Experience the Southern Illinois Golf Trail

in Family Fun, Outdoors, Eat & Drink, Regional Getaways
June 06, 2013

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Did you know Illinois is one of the Midwest’s top golf destinations? That’s right. Illinois boasts scores of pristine courses and frequently plays host to prestigious PGA Tour events, such as the U.S. Open, PGA Championship and this year’s BMW Classic – just to name a few. As the summer golf season hits full swing, there are no shortages of ways to enjoy golfing in the Land of Lincoln.

Beginners and veterans alike can combine beauty with excellence, while visiting some of the region’s premier golf courses along the Southern Illinois Golf Trail.

Located near Carbondale, the Southern Illinois Golf Trail rests in the beautiful Shawnee National Forest area and features five courses that offer visitors the rare chance to play golf year-round. The trail offers golf options for both serious and casual golfers.

The best part is that along the way, trail-goers can soak in the beauty of nearby destinations like the Garden of the Gods and the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail.

If you’re trying to decide what course to stop at first, here’s a little more information about the trail stops:

Hickory Ridge Golf Center (Carbondale)

The public course at Hickory Ridge is challenging for all skill levels, with long fairways, sloping hazards and smooth greens. The facility also includes an in-house pro-shop and restaurant.

Keller's Crossing at Stone Creek (Makanda)

Keller's Crossing offers a championship course built in a resort setting with a restaurant and rental cabins. The club is located next to Shawnee National Forest and Giant City State Park, and combines a challenging golf course with breathtaking views.

Kokopelli Golf Club (Marion)

The course at Kokopelli was designed by internationally-renowned golf course architect Steve Smyers, who is busy creating courses in Africa, Asia, Europe and South America. Kokopelli has been recognized by Golf Week Magazine as a top course in Illinois.