THE RAIL GOLF COURSE

The converted railroad corridor threading through central Illinois farmland delivers one of the Midwest's most distinctive routing experiences, with elevation changes that seem impossible for the Prairie State. Architect Tim Nugent maximized every subtle roll and depression, creating blind shots and strategic angles that reward local knowledge while punishing the overly aggressive. The par-4 7th hole epitomizes the design philosophy—a downhill dogleg that appears straightforward until you realize the green sits in a natural amphitheater carved from an old rail cut.