Big Run Golf Club Sold

August 16, 2024

Big Run Golf Club in Lockport has been sold to CITGO Lemont Refinery. The acquisition aims to “expand the greenbelt around the refinery”, but the course is said to remain open for the foreseeable future.

City of Lockport documents reveal that in 2019, the city was asked to consider a residential development to replace the golf course. However, there was “little movement” from developers, as the site would require municipal utilities.

A classic design by C.H. Muelenford and Sneed, Big Run was established in 1930 and is known for its towering oak trees, hilly terrain and elevated, sloping greens. The layout features 46 strategically placed bunkers, both on the fairways and greensides, with water hazards coming into play on 8 holes.

Big Run is a brute of a course that offers more elevation changes than just about any course in the Chicagoland area. The par threes, particularly holes 13 and 16, are especially scenic, featuring elevated tees and water hazards, demanding a deft touch around the greens.

The course offers four sets of tees with distances and slopes of 7025 yards/142 slope, 6650 yards/138 slope, 6250 yards/132 slope, and 5420 yards/130 slope. With a slope rating exceeding 140, Big Run is among the most challenging public courses on the south side and in the Chicagoland area.

Big Run Golf Club

In November, the Lockport City Council decided to terminate a pre-annexation agreement with Big Run Development. According to the documents, CITGO has pledged to collaborate with Lockport regarding the future of the property.

The Lemont CITGO refinery has a long term strategy to maintain green space surrounding the refinery. As part of this plan, CITGO has signed a letter of intent to purchase Big Run Golf Course which supports this strategy to maintain open lands in the surrounding area.

Once the due diligence period ends and if they actually close on the property, they have made a commitment to Lockport to work with us in regards to its future. The open lands dedication and process will take some time, the Golf Course will still operate for a few years while CITGO works with its neighbors on the best land conservation plan, as no new development is pending at this time nor is it currently feasible to serve with any municipal utilities, therefore the open lands concept will be most suitable option.