
Hickory Point Course
Hickory Point Golf Course

About this course
Hickory Point Golf Course sits in Forsyth, a small community in central Illinois just east of Decatur. Designed by Larry Packard and opened in the mid-1970s, the course serves as a public facility operated by the Macon County Conservation District. Packard, who designed numerous courses across the Midwest during this era, typically worked with the existing terrain to create playable layouts that balanced challenge with accessibility for a broad range of golfers. The course occupies rolling terrain characteristic of central Illinois, with mature tree-lined fairways and several holes routed around or near water features. The layout incorporates the natural topography, presenting elevation changes that are modest but meaningful in an otherwise relatively flat region. Hickory trees and other native hardwoods frame many holes, defining corridors and adding strategic interest to shot placement. As a county conservation district property, Hickory Point functions as both a golf facility and part of a larger recreational complex that includes trails and natural areas. The course attracts local and regional play, serving as an accessible option for central Illinois golfers. Its design reflects the practical, straightforward approach common to many public courses built during the 1970s, emphasizing playability while incorporating enough variety in hole design to maintain interest across eighteen holes.
Quick facts
- Location
- Forsyth, IL, USA
- Access
- Public
- Year built
- 1970
- Designer
- Larry Packard
- Holes
- 18
- Par
- 72
- Length
- 6,848 yards
- Difficulty
- 72.3/127
Getting there
The journey to Hickory Point Golf Course begins at Central Illinois Regional Airport in Bloomington, roughly thirty minutes northwest, though many travelers route through larger hubs like St. Louis Lambert or Indianapolis before the final drive into Decatur's orbit. The approach follows Interstate 72 east through the gently rolling farmland of central Illinois, where vast cornfields yield to the wooded edges of Lake Decatur. Forsyth itself sits just south of the water, a quiet enclave where suburban calm meets recreational escape, and Hickory Point emerges as a welcome oasis of manicured fairways carved from native hardwood groves - an unpretentious but polished destination in the heart of Lincoln country.

FAQ
Common questions about Hickory Point
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
Hickory Point was designed by Larry Packard.
Yes. Hickory Point is listed as welcoming public or guest play on Course Vaults.
Par at Hickory Point is 72.
Hickory Point plays 6,848 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at Hickory Point is 127.
Hickory Point is a 18-hole course.


