
Jackson Course
Jackson County Country Club
About this course
Jackson County Country Club's course in Murphysboro occupies rolling terrain in southern Illinois, a region characterized by wooded hills and the transition zone between the Mississippi River floodplain and the Shawnee Hills. The club was established in the early twentieth century, and the current layout reflects work by David A. Gill, a regional architect active in the Midwest during the mid-1900s. Gill designed and renovated numerous courses across Illinois and neighboring states, typically working within modest budgets to create functional layouts suited to their natural settings. The course plays through a mix of mature hardwoods and open fairways, with elevation changes that provide variety and strategic interest. Routing takes advantage of the property's natural contours, requiring golfers to manage uphill and downhill lies as well as doglegs shaped by the wooded corridors. Greens are generally modest in size and protected by bunkers and slopes that reward accurate approach play. Jackson County Country Club serves as a community hub in Murphysboro, a town of roughly 8,000 residents located near Carbondale and Southern Illinois University. The club maintains a traditional small-town country club atmosphere, with the course accessible to members and their guests. The layout provides a straightforward test of golf suited to a range of skill levels, emphasizing course management and local knowledge over length. The facility includes a clubhouse with dining and social spaces typical of regional private clubs in southern Illinois.
Quick facts
- Location
- Murphysboro, IL, USA
- Access
- Private
- Year built
- 1923
- Designer
- David A. Gill
- Holes
- 18
- Par
- 71
- Length
- 6,034 yards
- Difficulty
- 68.9/126
Getting there
Most arrivals to Jackson County Country Club begin at St. Louis Lambert International (STL), roughly ninety minutes northwest via I-64 and Illinois Route 127, though Nashville International (BNA) serves as an alternative gateway from the southeast. The drive from St. Louis traces the edge of the Shawnee National Forest, where the flat Midwestern expanse gradually yields to gentle wooded hills and limestone bluffs as you approach Murphysboro. The final miles along local roads feel unhurried and distinctly Southern Illinois - quiet, tree-canopied lanes that open suddenly onto the club's welcoming grounds, a serene pocket of tradition tucked into the rolling countryside just west of town.

FAQ
Common questions about Jackson
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
Jackson was designed by David A. Gill.
Jackson is listed as private on Course Vaults; guest access is typically restricted.
Par at Jackson is 71.
Jackson plays 6,034 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at Jackson is 126.
Jackson is a 18-hole course.



