Southern Illinois Golf Trail

Golf is always in season on the Southern Illinois Golf Trail, where the mild weather allows for golfing nearly year round. Start putting in Marion and make the rounds through all five of the Trail courses—Kokopelli, Crab Orchard, Hickory Ridge, Stone Creek and Gambit—ending in the lush green hills of the Shawnee National Forest.

CITY: Carbondale

Hickory Ridge Golf Course

This 18-hole golf center is the highest-rated public golf course in Southern Illinois, earning four stars from Golf Digest. The course offers discounted "twilight hours" rates for unlimited play after 4pm.

CITY: Carbondale

Rend Lake Golf Course

This 27-hole golf course, part of the Rend Lake Recreation Complex, was ranked as one of the best public courses in the Midwest by Golf Digest, which rated it 4-1/2 stars. Chicago architect Lawrence Packard designed the course with some fairways overlooking scenic Rend Lake. The on-site Seasons Lodge and Condominiums offers golf packages that let you stay close to the action.

CITY: Whittington

Saluki Football

Home for Saluki football, McAndrew Stadium provides seating for approximately 17,300 on the beautiful Southern Illinois University Carbondale campus.

CITY: Carbondale

Saluki Basketball

The home of Saluki basketball is the Southern Illinois University Carbondale Arena, a 10,000-seat facility that also hosts national touring concerts, family shows, theatrical events and circuses.

CITY: Carbondale

Coyote ATV Trail Riders & Junkyard International Raceway

Fifty to 60 trucks carrying ATVs pull in every weekend to ride through the 10 miles of trails. You can also race go-karts on the track.

CITY: Coulterville

Hickory Ridge Public Golf Center

One of the most challenging courses in Southern Illinois, this championship caliber 18-hole layout plays over 6,800 yards from the back tees. The course has a distinctive links appearance, even though it is cut through the typically hilly local terrain.

CITY: Carbondale

Benton Country Club

This semi-private, nine-hole course features a historic three-story clubhouse, surrounded by Lake Moses. Host of the annual Benton Gold Cup, the course also features a well-stocked pro shop, driving range, rental clubs and carts, and a golf pro on site.

CITY: Benton

Stardust Golf and Country Club

9 holes, par 36, winter golf, club and cart rental, snack bar.

CITY: Johnston City

Sports Blast

Sports Blast is a multi-sport indoor facility in Carbondale, featuring indoor soccer, tennis courts, batting cages, softball/baseball, golf, volleyball and indoor arena flag football.

CITY: Carbondale

Franklin County Country Club

This club offers an immaculate bermuda fairway and bent green grass, par 71 course. Franklin County also features a fine dining restaurant, locker rooms and a pro shop.

CITY: West Frankfort

Nashville Municipal Golf Course

This nine-hole golf course opened in 1967.

CITY: Nashville

Southwestern Lakes Golf Course

This nine-hole golf course opened in 1967.

CITY: Percy

Crab Orchard Golf Club

Located between Marion and Carbondale, this 18-hole, semi-private par 70 course features lush zoysia fairways and a practice area with target greens. Crab Orchard made Golf Digest's 2008/09 "Best Places to Play" list.

CITY: Carterville

Pine Lakes Golf Club

The 18-hole "pine lakes" course at the Pine Lakes Golf Course facility features 5,889 yards of golf from the longest trees for a par of 67. The course rating is 67.0 and it has a slope rating of 107.

CITY: Herrin