Top Golf Courses in Southwest Illinois

If you've been itching to give your clubs the first swing of spring, you'll want to check out our courses, most of which are extremely affordable, and all are downright fun!

Dreaming of blades of luscious green grass blanketing the fairways? Pinch yourself because the grass is greener on golf courses throughout the six county Great Rivers & Routes region.

Hit the greens early and spend a couple of days teeing off at the courses along the Great Rivers & routes Golf Trail, featuring some of the best courses in the area. Enjoy the 19th hole with live entertainment, casino gaming and nightlife that is legendary throughout southwest Illinois!

Best Public Golf Courses in Southwest Illinois

9-Hole Courses


Shoal Creek Golf Course

Par 35 | 3,172 Yards | 110 Slope
505 N. West St., Raymond
Call (217) 229-4545 to book your tee time

Any day of the week, from 7 AM to dusk, enjoy a round of 9-holes of golf on the links at Shoal Creek Golf Course. In addition to their greens, their Pro Shop on site gives you the opportunity to buy accessories and some golfing equipment. Find community with their Men's League and Women's League that meet on a regular schedule, which are just two of the many events held on the grounds of the golf course.


A blue sky above the green course at the Litchfield Golf Course in Illinois
Litchfield Golf Course

Litchfield Country Club

Par 35 | 2,982 Yards | 113 Slope
105 Old Quarry Trail, Litchfield
Book your tee time online

The Litchfield Country Club is a well-maintained members' club that offers public golf opportunities. Book a tee time and walk the stunning grounds, and if you're feeling confident, consider competing in their golfing tournaments.


Rock Spring Golf Course

Par 35 | 3,015 Yards | 117 Slope
1 Rock Spring Park, Alton
Book your tee time online

With tight tree-lined fairways, this 9-hole course, known for its scenic beauty, is perfect for beginning and intermediate golfers alike. Not to mention that Rock Spring's record-breaking event, the Alton Gold Medal Tourney, which is the longest-running medal play tourney in the St. Louis area, perfectly showcases the competitive greens and challenging holes.


The green links at On the Hill Golf Club in Illinois.
On the Hill Golf Course & Lounge

On the Hill Golf Course & Lounge

Par 35 | 2,652 Yards | 110 Slope
58 S. State Route 157, Edwardsville
Call (618) 656-9774 to book your tee time

Grab your clubs and your friends and head over to this 9-hole course for a quick game of golf. Located at Legion Park near downtown Edwardsville, this 50-acre course is open for play seven days a week.


Terry Park Golf Course

Par 35 | 2,814 Yards | 100 Slope
30565 Terry Park Rd., Palmyra
Call (217) 436-2531 to book your tee time

Designed by Freeman Barber, the course has a 33.2 rating and a slope rating of 100. The 9-hole course is 2,814 yards of golf enjoyment. The golf course is a little bit of Illinois history, opening nearly 100 years ago in 1929. The long-standing golf course is a staple of the golfing scene in Palmyra and gives you the chance to walk on a storied greens.

18-Hole Courses


Cloverleaf Golf Course

Par 70 | 5,801 Yards | 119 Slope
3555 Fosterburg Road, Alton
Book your tee time online

As one of the oldest family-owned and operated 18-hole courses in the St. Louis area, golfers can expect a leisurely round at an affordable price! This is a great course for those looking for kid-friendly and family-friendly greens that welcome players of all ages and skill levels.


Lockhaven Golf Club

Par 72 | 6,696 Yards | 134 Slope
10872 Lawrence Keller Drive, Godfrey
Book your tee time online

Lockhaven Golf Club is a professionally designed 18-hole, 72-par public course located on the bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River and the meeting of the Great Rivers National Scenic Byway. The professional links feature tree-lined courses and riverfront views that act as an impressive backdrop for your swings.


A nearly cloudless sky accompanies a bright green golf course at Spencer T Olin Golf Course
Spencer T Olin Golf Course

Spencer T. Olin Golf Course

Par 72 | 6,963 Yards | 135 Slope
4701 College Ave., Alton
Book your tee time online

Built on rolling hills with scenic views of the countryside, this championship 18-hole Arnold Palmer-designed and managed course hosted the 1999 USGA Public Links Championship and has been rated the #1 course in the St. Louis area. It offers a challenge to even the most experienced golfer.


The Woodlands Golf Club

Par 71 | 6,423 Yards | 125 Slope
2839 Harris Lane, Alton
Book your tee time online

Considered to be one of the best courses in Alton, water hazards come into play on fourteen of the eighteen holes, making this course a challenge to players of all skill levels. Test your swings and plan some friendly competition by turning a day on the greens into a guys' day.


