A view from Settler's Hill Golf Course
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3.0
502 Reviews (502)
5 Stars
88
4 Stars
182
3 Stars
114
2 Stars
71
1 Stars
47
Conditions
2.6
Value
3.1
Layout
3.8
Friendliness
4.1
Pace
3.8
Amenities
2.5
49.3%
Recommend this course
330 out of 502 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
3.7
13 Reviews (13)
5 Stars
5
4 Stars
3
3 Stars
2
2 Stars
2
1 Stars
1
Conditions
3.2
Value
3.4
Layout
4.1
Pace
3.8
Amenities
3.0
StaffFriendliness
4.4
69.2%
Recommend this course
9 out of 13 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
2.8
99 Reviews (99)
5 Stars
12
4 Stars
18
3 Stars
24
2 Stars
28
1 Stars
17
Conditions
2.4
Value
2.7
Layout
3.6
Pace
3.8
Amenities
2.3
StaffFriendliness
4.1
42.4%
Recommend this course
42 out of 99 reviews
Read Reviews

About

Holes 18
Type Public
Style Links/Parkland
Par 72
Length 6630 yards
Slope 131
Rating 72.2

Settler's Hill Golf Course sprawls across a diverse landscape that ranges from windswept highlands to mature woodlands. The course actually sits on the site of a former landfill but you would never be able to tell with its rolling topography that has become its signature characteristic. When playing, you'll be transported from the Scottish highlands to the forests of northern Michigan without even having to leave Chicagoland. Links-style and parkland holes are interspersed with water to create a test of your skills you won't soon forget. The greens have their interesting quirks and they are framed with deep bunkers and the rolling fairways demand accuracy. Besides the challenging round and affordable rates, Settler's Hill Golf Course's west-central location in Batavia near the Fox River also makes it a popular choice for meeting friends for a round.

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Settler's Hill Golf Course
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Course Details

Year Built 1988
Fairways Bent Grass
Greens Bent Grass
Golf Season Open: 4/01 Closed: 11/01
Architect Bob Lohmann (1988)

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes
Clubs Yes
Pull-carts Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range No
Teaching Pro Yes
Putting Green Yes

Policies

Credit Cards Accepted VISA, MasterCard Welcomed
Metal Spikes Allowed No
Walking Allowed Yes

Food & Beverage

Snacks

Available Facilities

Clubhouse

Reviews

3.0
502 Reviews (502)

What Golfers Are Saying

The 19th Hole is Great For:
Drinks 10
Course Challenges Include:
Elevation Changes 38
Undulating Greens 29
Thick Rough 20
This course/club is great for:
Locals 27
Advanced Golfers 23
Wildlife/ Scenic Views 18
This Course's Location is:
In the 'Burbs 38
Worth the Drive 16
Convenient to the City 10

Numbers based on reviews tagged with attribute.

Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 2
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 7
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart

Bad tee boxes

Bad upkeep. Many bald spots and no one is doing anything about the tee boxes. Some of the par threes don't have a level spot to play and no one if fixing the divots, If the tee boxes had sand and seed, they would probably be better, but the management needs to take better care of the course. Because the course underwent some changes the price was raised more the other courses and now the value has decreased. I'm staying away until this problem is rectified.

Conditions Fair
Value Fair
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Fair
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Beginner
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 3
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Fair
Friendliness Fair
Pace Excellent
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
2.0
Previously Played

Beautiful course- but not ready

This is a beautiful course with a great layout and challenging fun holes. But the conditions of the course are just not there yet after the renovations. Greens are horrendous. Rocks on tee boxes scuffed my partners club and dead spots with hard dirt and rocks everywhere. Way over priced for the conditions of the course don’t waste your money. Won’t be back for a few years.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

No pace

Course was not in good shape. Several greens were in bad shape. There was no drinking water on the course nor was there a refreshment cart available and it was over 90 degrees. A ranger would have been helpful since one 4some had things backed up. Unless they change things out there I won’t be back.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Poor
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap Don't know
Skill Beginner
Plays Once every three months
1.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Hot weather
Used cart

Poor Amenities and Layout

- Course was in decent shape but is an odd layout with the backtrack to 18. Even the clubhouse entrance is oddly situated and requires you to walk all the way around the building just to enter.
- What really annoyed me is that this course is charging similar rates to much nicer courses despite really lacking the amenities to justify the price (it's a landfill course)
- My number one complaint was that despite it being nearly 100 degrees outside, the course rules state that no alcohol or soft drinks are permitted (as with most courses), however the only point at which the beverage cart came by was at hole 2. By hole 9 my entire group was really looking forward to a cold drink and there simply wasn't any. The cart girl never came back, and there was no water on the course to refill a bottle
- Lastly, there was nothing open at the turn, so we just had to keep playing (again, how can you state that outside beverages are not allowed AND not provide the opportunity to buy them while there? Makes no sense)

