The Prairies of Cahokia Golf Club

The Prairies of Cahokia occupies land in southwestern Illinois, just across the Mississippi River from St. Louis, in an area rich with Native American history. The course takes its name from the nearby Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, the largest pre-Columbian settlement north of Mexico. Dick Gundlach designed the layout, working within the flat to gently rolling terrain characteristic of the American Bottom floodplain region. The routing reflects the prairie landscape of the Metro East area, with holes that typically play across open ground where wind becomes a significant factor. Gundlach's design incorporates water features and strategic bunkering to define playing corridors and create decision points on a relatively level property. The course serves the local golfing community in the Cahokia area, providing a public or semi-private facility in a region where golf options range from municipal courses to private clubs on both sides of the river. The setting offers views across the Illinois prairie, with the broader St. Louis metropolitan skyline visible in the distance on clear days. The course operates within the context of southern Illinois golf, where summer heat and humidity shape playing conditions and seasonal maintenance patterns differ from courses in cooler climates. The facility provides a straightforward golf experience without the elevation changes found in more varied terrain.