Lincoln Elks Country Club occupies a rolling tract of central Illinois prairie where the land’s gentle undulations dictate a natural routing. The opening stretch crosses open ground before the fairways begin to thread through mature stands of oak and hickory that frame the second and third holes. A small creek enters play on the fourth, crossing the fairway twice and forcing a precise lay-up on the second pass. From there the course alternates between tree-lined corridors and broader parkland stretches, culminating in a closing pair of holes that skirt the original Elks Lodge grounds. Bunkers are modest in size yet strategically placed to punish offline approaches, while the bentgrass greens are kept firm enough to reward shots that carry the proper distance rather than those that merely roll on. Throughout the round the landscape remains open to prevailing westerlies, making wind direction a constant factor in club selection.