HICKORY POINT GOLF COURSE

The rolling prairie terrain of central Illinois provides an unexpectedly dramatic backdrop for this municipal gem, where elevation changes of 40 feet create strategic interest on nearly every hole. Dick Nugent's 1970 design makes brilliant use of mature hardwoods and well-placed water hazards, particularly the signature par-3 16th that plays over a sprawling pond to a peninsula green. At just over 6,400 yards from the tips, it rewards course management over pure distance, offering public golfers a legitimate test without the ego-crushing length of modern tracks.