Conditions Fair
Value Poor
Layout Fair
Friendliness Fair
Pace Excellent
Amenities Poor
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Pleasantly surprised

After reading some of the other reviews I was hesitant to play Settler’s Hill. I played it many years ago before they redid the course. I was pleasantly surprised by the layout and the challenges of the holes. They made you actually think on how you want to play a hole. I will admit, since I hadn’t played the course for sometime, there were some blind tee shots and I had no idea where to hit my drives. The par 3s on the front are fun to play. Having 18 run away from the clubhouse was a bit strange, but it allowed us to circle back and drop off our bags in the parking lot and return the cart. I will play it again and have it on a regular rotation.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 5
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

In Progress

Course is going through a redesign. Seems like it still in progress.

Carts are old and there was no water stations on the course.

Back 9 wasn't as fun due to all the bugs

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 32
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Needs a lot of work.Pin placements on some holes were ridiculous.

Conditions Fair
Value Fair
Layout Good
Friendliness Fair
Pace Excellent
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 9
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser

Why did six people play in front of us?

I love independence course the friends. I think the layout is extremely unique. It is very dry right now because of the drought. I wish they would put more water down because they were times we couldn’t get artisan. The most frustrating thing was when we started to play behind six people. I admit freely that they played as fast as they could but it was still a group of six people and there’s no way they can keep the pace of play. Why does this happen at Settlers Hill?

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Poor
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart

Course Updates WOW!

I have played this course 50-60 times, this was first time since they "Updated the course". DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY. They ruined the course. The layout took away most of the "risk/reward" holes. It has no flow. You never go by the clubhouse until leaving the new #17(old #18) heading to #18 (old #1)??!! When you finish you have to head back to the old #18! Really disappointing. I think its the new #9 and #10, now the tee boxes have each other driving into one another!!! Absolute bottle neck! Ignorant! All the garbage cans had junk falling out. No ammenities. WAY understaffed for Father's Day. It was like your favorite restaurant had 1 server working on Valentines Day! I get the fact that it has not rained in weeks, but they have not watered in months! DO WASTE YOUR MONEY.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Poor
Friendliness Fair
Pace Poor
Amenities Poor
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Windy weather
Used cart

settlers hill is a pass

The course is dry and rock hard. The tee boxes are impossible to push a tee into. the fairways are brown and play like hitting your ball down a freeway. The greens were inconsistent. It seems they were either mowed to different heights or no mowed on the same day.
save your money

Conditions Poor
Value Fair
Layout Fair
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Amenities Poor
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 8
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
2.0
Previously Played

Conditions are not good.

This course was closed last year to make renovations, but I believe the course is in worse shape. The tee boxes were the absolute worst I have ever played. The greens were fast and beat up. The course is virtually getting no water in most places.

Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Needs more time

With a revamp last year, the course just isn't ready yet. The lack of rain certainly hasn't helped.
The one major complaint is that there are no yardage markers and most apps don't have the new layout updated.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 5
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Settler's Hill

Beautiful weather conditions and had a most enjoyable round with my brother and our great friend. Greens rolled true and while challenging, were very fair. Dry weather conditions of late made for almost hard-pan fairways and the greens didn't hold. Slower pace of play but no pressure from us or the group behind us. Solid four out of five stars.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Poor conditions

Settlers used to be one of my favorite courses to play however since the renovations the course is in very poor shape. The greens are like concrete with many of the greens missing grass or patches all over them, many of the holes had mud or missing patches of grass around the greens, fairways also patches have of mud, and pace of play can be very slow. The fact that they charge $65 on the weekends for this place is insane for the conditions. No drinking water anywhere on the course. Staff is friendly and layout is nice but that’s about it.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once every three months
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 12
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Totally disappointed

They claim $7.5 million in renovations. Tee boxes were terrible and obviously not moved in a long time. Full lines of divots all over the boxes. Fairways were in terrible shape. Not much grass around greens.
Worst course I played in years.
Bugs are unreal in morning. Spend a lot of time swatting bugs. They need to spray.
I do not plan on returning. They should ask for their 7.5mm back.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
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