Settler's Hill Golf Course

Settler's Hill Golf Course Overview
Updated June 9, 2025
When I first pulled into the Settler’s Hill driveway, I saw a barn on my left and figured I’d arrived. Turns out, that wasn’t the clubhouse (luckily). Keep driving. A bit farther up the road, a much larger and sleeker barn comes into view; that’s the real clubhouse. It’s actually a renovated dairy barn, and it’s a fitting entrance for a course with as much eccentric history as this one. The land used to be the Kane County Home and Farm, a county-run institution founded in 1852 to care for the poor, elderly, and disabled. That operation shut down in the 1960’s, and later, in the early 1980s, the site became a landfill -- still active until 2006. Today, that same ground hosts golf shots, methane collection for energy generation, and weekend foursomes trying to find fairways over difficult terrain.

Settler’s Hill is a municipal 18-hole course in Batavia, just east of the Fox River and down the road from the Kane County Cougars stadium. Nine holes opened in 1988, with the full layout ready by 1991. Thirteen of the holes sit directly atop the old landfill, and five are on the perimeter. If you’re into golf with a story, this one has chapters -- from county institution, to trash heap, to tee box. The course is owned by the Forest Preserve District of Kane County, which also runs Hughes Creek, and its original layout came from architect Bob Lohmann. A major renovation by Greg Martin in 2021–2022 aimed to overhaul the course and facilities, including a renovated clubhouse and a fun little four-hole short course called The Pasture.

Unfortunately, not all golfers are thrilled with the changes. While the square tee boxes are an upscale touch, the renovation didn’t fix significant lingering maintenance issues. Complaints about scruffy fairways, rough greens, and poorly maintained bunkers persist. There’s some hope, though -- a new management company, Landscapes Golf Management, takes over in 2025 from former operators GolfVisions and has acknowledged the problems. Their challenge is clear, but at least they’ve said all the right things so far. Time will tell if that translates to smoother rounds.

The layout at Settler’s Hill feels expansive. It’s over a quarter mile from the clubhouse to both the first tee and the driving range, and once you're out there, many of the holes feel surprisingly secluded -- in a good way. The elevation changes are some of the most dramatic in Chicagoland, rivaling what you’ll find at Big Run in Lockport. It’s clearly evident on the 16th hole, a par-5 featuring a steep, cliff-like drop. Despite the sweeping terrain, the course is relatively short, playing 6,487 yards from the back tees, with a course rating of 71.5 and a slope of 129. There’s a fair amount of water to contend with, and unlike other landfill-based layouts like Harborside or Willow Hill, Settler’s Hill is dotted with trees throughout. One drawback is the tight 8.5-minute tee time spacing, which can lead to sluggish rounds on busy days. Golf carts are included with the green fee, and with these hills, you'll be glad they are.

Despite the quirks and condition concerns, Settler’s Hill still offers a unique round. Between the land’s layered history, the new short course, and the hilly setting, it’s definitely not your average muni. If Landscapes can get the turf in shape, this will be a course worth the drive -- and the second look.