The best golf courses in the Central Illinois area

The Fighting Illini's home course, rebuilt in 2022 and voted the best public course in Illinois by GolfPass golfers for 2026.

Peoria's top daily-fee course, a hilly, wooded layout that spent six years on Golf Digest's 100 Greatest Public list.

Peoria Park District's main course, a fair 6,775-yard layout with an executive nine next door.

A tough, tree-lined park district course with a 140 slope from the tips, ranked No. 6 in Illinois by GolfPass golfers.

A short, easy par-70 in Pekin, ranked No. 19 in Illinois by GolfPass golfers and a good warm-up round.

Bloomington's best course, an Arnold Palmer design with water in play and the area's best value for its quality.

Bloomington's mid-priced city course, open and walkable with a good practice area.

Bloomington's oldest and cheapest city course, a short, tree-lined walk close to downtown.

A short, old-style course about 20 minutes north of Bloomington-Normal, ranked No. 4 in Illinois by GolfPass golfers for 2026.

Springfield's best public course, a 7,000-yard Lohmann layout ranked No. 9 in Illinois by GolfPass golfers; about 70 minutes from Bloomington.

Illinois State's home course in Normal, a 6,900-yard parkland layout redesigned by tour winner D.A. Weibring.

Normal's town-owned course on the north side, open year-round when the weather allows.

Decatur's Raymond Floyd design, a cheap, open links-style round about 50 minutes from Bloomington.

A mature, tree-lined park district course just north of Decatur, priced the same as Red Tail Run.

A recently renovated forest preserve course west of Champaign, Audubon-certified and easy on the wallet.

A low-cost course east of Peoria for a cheap extra round.