Chicago is usually what comes to mind when talking about Illinois golf courses but the state has so much more to offer that the Chicago metro area. Bloomington is just over two hours south and offers a number of challenging courses along with nearby Peoria which is 40 miles to the west of Bloomington. Springfield also offers a number of good golf choices including Panther Creek Country Club which has hosted the LPGA State Farm Classic. The PGA tour has made stops in Silvis (near Moline) for the John Deere Classic previously at the TPC Deere Run.
Because Illinois is such a long state and covers more than 400 miles north to south, the climate can be diverse with course near the Kentucky and Missouri borders offering a much more temperate late Fall and early Spring temperatures.