Swing 'Fore' The Green!

Take a Golf−Inspired Road Trip in ILLINOISouth

One of the best things about golf is that no one course is the same as another. Many golfers LOVE to experience the different styles and quirks of each course they play. There are dozens of golf courses throughout ILLINOISouth that offer something different, so we put together three weekend long golf itineraries for folks to enjoy.

Annbriar Golf Course in Waterloo, IL

ILLINOISouth Western Region Golf Trip

DAY 1

Gateway National Golf Links, Madison

This course offers one of the best views, with a fantastic vantage point of the Gateway Arch and downtown St. Louis. Gateway National is the only true links-style golf course in the St. Louis Metropolitan Area. This course plays very wide open, and offers huge, smooth greens to finish out the hole. In total the course is a Par 71, totaling over 7,100 yards.

DAY 2

Stonewolf Golf Club, Fairview Heights and Shiloh Yorktown Golf Course, Shiloh

The second day of our trip features two courses! We’ll start off at Stonewolf Golf Club in Fairview Heights − a Jack Nicklaus Signature Design Course. Stonewolf is one of only four courses throughout Illinois and Missouri designed by the golf legend. The tees and fairways feature Zoysia grass, with bent grass greens − but there are also five sets of tees to play as easy or as difficult as you’d like. Once you’re finished and rest up a bit, head to Shiloh Yorktown Golf Course for a totally different golf experience. Here, you can tee off at dusk if you’d like − because the entire par 3, 18-hole course is lighted!

DAY 3

Annbriar Golf Course, Waterloo

Theal day of our Western Region swing wraps up at the famed Annbriar Golf Course in Waterloo. Annbriar is consistently ranked as one of the top ten public golf courses in the entire state, matter of fact, it was named the number one public golf course in Illinois just last year! It is a beautiful, hilly course on 226 acres of land that was once a family farm. While the golf is great, the kindness and courtesy of the course staff is even better. Annbriar is a must visit, no doubt!

Shiloh Yorktown Golf Course, Shiloh IL

ILLINOISouth Central Region Golf Trip

DAY 1

Salem Country Club, Salem

One of the longest running golf traditions in southern Illinois can be found in Salem. The Salem Country Club was established in the 1920’s, and has seen a good amount of upgrades and improvements to keep the tradition running strong. For those who like a challenge, an 8-acre lake comes into play on a couple of different holes − as well as some other ponds and creeks throughout the course.

DAY 2

Bent Oak Golf Course, Breese & Roland Barkau Memorial Golf Course, Okawville

Start the day off with a quick 90 minute round of golf at Bent Oak in Breese − a simple, but beautiful 9-hole course tucked away on the edge of town. On top of that, Bent Oak is extremely affordable − charging only $14 for a round! A short half an hour drive south will lead you to Roland Barkau Memorial Golf Course in Okawville. RBM is unique because it offers two styles of play. The front nine is a traditional-style with woods and other obstacles coming into play, while the back nine is more of a wide-open links-style feel.

DAY 3

Red Hawk Golf & Grille, Tamaroa

Wrap up the trip with 18 holes at Red Hawk − nestled in between Pinckneyville and Tamaroa on IL Route 154. Water hazards pop up pretty often, especially on the 18th where there’s a fair amount of water between the tee box and the green! There is no question that this par 70 course provides a great round of golf with a world of character.

ILLINOISouth Eastern Region Golf Trip

DAY 1

Casey Country Club, Casey and Quail Creek Country Club, Robinson

Kick off the trip by seeing the largest golf tee in the world! That’s right, Casey Country Club is home to the Guinness World Record holder for the Biggest Golf Tee − which stands at over 30 feet tall. Oh, and the golf itself is pretty good at this 9-hole course as well! Just a little over 30 minutes southeast lies Quail Creek Country Club in Robinson. QCCC has an amazing 18-hole PGA Championship course and a 34-room resort complete with room service, a restaurant, a swimming pool, tennis, racquetball, and lake fishing.

DAY 2

Richland Country Club, Olney

While playing at Richland Country Club in Olney, you may see a few of the famous White Squirrels scampering around! This 18-hole course has a putting green, driving range, a full service bar and deck patio, as well as a private gaming area for when you’re finished with your round.

DAY 3

Frontier Adventure Golf, Grayville and Carmi Country Club, Carmi

Why not start the day with some minigolf? Frontier Adventure Golf at I-64 KOA in Grayville is a 27-hole miniature golf course unlike any you’ve ever seen. It has a very ‘old-time western’ feel − and is just plain fun! Wrap up the trip by heading 20 minutes south to play the 9-hole Carmi Country Club. This course plays pretty tight, with a total par of 35. Best part is, the rates are probably the best you’ll find − as a round for a non-member with a cart will only run you eight bucks!