Bridges at The Columbia Bridges

The Columbia Bridges course sits in Columbia, Illinois, a small town in the Metro East region across the Mississippi River from St. Louis. Designed by Gary Kern, a Midwest-based architect who has worked primarily on daily-fee and public-access facilities throughout the region, the course reflects the rolling terrain characteristic of southwestern Illinois. The property features elevation changes and wooded corridors typical of courses built on reclaimed or agricultural land in this part of the state.

The routing takes advantage of natural topography, with holes moving through stands of mature trees and across open areas that provide views of the surrounding countryside. Water features appear on several holes, contributing to both strategic interest and the visual character of the layout. The design emphasizes playability for a range of skill levels while incorporating enough length and hazard placement to challenge better players.

Columbia itself is a growing community with German heritage, located along the bluffs overlooking the American Bottoms floodplain. The course serves both local residents and golfers from the broader St. Louis metropolitan area. As a facility in a region with numerous public and semi-private options, The Columbia Bridges competes in a market where value and conditioning are important factors for regular play. The course represents the kind of accessible golf that has expanded throughout suburban and exurban areas of the Midwest over recent decades.