Settler’s Hill Golf Course Tee Times

Definition of a dog track. Fairways and greens were in terrible shape. Entire portions of greens were practically unplayable. No one was enforcing pace. We waited behind a group on every shot who had no one for over a hole in front of them. The only upside for this place is that the starter and guy in the clubhouse were friendly. $72 is an insane rate to pay here for a 2pm tee time on a Sunday. There are dozens of nicer courses in the areas you could pay the same or less. Will completely avoid in the future.

6 months ago

I wish I could give this place zero stars. Kane County should be ashamed of themselves for what this place has turned into. Way overpriced and the maintenance is awful. Combine a challenging layout with incompetent course management and you get Settlers hill as a result. Concrete dirt fairways, patches of dirt and rocks scattered just off of greens and tee boxes, zero attention to detail and terrible maintenance. Green grass is a rarity at this place. I honestly wonder where the money they generate goes because it certainly doesn't go back into the course. I've lived here 4 years and this place just keeps getting worse and worse each year. You have to actually convince yourself you're having a fun time out there because truly nothing about the course gives you a reason to come back. I've played here about 5 times and this was the last straw. Guys in the pro shop wanted to charge me a greens fee for my buddy who couldn't show up since he got called into work. Saying"we'll miss out on revenue since he cancelled, other players couldve played." I looked at him and said "dude there's 5 cars in the parking lot, and I checked online there's 20 open tee times still available, I'm not paying that." Absolute joke of an operation I hope this place goes out of business so someone with a brain can make it into something worth spending money on. Only positive is the driving range.

a week ago

Great layout, needs more attention from groundskeepers. Pros: -Course layout is very interesting and each hole is different. -Sand traps were in really good condition for mid-April. -Desk staff is friendly. No starter, or ranger, but course traffic was light that day. - Price point when we played was well below rack rate. I find the standard rate to be a bit too high for the current quality of the grounds. Cons: -Fairways are thin in general, rough is clumpy with a fair number of weeds -Some tee boxes are in very bad shape -No roving beverage cart, and snack shack was closed. New clubhouse that was supposed to be built at start of hole #1.... wasn't ever built. Only building is the old one between #17 and #18. No ETA for the new clubhouse either. I recommend you buy drinks and snacks when you check in, it may be the only chance to get them. -Greens hacked up in places, while rather good in others. Overall: A course with a LOT of potential, but it needs quite a bit of work. I hope they invest in maintenance going forward.

a year ago

A warm day in early May compelled me to play a course on my bucket list. Settler’s Hill Golf Course in Batavia, IL has a rarified legacy and local reputation. Built by renowned Chicago Golf Course architect Bob Lohmann in 1991, with a renovation by Greg Martin during Covid 2020-2022. I’ve written about Lohmann’s work before. His company designed legendary tracks including The Preserve at Oak Meadows, Blackstone in Marengo, Arrowhead in Wheaton, Springbrook and Naperbrook in Naperville and The Merit Club in Libertyville. Like Harborside and The Preserve, Settler’s Hill is built on a landfill which provides abundant elevation changes and great views. The property has ghosts of the “Poor Farm” which occupied this land between 1880-1970. The indigent cemetery can still be seen from the 17th fairway and you can blame the unsettled ghosts for your lost ball. The layout is unique as it meanders from links style Prarie into woodland forest. Several nice bridges add to the beauty and special amenities on the course. Bring extra balls but laying up is the best way to avoid OB. The elevation changes are so much fun here, and deep bunkers strategically placed, sometimes in the middle of the fairway require patient shot making. But success feels extra special. While this track is a lot of fun, it’s still a little rough around the edges with overgrown areas and unfinished paths. My biggest complaint is the slow greens which were agonizingly slow. They cost me several strokes 3-putting until I made the adjustment. The clubhouse is cool, like a Northwoods lodge and the bathrooms on the course are new and well constructed. There’s also a par-3 course on the property for a fun short game play. I highly recommend Settler’s Hill for a great value and a beautiful elevation-inspired round. When I return I just hope the greens will be faster.

a year ago

Anyone complaining about how the course is must play Augusta National in their free time. The course is in decent shape due to a recent renovation. Some spots on the fairway are not covered, so you know what you do? Move the ball. You aren't playing for $10MM. All the up and down was challenging but not discouraging. Bugs were an annoyance but you're outside. I'd come back again.

2 years ago