The Rail Golf Club: Bunkers Tell the Story

By Jeff Reynolds,
TravelGolf.com Staff Writer

SPRINGFIELD, IL -- It isn’t an Oceanside resort, but Robert Trent Jones brought the beach to south central Illinois when he designed The Rail Golf Club in Springfield, IL.

Located minutes north of Springfield on Interstate 55, The Rail is the annual home to the LPGA State Farm Classic and features wide fairways, large greens, a great finish and more bunkers than Normandy Beach.

The course is a practice in patience. If you don’t get overeager, the chances to put red on your scorecard will be plentiful. The alternative is getting friendly with your favorite lawn tools, as the prospects for handling a rake are equally abundant.

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One misconception in players’ first rounds at The Rail, is that the big hitters thrive. That is not the case. Landing areas are large (average green size is 9,000 sq. ft.) and each is well protected. For example, the course opens with a par-4, 355-yard hole from the tips. The fairway is wide, about 65 yards in width, and straight. Without a doubt, a hole to swing away with the big one, the key is in the approach. A two-tiered green, falling back to front, has difficult pin placements and is hugged by multiple traps, giving the appearance of a smaller green. What looks like an easy birdie chance from the tee box evaporates on what is the 15th easiest tee-to-cup on the course if you don’t land your second shot, a six- or seven-iron, to the middle or right of the green.

“That is true,” said Chris Roth, club pro at The Rail. “The greens are so big, you can be on the green in two. But that might mean you still have a 50- or 60-foot putt.”

The staple of the 6,583-yard course from the pro tees is its finish, particularly No. 16 and 17. The par-3 16th is the signature hole, a 209-yard carry partially over water, left to right.

The narrow, oval green is guarded left by the pond, and by deep, raised traps to the left. This hole is not impossible, but some pin placements make it seem that way. If you want par, hit the front of the green, different from another par-3 entirely over the drink. In comparision, no. 5 plays at 158 from the tips but features one of the courses most challenging greens. If the greens are hard and fast, a serious likelihood in typical Midwest drought summers, don’t attempt to land in front, regardless of pin placement. That is a prescription for picking the Pinnacle out of the pond because of the slope of the landing. Play deep and right, maybe bumping up a club, to ensure putting your second shot.

As for the finish, No. 17 is another aqua challenge. The green is reachable on this par-4, 320-yarder if you play it correctly. But that is the risk-reward nature of the beast. A dogleg left, the conservative plays an iron over water to a wide, straight fairway that leaves about 160 to 185 yards to the green and can still spawn long shot birdie chances as basically as a straight par-3. But the antagonists — or those down by two strokes to their playing partners with two holes to go — aim for, or just right of the green, a shot that can measure from 265 to 150 yards entirely over water depending on how bold the golfer wishes to get.

“My (advice) is if the blue tees are up,” Roth said, “go for it with the driver. If not, you can lay up without losing much.”

The only par-5 where a birdie is questionable is No. 8, a 541-yard obstacle-laden nemesis. A pond runs the length of the hole on the right and widens to a lake guarding the front entrance to the green. Accuracy is important on your drive and second shot to lay up to the edge of the lake, requiring a short iron over the lake to an elevated well-bunkered green.

“I usually bomb a driver,” Roth said. “If you aim at the cart path, try to let it cut, you can be in decent shape. Or you can hit that port-a-pottie.”

The Rail also hosts the State Farm Rail Classic, a late-season LPGA event. Voted fourth-best “Women Friendly Course” by Golf for Women magazine, Kate Golden won the event in 2001 with a 21-under 267.

History is no stranger in the state capital of Springfield. Just a stone’s throw south, there are monuments to statehood that include 16th president Abraham Lincoln’s tomb. The Rail isn’t without a few pieces of the past. The 30-year-old layout was built on old farm ground, a site known as Carpenter Farm in the 1900s. When Lincoln used to pass through Springfield, he would often stay at an old home on Carpenter’s property line, a structure now used as an office building at the course.

The Rail does provide adequate practice facilities, including a course-like putting area and chipping green. A multiple-station turf driving range is cost-efficient and features targets, situated nicely between the 18th and 12th fairways, close enough to the first tee to cram with your irons before that tee time.

Conditions: 3.5 Scenery: 3 Layout: 3 Service: 4 Practice Facilities: 3.5 Club House: 4 Pro Shop: 4 Pace of Play: 5 Par 3's: 4.5 Par 4's: 3 Par 5's: 3.5 Value : 4.5 Overall Rating: 3.9

With all that The Rail has to offer, to the amateur and as host of a pro event, is it the best course it the area?

“I don’t know,” Kris Atwood, 27, of Springfield said. “I have played Piper Glen (public Golf Course) a couple of times. It is newer and is more of a well-rounded course. Other than the (sand), this course leaves a little to be desired.”

Piper Glen opened in 1996 and was designed by Bob Lohmann. Nestled in a residential district, the course is comparable in distance and perhaps an upgrade in layout and conditions to The Rail after a first impression of the former.

“The Rail has nicer fairways, greens and tee boxes,” Roth said, making his argument for The Rail as the Capital City’s top course. “I think our course is generally considered more playable because it is so wide.”

True, there is no jail at The Rail, but it is not a course easily mastered. First-timers and intermediate golfers are frustrated, but seasoned tacticians and conservative iron-wielders are in for an enjoyable four hour stroll.

The Rail Golf Club
1400 S Clubhouse Dr
Springfield, Illinois 62707
Sangamon County
(217) 525-0365

Getting there: Located at the intersections of Interstate I-55 (north or south) and I-72 (east or west). The exit for the Rail Golf Course off of I-55 is # 105 from either the north or south. Once at the bottom of the off ramp, turn right (from either direction). You have approximately 2.3 miles to travel to The Rail. Continue through the stop light (Rt. 124, Andrew Rd.) to the Rail Golf Course sign on your right.

Green Fee: M-Th., $30, $43 w/cart Fri-Sa-Su: $51 w/cart before 11 a.m. M-F $25 w/cart M-F Twilight (after 4 p.m.): $28 w/cart; $23 after 6 p.m. Sat.-Sun. Twilight: $30 w/cart; $25 after 6 p.m.

Lessons are available from Roth, in his second year the course, or instructor Greg Griffin, by calling (217) 525-0365.

Any opinions expressed above are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of the management. The information in this story was accurate at the time of publication. All contact information, directions and prices should be confirmed directly with the golf course or resort before making reservations and/or travel plans.