
West Course
East/West at Rend Lake Golf Course

About this 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.
Quick facts
- Location
- Whittington, IL, USA
- Access
- Public
- Year built
- 1975
- Holes
- 9
- Designer
- Larry Packard
- Par
- 36
- Length
- 3,447 yards
- Difficulty
- 35.9/128
- Course Vaults score
- 6.4
Getting there
The journey to East/West at Rend Lake Golf Course begins at St. Louis Lambert International (STL), roughly ninety minutes northwest across the Mississippi River and into the rolling farmland of southern Illinois. The drive traces Interstate 64 east before peeling south toward the vast reservoir that anchors this corner of the state, where the landscape opens into a patchwork of wooded shoreline and reclaimed coal country. As you approach Whittington, the road narrows and the air takes on the quiet stillness of a region shaped by water and solitude, delivering you to a public golf sanctuary that feels far removed from the urban hum left behind at Lambert.

FAQ
Common questions about West
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
West has a Course Vaults score of 6.4 out of 10 based on 7 logged golfers.
West was designed by Larry Packard.
Yes. West is listed as welcoming public or guest play on Course Vaults.
Par at West is 36.
West plays 3,447 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at West is 128.



