to provide a challenge without creating an unfair situation.

Other than that, it was a pleasant golfing experience, and a decent value for the money.

Amazing layout and topography has the potential to be a top course. Course maintenance is non existent. “Fairways” are hard pan or weeds. Must be 75-100 dead trees. Clubhouse is charming if you like 60/ paneling.

Great course and lots of fun! Could use some teepad and fairway maintenance as they’re in very bad shape. But overall a super beautiful and fun track!

Course is very bad shape. We paid $70 per person definitely not worth it. Fairways are mostly dead grass and dirt. Cart paths are very bumpy

Tons of elevation but beautiful. Little tired with green collars etc but charming course.

Great condition. Value outstanding and the elevation changes make it really fun. Greens can be tough but fair. Consider it a hidden gem. Wish they embraced the 70s vibe in the clubhouse a little more but still fun.

Most challenging public Golf course in Illinois.

You got game,Big Run is for you.

Try hole #9 and your tough guy image vanishes and turns ya into Lumpy Rutherford!

Most difficult public golf course in 50mile radius.

Big Run Golf Course left much to be desired during my recent visit. While the course conditions were not as dire as some reviews had led me to believe, there were several issues that stood out, some of which could be considered safety concerns.

The foremost concern is the condition of the bridges. They are in such poor shape that the boards on some of them start to come up after carts drive over them, making for a very uncomfortable and potentially dangerous experience. This is an area that requires immediate attention.

The pace of play was poorly managed. Sending off a foursome every 10 minutes is almost impossible to maintain throughout the day. While waiting to tee off on the first hole, the pro shop attendant, seemingly unable to see the fairway ahead of us, announced over the PA for us to tee off despite the fact that it wasn’t safe yet. Later, on the 16th hole, the ranger rudely instructed us to speed up our play, despite the fact that there was nowhere for us to go. The group behind us slowed down even more, creating a significant gap behind us by the time we reached the 18th hole. We only saw the ranger one other time during our round.

The clubhouse, though old, was functional with no significant issues. Food was available at the turn, though it took longer than expected to get served. Beer prices were reasonable, not a rip-off. However, the parking lot layout was strange and could use some redesign.

In summary, the course maintenance needs more attention. At $75 per round, with an assumption of consistent attendance throughout the week (including weekends and peak times), the course should generate sufficient revenue to hire more than just one person in the pro shop and one ranger. The rudeness of 2 out of the 3 staff members we interacted with (the guy at the turn stand was nice) was off-putting and has deterred me from wanting to return.

To win back my business, Big Run Golf Course would need to address the safety issues with the bridges, extend the time between tee times to ensure a better pace of play, and provide proper customer service training for their employees.

Based on other reviews here and on Google, I expect the same generic response that many others have received, and I doubt any changes will be made. For now, I would recommend looking for alternative courses in the area until these significant issues are addressed.