About Us
Crab Orchard Golf Club is an 18-hole semi-private facility. The par 70 golf course has established itself as one of the better competitive venues in the area. With a tradition of superb conditioning, the golf course boasts water on nine holes, large oak trees, throughout, and lush fairways of Myers Zoysia and Westwood Bermuda.
The golf course plays dramatically differently depending on the tees chosen. The average player can have fun playing from the middle and forward tees but the golf course becomes much more demanding from the Championship markers. Amenities include a full-service, fully-stocked golf shop with equipment and fashions to meet all your needs.
A large Bermuda practice area with target greens and a bunker complete the range facility. The clubhouse features great food at a very competitive price. Special meeting rooms are available.
History of Crab Orchard Golf Club
In 1956, Roy Glenn, 12 years a touring professional, came to Carterville with the idea of establishing a golf course. The 240-acre Ferrell Farm was purchased and construction of the course began in 1957.
In 1959, after two years of construction, the course was completed and opened for play. The remaining acreage was developed into the Greenbriar Subdivision. The original owners, Roy Glenn, Dr. Dale Caveness of Eldorado, and Gene Timmons of Evansville were responsible for the inception of the golf club. Since that time, Don Johnson of McLeansboro, Dwight Witherspoon, and Phil Heckel of Carterville were active in ownership of COGC. In 1972, Phil and his son, Steve, became sole owners of Crab Orchard Golf Club.
The course has undergone many changes through the years and is one of the finest courses in Southern Illinois. The course features Zoysia and Bermuda grasses on the tees and fairways with Bent grass on the greens. Choose between 5 sets of tees and you will have an enjoyable playing experience. We pride ourselves in our Teaching and Club Fitting Center which features state-of-the-art instructional video equipment. COGC consistently turns out many of the best young players in this area. We are sure you will enjoy the course and hospitality provided.
Our Golf Experts
Hi, I’m Steve , and I run the crab orchard golf club blog where I share tips and tricks for novice to expert golfers to help today’s player improve their game.
Leah Brown is a sports psychologist and coach dedicated to improving the mental skills of elite athletes. She also teaches sports psychology at Oakridge University. Leah earned her Master’s in Sports Psychology from Oakridge and completed her PhD in 2019, focusing on athlete motivation.
With practical experience and academic knowledge, she helps athletes unlock their full potential.