ILLINI COUNTRY CLUB

The flat prairie terrain here deceives you into thinking this central Illinois track will be a pushover, but the strategically placed mature oaks and subtle elevation changes demand precise shot-making on nearly every hole. Dick Wilson's 1960s routing makes brilliant use of Sangamon Creek, which winds through seven holes and creates genuine risk-reward moments that separate pretenders from players. What elevates this layout above typical Midwest country club fare is Wilson's genius for creating multiple angles of attack on par-4s that reward local knowledge and punish the lazy line.