SUNSET HILLS COUNTRY CLUB

The rolling prairie topography of southwestern Illinois provides natural drama here, where elevation changes of 60 feet create blind shots and strategic angles you won't find on the flatter tracks nearby. Dick Nugent's 1960s routing takes full advantage of mature oak groves and natural wetlands, particularly on the memorable par-3 16th that plays over a deep ravine to a green perched on the opposite ridge. For serious stick-handlers seeking a thinking person's course within striking distance of St. Louis, the conditioning and shot values justify the membership investment.