A view of a hole at Bittersweet Golf Club.
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4.2
273 Reviews (273)
5 Stars
98
4 Stars
142
3 Stars
21
2 Stars
8
1 Stars
4
Conditions
4.1
Value
4.1
Layout
4.3
Friendliness
4.4
Pace
3.9
Amenities
4.1
91.9%
Recommend this course
252 out of 273 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
3.9
8 Reviews (8)
5 Stars
3
4 Stars
3
3 Stars
1
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
1
Conditions
3.5
Value
3.8
Layout
4.4
Pace
3.6
Amenities
4.3
StaffFriendliness
4.3
87.5%
Recommend this course
7 out of 8 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.2
47 Reviews (47)
5 Stars
18
4 Stars
22
3 Stars
5
2 Stars
1
1 Stars
1
Conditions
4.1
Value
4.0
Layout
4.1
Pace
3.9
Amenities
4.1
StaffFriendliness
4.4
89.4%
Recommend this course
42 out of 47 reviews
Read Reviews

About

Holes 18
Type Public
Par 72
Length 6751 yards
Slope 135
Rating 73.3

Bittersweet Golf Club in Gurnee, Ill. is ideally situated for a scenic round of golf. The diverse landscape flows seamlessly from lush wetlands to native prairies covered with colorful wildflowers. The layout also winds across a 100-year-old sage meadow and through forests of mature hardwoods, which serve as a home to an abundance of wildlife. Beyond the beautiful scenery, the terrain presents many challenges. The undulating fairways demand accuracy as you hit from multi-tiered tee boxes. Water also comes into play on almost every hole and there's an array of strategically placed bunkers you'll have to avoid. The eighth is the toughest hole on the front nine, a par-4 dogleg right with a lightning fast green. Bittersweet Golf Club's back nine is known for its scenery, which is best displayed on the signature par-5 11th hole, which offers not only a challenge but also a spectacular view from the tee.

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Course Details

Year Built 1996
Golf Season Open: 3/15 Closed: 11/15

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes
Clubs Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Caddies No
Golf School Academy Yes
Teaching Pro Yes
Putting Green Yes

Policies

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

Food & Beverage

Restaurant

Available Facilities

Clubhouse, Banquet Facilities

Accolades

  • Golf Advisor: Top Courses in Illinois (2016 #12)

Reviews

4.2
273 Reviews (273)

What Golfers Are Saying

The 19th Hole is Great For:
Drinks 14
Patio Dining 8
Course Challenges Include:
Water Hazards 23
Forced Carries 18
Bunkers 12
This course/club is great for:
Advanced Golfers 19
Locals 14
Wildlife/ Scenic Views 13
This Course's Location is:
In the 'Burbs 17
Worth the Drive 15
Near Local Attractions 8

Numbers based on reviews tagged with attribute.

Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Good track

It’s a course that demands good shots, smart club selection , and discipline to keep the driver in the bag on many holes . Probably the best test of course management skills in the area cause errors can be punishing overall a good track and different from many other courses. Course was in excellent shape.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 184
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 20
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played
Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Fair
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 25+
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 448
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Illinois Advisor
Top 10 Contributor
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart

Close to 4 stars but slow play always an issue

My once a year visit to Bittersweet was just that as usual. Clubhouse with good bar, practice area and grass driving range. The room behind the men's room that had a shower is now locked off. Water and trouble is everywhere on this course.....several holes are quirky, very tight and need to be played a few times to score well. You find yourself "shoehorning" tee shots most of the day rather than swinging away. Bittersweet is a good challenge but the numerous harzards and some forced carries slow the play down to turtle crawl. If you're behind some less an average players plan on a 5 hour plus round on weekends. Greens microaerated but rolling well and overall decently maintained for a public course. Recommend but bring your accuracy.......if you're off a little you'll lose a sleeve of balls......

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 9
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Poor
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 18
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 184
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 39
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart

Devilish Fun

Not for the faint of heart here at Bittersweet. This is NOT a bomb a gouge course, this is a track that requires thought and all the clubs in your bag. Played my driver 1/3 of the time off the tee. Lots of irons and a F/W wood. Greens are firm and fast with lots of slope. Pin hunting is not always the thing to do.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 57
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Extremely tough coutse

Extremely challenging course with water in most holes with reeds along the left or right of the fairways. If you don’t t put it on the fairway, it be difficult to find your ball especially if it’s in the reeds. Difficult hole locations with fast greens. Very challenging golf course.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 32
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Good
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Golf Packages

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