Midland Hills Golf Course

Southern Illinois has a quietly serious golf culture, and Jackson County sits at the heart of it — a region of rugged, heavily wooded terrain shaped by the Shawnee Hills, where the land rolls and drops in ways that make for inherently interesting ground to build a course. Makanda itself is a small, artsy village on the edge of Giant City State Park, one of the more striking natural landscapes in the state, and that setting alone suggests a round with genuine character rather than a manufactured one.

Without verified details on Midland Hills' architect, founding era, or specific holes on record, what can be said honestly is that 18-hole layouts in this corner of Illinois tend to work with the land rather than against it — the topography demands it. Tree-lined corridors, elevation changes, and firm turf conditions defined by the region's continental climate are the norm here.

For golfers making the trip, Makanda is also within easy reach of Carbondale and Southern Illinois University, meaning the broader local golf scene offers plenty of options surrounding a visit.