For all
of us
not
ready
for
prime-time
players
Emeis
Golf
Course
in
Davenport,
Iowa, is
arguably
the best
non-tournament-venue
value in
the
entire
Quad
Cities
area,
with
greens
fees at
$14-$18
($11
extra
for a
cart).
And
recent
renovations
all but
guarantee
the
city-owned
track
top
"hidden
gem"
status
for a
while to
come.
|
Crab
Orchard
may be
the
shortest
and
oldest
of the
courses
on the
Southern
Illinois
Golf
Trail,
but the
layout
is still
a local
favorite.
Family-owned
since
1972,
the
course
boasts
the best
conditioning
in
southern
Illinois
and
landscaping
that
will
make
weekend
gardeners
green
with
envy.
|
The
Gambit
Golf
Club has
been
known
for
nearly a
decade
as a
nice
piece of
property
with
management
issues
that
have
kept it
from
reaching
its full
potential.
A new
owner
has the
drive,
vision
and
bankroll
to
fulfill
that
potential,
and the
metamorphosis
to bona
fide
golf
destination
has
already
begun.
|
One of
the two
absolute
"must
plays"
on the
Southern
Illinois
Golf
Trail is
Hickory
Ridge in
Carbondale.
This
excellent
6,863-yard
municipal
golf
course
not only
offers a
solid
challenge
to
power-hitters
and
shot-makers
alike,
it is
home to
an
admirable
kids'
golf
program
as well
as the
Southern
Illinois
University
Women's
Golf
Team.
|
Stone
Creek
Golf
Club &
Resort
bills
itself
as
"Southern
Illinois'
Most
Scenic
Golf
Course,"
and for
good
reason.
The
vista
behind
the 11th
green is
likely
the best
you'll
see on
any
course
with $35
green
fees.
Stone
Creek is
a fine
stop on
the
Southern
Illinois
Golf
Trail,
and the
only
true
golf
resort
in
far-southern
Illinois.
|
While
scorching
summer
temperatures
are
keeping
golfers
away
from
southern
destinations
like
Myrtle
Beach,
Las
Vegas
and
Scottsdale,
another
destination
equally
rich in
golf is
just
starting
to heat
up:
northern
Michigan.
|
Kokopelli
Golf
Club in
Marion
has seen
its
share of
ups and
downs
over the
past 10
years.
Now,
under
new
ownership
that
includes
course
architect
Steve
Smyers,
the
promising
southern
Illinois
golf
course
is
finally
reaching
its full
potential.
|
Golf
Digest's
Top 20
Public
Golf
Courses
lists
household
names:
Pebble
Beach,
Whistling
Straits,
the
Ocean
Course
at
Kiawah
Island.
But,
just
ahead of
Harbor
Town in
Hilton
Head,
lies one
gem you
probably
haven't
seen
much
press
on:
Tullymore
Golf
Club, in
the
central
portion
of the
golf-saturated
state of
Michigan.
|
Luxury
golf
resorts
such as
Bay
Harbor,
Treetops
and
Grand
Traverse
have
transformed
northern
Michigan
golf in
recent
years,
but
80-year-old
Belvedere
Golf
Club
remains
a
favorite
among
old
Wolverine
State
golf
hands
like Tom
Watson.
|
Leave
the
black
tie and
ballroom
gown at
home.
The new
private
Kingsley
Club,
south of
golf-happy
Traverse
City,
Mich.,
is
getting
back to
the game
of
golf's
understated
traditions
-
proving
luxury
doesn't
always
mean
flashy
accessories.
|
|
||||||||
|
| |||||||