A water hazard as part of Rolling Hills Golf Course in Illinois
Rolling Hills Golf Course

Rolling Hills Golf Club

Par 71 | 5,765 Yards | 110 Slope
5801 Pierce Lane, Godfrey
Book your tee time online

This affordable course, built on rolling terrain with lakes, offers a challenge to golfers of all levels of experience and a choice of both a 9 and 18-hole course. The family-owned and operated grounds are well-manicured and welcoming, encouraging all golfers to play a game (or two).


Gateway National Golf Links

Par 71 | 7,178 Yards | 127 Slope
18 Golf Dr., Madison
Book your tee time online

Lush greens, idyllic lakes, and stone bridges give this course the look and feel of the Scottish Highlands. But it's only minutes from downtown St. Louis! This course features bent-grass fairways and scenic views of St. Louis and the American Bottoms.


A man walks beside a golf cart on a sandy path at Arlington Greens Golf Course in Illinois
Arlington Greens Golf Course

Arlington Greens Golf Course

Par 72 | 6,907 Yards | 125 Slope
200 Arlington Dr., Granite City
Book your tee time online

Located on the edge of Collinsville, Arlington Greens Golf Course features rolling greens of Bermuda grass and challenging holes. Test your luck and prove your skill with a swing on their 18-hole course.


Belk Park

Par 72 | 6,861 Yards | 121 Slope
880 Belk Park Road, Wood River
Book your tee time online

Recognized as one of the best courses in the St. Louis area and the winner of Golf Digest's "Best Places to Play" award, this 18-hole championship course is known for hole #16, requiring two separate shots over water before reaching the green.


Indian Springs Golf Club
Indian Springs Golf Club

Indian Springs Golf Club

Par 70 | 6,264 Yards | 122 Slope
21347 Illinois Route 185, Fillmore
Book your tee time online

Nestled in beautifully landscaped terrain, this professionally designed 18-hole championship course offers something for every skill level. The seasoned golfer will enjoy the various challenges presented throughout the course while the casual golfer can take in the scenic surroundings and enjoy a relaxing round of play.


Wolves Crossing

Par 70 | 1,800 Yards | 110 Slope
23745 N. Centennial Rd., Jerseyville
Call (618) 498-3178 to book your tee time

Open year-round for golfers of all skill levels, the front nine holes of this course typically play straightaway with the back nine presenting more challenge when water comes into play.

27-Hole Courses


Oak Brook Golf Club's driving range, greens littered with golf balls, in Illinois.
Oak Brook Golf Club

Oak Brook Golf Club

Par 71 | 6,231 Yards | 118 Slope
9157 Fruit Rd., Edwardsville
Book your tee time online

Enjoy a quality golf experience at this public 27-hole course. Located just northeast of Edwardsville, Outstanding PGA pros, a friendly staff, and affordable rates are waiting.

Best Private Golf Courses in Southwest Illinois

9-Hole Courses


Hillsboro Country Club greens with dozens of golfers ready to play on the golf course in Illinois.
Hillsboro Country Club

Hillsboro Country Club

Par 26 | 3,467 Yards | 128 Slope
705 City Lake Rd, Hillsboro
Call (217) 532-2045 to book your tee time

Where else can you spend a day playing golf for $25? This 9-hole course offers unlimited all-day golfing in rural Hillsboro. Its view of Lake Hillsboro makes for a serene and calming backdrop to the well-kept greens of the semi-private country club.

18-Hole Courses


Sunset Hills Country Club's red roses and winding courses located in Illinois.
Sunset Hills Country Club

Sunset Hills Country Club

Par 72 | 6,642 Yards | 134 Slope
2525 S. State Route 157, Edwardsville
Book your tee time online

Take a swing at this course located on 170 acres with loads of trees, grasses, flowers and a butterfly garden. Stepping onto their links feels more like entering a secluded garden than the country club's stretching 18-hole course.

FIND YOUR COURSES BASED ON LOCATION

Make it a golf-cation in the Great Rivers & Routes region. Pair your play with one of these great overnight deals.

About the Author

Great Rivers & Routes of Southwest Illinois

Great Rivers & Routes of Southwest Illinois

Great Rivers and Routes Tourism Bureau is the state-certified regional Destination Marketing and Management Organization (DMO)-501C6, which represents Madison, Macoupin, Montgomery, Jersey, Calhoun, and Greene counties, and the City of East St. Louis in St. Clair County in southwest Illinois. Founded in 1985 as the Alton Regional Convention and Visitors Bureau, the bureau transitioned to Great Rivers and Routes Tourism Bureau in 2018 as the size and scope of the organization grew.