Timber Lakes Golf Course

While the course conditions were great and it was well worth the 1-hour drive made, the pace of play grew increasingly worse throughout the round with no remedy effort made. It took an hour longer to play the back nine than the front (5 1/2 hours total), as the twosome in front of us continuously waited for the group in front to clear the fairway or green, while playing from the back tees, and did not hit a shot more than 150 yards all day. My daughter attempted to say something to the group early in the round about not waiting to tee off because the group in front of them was on the green and it measured 360 yards from the back tee, but had no luck in improvement throughout the round. The two groups behind us caught up to us where we discussed the pace problem, as they told us the front nine was completely open, but it seemed every hole on the back was jammed because of this group. This was especially frustrating because there was no marshal out to check the pace, which I would have assumed there would be considering we are now in the middle of the summer where the course would have a lot of play on a Sunday afternoon. Upon arriving and paying, the staff did not provide information about where to get a cart, go to the range/putting green, or where the first tee was located. I was also directed to the pro shop to retrieve a scorecard, pencil, and cart key, with no shop attendant present, also something I assumed would be available during the middle of the summer on a busy day. Will I be going back? Yes, I would just like to see some of these small remedies put in place to make a better experience for all guests.

Front 9 is open and forgiving, the back 9 is much more challenging with some great scenery and water hazards.

Course is in nice condition. The Tip tee boxes were a little long, but this was right after a couple days of rain. Greens are always in great shape and then layout of the course is always fun and challenging.

Have played this course a couple times this year and it is in fantastic shape. All the tee boxes are well groomed and the greens are simply in amazing shape.

I absolutely love this course and it's always in great shape!

As far as the course goes, this place is awesome and a great value. There are quite a few dry spots around the fairways (not on but just off) however can’t fault them for that with the current weather conditions. Greens, fairways, and tee box’s are great. Would definitely recommend and return. Now the downside refers to pace of play. As a two-some we were scolded for attempting to play through by 3 different four-somes who were playing at a snails pace. Long story short, they need a marshal patrolling the course to manage pace of play. Had we waited for everyone in front we were looking at 5.5 hour round after we had played the front in just over 1.5 hours. Never seen so many people aggravated at a two-some trying to play through.

First time playing. 10th time or more golfing this year and this was my favorite so far

Absolutely amazing course, the tee boxes and greens are equally cared for. One of the best courses in southern illinois

I golf a lot. I'm a scratch golfer who plays from the tips. The front 9 is a joke. It is ridiculously easy. The back nine is "home to the hardest closing holes in golf" they don't tell you why though. From the tips there are two 630 yard par 5s. Long holes but doable. What they fail to mention on the scorecard or the hole layout plaque next to the hole Is there's a lake in the middle of the blind fairway. This lake is about 150 yards long and I can easily reach it with a 5 iron. I hit a driver dead in the middle of said lake since I had no way of knowing it's there. Okay whatever, drop a ball and try to make up the remaining 350 yards to go. Hit a hybrid and have a chip shot in. Except, you guessed it. There's another blind lake in the fairway. This lake is 200 yards long and stops about 10 yards short of the green. The other par five is basically the same with the second lake being smaller. Back 9. Full of blind shots, blind lakes, Tiny greens, and several 8somes who couldn't keep the ball in play either.

I travel frequently and have passed this course numerous times. I finally decided to play. It’s a little off the interstate, but it’s easy to find with a little GPS assistance. No one was in what I would call the Pro Shop, so I had to wait at the bar. Two employees were there and they were friendly. One mentioned the pace being slow to the other employee, and that’s where they left it. I knew I was in for a long day, and this was a random Tuesday morning. I was a solo golfer stuck behind two foursomes and a threesome that was not keeping pace that was ultimately the problem. There were four groups waiting to tee off on a single hole at one point. Finally, made the turn at the 2 hour mark (when unhindered, I play 1:15-1:30Ish). The foursome directly in front of me sent two to the tee box while the others when to the clubhouse. They begrudgingly let me play through. To be fair, I didn’t give them much of a choice, because I was already annoyed by the pace. At one point I got to be 3 holes ahead of them. Pace was better on the back because those groups had some etiquette. Unfortunately, no one was to be found in the clubhouse once I was done to bring up the pace. Overall, the course is in good shape. The greens were consistent and not beat death. It was a little wet, but there was recently a lot of rain. The layout is cumbersome. Cart paths cross over a lot and you have to wait for people on the next tee box before you can clear the hole your on. The front is where you score. The back is significantly more of a challenge. I would play this course again, but only if I had time. There is nothing timely about a round on it.

Was a good course to play. Could use better cart paths and more yardage markers, but the layout of the course was great, and worth the cost.

Front nine was a good warm up for a back nine that is spectacular and challenging! Wish it were closer to home.