Bent Oak Golf Course sits in Breese, a small city in Clinton County in south-central Illinois, roughly forty miles east of St. Louis. The course was designed by Joe Basso, a regional architect active primarily in the Midwest during the latter decades of the twentieth century. Basso's work typically emphasized playability for everyday golfers while incorporating the natural terrain and vegetation of each site, and Bent Oak reflects this straightforward design philosophy within the agricultural landscape of southern Illinois. The routing takes advantage of gently rolling farmland, with fairways framed by mature hardwoods and the occasional water hazard. The layout offers a mix of risk-reward opportunities and strategic options suited to a range of skill levels, characteristic of municipal and daily-fee courses serving local communities. Bent Oak functions as a public facility, providing accessible golf to residents of Breese and the surrounding region, including nearby towns such as Carlyle and Trenton. The course serves as a recreational anchor for Clinton County, hosting local tournaments, league play, and casual rounds throughout the season. Its setting in the rural Midwest means the property experiences the full range of seasonal conditions, from humid summers to the quieter pace of spring and fall golf. Bent Oak represents the kind of community course that forms the backbone of American golf outside major metropolitan areas, offering a straightforward test of the game without pretense.