West at East/West at Rend Lake Golf Course

The West Course at East/West at Rend Lake Golf Course is a Larry Packard design situated in southern Illinois near Whittington, part of a larger recreational complex built around Rend Lake, a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoir completed in the 1970s. Packard, known for his work on public and resort courses throughout the Midwest and beyond, designed both the East and West courses here to take advantage of the rolling terrain and water views characteristic of the region. The West Course typically plays as the more challenging of the two layouts, incorporating elevation changes and strategic bunkering that reflect Packard's approach to creating engaging golf on varied topography.

The routing moves through a mix of open and wooded areas, with several holes offering views of the lake or playing near its shoreline. The terrain provides natural movement and interest, with doglegs and elevated greens that reward accurate approach play. Water hazards come into play on multiple holes, and the bunkering requires thoughtful course management. The property's setting within a state recreation area gives the course a parkland character, with mature trees framing fairways and defining playing corridors.

Rend Lake Golf Course serves as a regional public facility, drawing golfers from southern Illinois and neighboring states. The combination of two eighteen-hole courses, along with the lake's recreational amenities, makes it a destination for both serious golfers and families seeking a multi-day outing in a natural setting.