Destination: Champaign-Urbana
Destination: Champaign-Urbana
The University of Illinois is the area's cultural center, and at the heart of the campus are the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, the Krannert Art Museum, and Assembly Hall. From Broadway touring shows, to rock concerts, to Chinese acrobats, you can find the quality -- if not the quantity -- of entertainment you'd expect in larger metropolitan areas. The local music scene is also acclaimed, where national stars such as Alison Krauss and REO Speedwagon got their start.
And don't forget the Fighting Illini football, basketball, baseball and other teams.
Throughout the year numerous festivals, from Taste of Champaign to the Urbana Sweetcorn Festival, bring in entertainment, artists, and food vendors for the city-wide celebrations. One of the highlights is Ebertfest -- film critic Roger Ebert's own annual film festival -- which brings Hollywood directors and actors to town.
Food and drink are plentiful in this college home of some 40,000 students. Escobar's, Ko-Fusion, and Bacaro are the best bets for formal dining in Champaign, while Urbana claims Silver Creek and the new Black Dog Smoke and Ale House for outstanding BBQ. Korean (B-Won), Thai (Nitaya Thai) and Indian (Bombay Grill) and more are also excellent choices. The Blind Pig and Blind Pig Brewpub are two of the best places in the state to grab a cold beer, and a literally dizzying array of gourmet martinis can be found at Boltini Lounge.
For golfers, bargain-priced yet quality golf courses abound. The University of Illinois Orange and Blue courses are home of the perennial Big 10 powerhouse men's team. Stone Creek G.C. in Urbana is the most expensive in the area, but also the best groomed. Area courses include tracks in Rantoul (Brookhill, Willow Pond), Mahomet (Lake of the Woods), Gibson City (RailSide), and Tuscola (Ironhorse).
The golf season in "C-U" can run from early April into early December – some locals talk of occasional New Year's Day rounds. The area is generally flat, and the wind usually blows, so knowing how to play the wind is crucial.
See also
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Area Map
Area Tee Times
Latest reader ratings from this area
by Swatback ( Related Articles
Lake of the Woods Golf Course in Mahomet boasts recent upgrades
Located in the forest preserves of Illinois' Champaign County, Lake of the Woods Golf Course has long been a favorite of Mahomet golfers. Now, thanks to recent renovations, this Robert B. Harris design is better than ever. Improved greens, more interesting elevations and much-needed tee boxes are part of the new look, which met with enthusiastic response from regulars.
... full article »Public Brookhill and Willow Pond golf courses shine in Champaign-Urbana area
There was a time when little old Rantoul, Ill. wasn't so little. Rantoul was home to Chanute Air Force Base, which dated in one incarnation or another, all the way back to 1917. In 1993, Chanute AFB was closed down to cut military spending and Rantoul has, quite frankly, struggled economically ever since. Two bright spots in the town's economic health are the two public 18-hole golf courses, which represent two of top dollar-per-hole deals in the Champaign-Urbana area.
... full article »RailSide Golf Club in Gibson City: Golf oasis in a corn field desert
The great thing about the Midwest if you're a golfer is that you just never know when you're going to stumble across a wonderful course in the middle of nowhere. Say you're driving along somewhere in east-central Illinois. Suddenly, rising from the desert of corn and soybean fields, you spot a grassy oasis. You're utterly gleeful that you decided to throw your clubs in the trunk. Case in point: RailSide Golf Club in Gibson City.
... full article »Ironhorse Golf Club: East-central Illinois' "new" upscale public
Gerald Forsythe came to Tuscola, Ill. with a mission: Turn Ironhorse Golf Club from a struggling, unkempt daily-fee track into an upscale, semi-private yet still affordable showpiece. It was no small task but Forsythe, who owns the exclusive Canyata in Marshall, is no small thinker and no stranger to upscale golf. These days Ironhorse sports a new clubhouse and a refurbished course. Players who visited in past years might just have trouble recognizing the place.
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Sure, there was a time when Urbana-Champaign's reputation as a sleepy cow-town surrounded by cornfields was perhaps justified. But today, the home of the Fighting Illini is experiencing a renaissance. All around the "Twin Cities" area, upscale bars and restaurants are opening that are guaranteed to appeal to the tastes of academics, scholars and, fortunately for us, golfers alike. Kiel Christianson runs down what to do in Urbana-Champaign when your round is finished.
... full article »Stone Creek in a class by itself in Champaign-Urbana
Staff members at Stone Creek Golf Club in Urbana often field calls from golfers wanting to know how they can play the course. Seems like a silly question for a daily-fee track. But it's not uncommon for Stone Creek, a golf "club" that doesn't even offer memberships, to be mistaken for a private course. What's more ironic,with green fees maxing out at $39, this Nugent design ranks as the most accessible upscale course in the area.
... full article »Lake of the Woods offers best value and hills in central Illinois
Within the numbingly flat area that is east-central Illinois, Hartwell C. Howard Lake of the Woods Golf Course is the one place golfers will find rolling hill, elevated greens, tee shots over water and tree-lined fairways. The affordable greens fees at this classic Robert Bruce Harris-designed track are an added attraction, writes Kiel Christianson. Lake of the Woods is dollar for dollar and shot for shot the best bargain in the Champaign-Urbana area.
... full article »Golf skills of Illinois coach are no Small wonder
University of Illinois varsity men's golf coach Mike Small can relate to his players as they compete this season for a Big Ten title they have not won since 1988. And likewise, the players hope to someday relate to their coach's experiences in tournament play. Despite missing the cut at the PGA Championship, Small has plenty of stories and tips to share with his team.
... full article »Go Orange! Go Blue! Illini courses offer great value
Ask just about any duffer in town, and he will tell you that maybe the absolute best golf deals in the state are the University of Illinois Orange and Blue Courses in Savoy. Located just south of Champaign-Urbana and adjacent to the airport, the Orange Course can be walked for less than $25 on weekends, and the Blue can be walked for around $20.
... full article »Railside Golf Club in Gibson City: Suburban style golfing in the country
You don't have to travel to the larger suburban communities to enjoy championship golf. The small farm community of Gibson City, Ill. offers a golf experience that you might expect to find at a metro country club. Railside Golf Club, a public facility located between Champaign-Urbana and Bloomington-Normal, features an 18-hole Championship course, a large practice facility, and a 20-station bent grass driving range this is constantly in use.
... full article »- Lake of the Woods Golf Club offers a player-friendly track
