Pine Lakes Golf Course sits in Herrin, a small city in southern Illinois's coal country, roughly twenty miles east of Carbondale. The course was designed by Val Gene Gould, a regional architect active primarily in the Midwest during the mid-twentieth century. Gould's work typically emphasized playability for everyday golfers while incorporating natural terrain features where available, and Pine Lakes reflects this practical design philosophy suited to municipal and daily-fee facilities. The course occupies relatively flat to gently rolling terrain characteristic of southern Illinois, with mature tree growth framing many holes. Water features—likely ponds or small lakes that give the course its name—come into play on several holes, adding strategic interest to what is otherwise straightforward parkland golf. The layout serves the local community and regional visitors, offering accessible golf in an area where public course options are limited. Herrin's history as a mining town shapes the broader context: the course provides recreational amenity in a working-class region where golf has traditionally been more utilitarian than exclusive. Pine Lakes functions as a community gathering place, and the facility likely includes modest clubhouse amenities typical of small-town Illinois courses. The design emphasizes playability over championship length, making it suitable for a wide range of skill levels while still presenting enough challenge to engage regular players from the surrounding area.