PANA, Ill. - Although outstanding and affordable golf can be found throughout this topographically and climatologically diverse state, true golf resorts can be somewhat harder to locate. This is especially true of central Illinois, where relatively flat farmland is the norm.
A welcome exception to this rule is Oak Terrace Resort in Pana, about 30 minutes south of Springfield. Offering nearly every imaginable amenity, from fishing and boat rentals to a lakeside spa to 18 holes of golf, Oak Terrace deserves a vote for "Most Unexpected" golf resort in the state.
Although the homey golf course at Oak Terrace Resort is not long, at just 6,375 yards from the tips, it offers plenty of shot-making bang at an incredibly reasonable rate. For just $38 weekdays and $46 weekends (cart included), golfers are challenged with a quirky yet enjoyable home-spun design. The layout, devised by resort owners Don and Mike Beyers, can be argued to be too cutesy in spots, especially for resort guests who are forced to pull a variety of atypical clubs on short, tight, hazard-ridden tee shots. But at these prices, one can afford to play a couple of practice rounds.
The course has a bit of a split-personality, with the opening nine consisting mostly of flat holes guarded mainly by long, wispy rough. The back nine narrows considerably as it turns into the woods, and golfers are advised to buckle in for a ride up and down steep hills through chutes of dense hardwood.
Oak Terrace Resort in Pana - hole 11
The green at Oak Terrace Resort's 192-yard 11th hole is guarded by the biggest tree I've ever seen so close to the fringe.
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Oak Terrace Resort in Pana - hole 12
From the tees at Oak Terrace Resort's 340-yard 12th, the landing area looks no bigger than a king-sized bed, hemmed in on all sides by trouble.
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Oak Terrace Resort golf course - hole 13
The curling fairway of Oak Terrace Resort's 377-yard 13th is a narrow strip of safety between OB left and impenetrable woods right.
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Oak Terrace Resort in Pana - hole 14 green
The elevated green at at Oak Terrace Resort's 490-yard, par-5 14th is elevated and bisected by a steep ridge, and there is no room to miss in any direction.
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Oak Terrace Resort in Pana - hole 14 tee
On Oak Terrace Resort's 490-yard 14th, golfers can't even see the landing area from the tips. And the severe elevation change makes club selection nearly impossible.
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Oak Terrace Resort in Pana - hole 15 green
The peninsula green is actually the easiest part of Oak Terrace Resort's 267-yard 15th hole.
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Oak Terrace Resort golf course - hole 15 tee
The back tees on Oak Terrace Resort's 267-yard, par-4 15th are blocked by tree limbs. (The green is directly through the branches.)
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Oak Terrace Resort in Pana - hole 16
Success at Oak Terrace Resort's 146-yard 16th depends on club selection, as anything short or long is going to be wet.
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Oak Terrace Resort golf course - hole 2 green
The front nine at Oak Terrace Resort is generally wide open, except for lots of OB left and long, wispy rough.
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Oak Terrace Resort in Pana - hole 3
The greens on the front nine at Oak Terrace Resort are not overly memorable.
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Oak Terrace Resort golf course - hole 4
Oak Terrace Resort's 387-yard fourth is one of eight holes on the front nine that doesn't require driver from the tee.
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Oak Terrace Resort in Pana - hole 5
Oak Terrace Resort's 155-yard fifth hole would be quite pretty, if not for the cartpath and parking lot.
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Oak Terrace Resort in Pana - hole 8
Oak Terrace Resort's 202-yard eighth hole is a long but receptive par 3.
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Oak Terrace Resort in Pana - hole 9 green
The green at Oak Terrace Resort's 455-yard ninth hole is fronted by water, and comes with a built-in gallery.
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Oak Terrace Resort golf course - hole 9 tee
Many golfers will pull driver for the first time in the round at Oak Terrace Resort's 455-yard ninth hole, hitting over water with OB (range) right.
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