Getting To Know: Rend Lake Golf Resort

Whether you have played a course 20+ times a year or looking to play the course for the first time, insights from an insider can help enhance your golf experience. Below is an interview with Brian Laur who shares some valuable tidbits about the course, memorable holes and must eats and treats at the 19th.

Give Our Readers An Overview of the Golf Course/Property
Rend Lake Golf Resort is centrally located between St. Louis, MO and Evansville, IN. We are literally seconds off Interstate 57 and ten minutes south of Interstate 64. With 27 Championship holes Rend Lake Golf Resort gives an individual the opportunity to play 3 separate 18 hole combinations throughout a weekend. A large percentage of our rounds involve large groups staying at Seasons Lodge for 2-3 days, playing 27-54 holes a day and enjoying the opportunity to eat and drink in our restaurant without ever leaving the property.

If Someone Was Looking To Golf In The Area, Why Should They Play Your Course?
Rend Lake Golf Course is in excellent condition. We hosted the Southern Illinois Open(a professional event thru the Gateway PGA) in 2014 and received huge compliments from some of the best professional and amateur golfers throughout Illinois, Missouri, and Indiana on the condition and set up of the course. Our location gives us an advantage compared to most courses in the area, and after trying different courses that are more out of the way we hear from our guest all the time that they will just stay and play Rend Lake Golf Resort for their entire trip next year.

What Tips or Local Knowledge Would You Provide To Help Them Score Better At Your Course?
Before playing any of Rend Lake's three nine hole layouts it is important to practice some long lag putting. The greens are enormous and it is likely that an individual will have a few putts of 60-90 feet. Judging the speed from these distances to have the opportunity to get down in two putts is critical to scoring well at Rend Lake.

Recent Awards or What You Are Most Proud About The Course?
We are most proud of the constant compliments day in and day out that we heard about the condition of the course and how well everyone was treated by our golf shop and hotel staff.

What Is The Signature, Most Talked About, or Most Photographed Hole?
There are quite a few holes that I hear people mention when talking about this topic but I would say our hole that is most photographed would be #6. It is a par 5 that allows you to aim at our popular golf ball water tower on your tee shot. Even in the summer with our mature trees in full bloom the golf ball water tower is easy to see from #6 tee.

What Is Your Favorite Hole? Any Tips to Play It?
My favorite hole is #18. This is the last hole of the "middle nine" that was added in 1994. It is a difficult finishing hole with water left and a deep fairway bunker right on your drive. You really have to zone in and focus on your target if you are hitting driver and you can be rewarded with a short iron to an uphill green over water. If you lay up with less club it is likely most golfers will have 180-200 yards left in to the green. The green is very undulating(like all 27 holes) and has a tricky ridge through the middle of the green which can lead to difficult reads. A par is definitely a great score on this hole with so many obstacles.

Back Tee Stats
Par: 72
Yardage: @ 6900 yards depending on 18 hole selection


More Information
Rend Lake Golf Resort
12476 Golf Course Road
Whittington, IL, 62897
618 629-2353
www.rendlakegolfresort.com