Stone Creek Golf Club & Resort in Makanda, Illinois

Before the birth of the Southern Illinois Golf Trail two years ago, there was only one stay-and-play destination in far-south Illinois: Stone Creek Golf Club & Resort in Makanda. And before this 6,796-yard golf course opened six years ago, well, good luck finding any place to stay and play anywhere south of Rend Lake State Park, over an hour to the north.

The relative lack of quality destination golf in southern Illinois is odd, considering that Illinois is a very long state north to south, and while the snows howl off Lake Michigan and blanket Chicago, downstaters are often hitting the links in light sweaters.

"We really do have year-round golf down here many years," says Stone Creek Head Professional Adam Shasteen.