Keller's Crossing at Stone Creek

Keller's Crossing at Stone Creek is a Jerry Lemons design located in Makanda, a small community in southern Illinois near Carbondale. The course occupies terrain characteristic of the Shawnee Hills region, where the relatively flat agricultural landscape of central Illinois gives way to more varied topography with wooded ridges, rock outcroppings, and creek corridors. Lemons, a regional architect active primarily in the Midwest, worked within this natural setting to create a layout that incorporates the area's rolling contours and native vegetation. The routing takes advantage of the property's elevation changes and natural drainage features, with Stone Creek itself likely influencing several holes. Southern Illinois courses typically feature a mix of hardwood-lined fairways and more open areas, and the design here reflects that regional character. The terrain allows for strategic variety, with holes playing across slopes and through wooded sections that require accuracy off the tee. Keller's Crossing serves the local golfing community in the Carbondale area, which includes Southern Illinois University. The course provides a public-access option in a region where golf facilities are more spread out than in metropolitan areas. The setting offers a contrast to the flatter courses found elsewhere in Illinois, giving players a taste of the more rugged landscape that defines the state's southern tip. The facility operates as a daily-fee course accessible to visitors exploring the Shawnee National Forest region and surrounding attractions.