near Alton, Illinois · St. Louis

Spencer T. Olin Community Golf Course

Spencer Olin paid for it and his old pro-am partner Arnold Palmer designed it. Hosted the 1999 U.S. Amateur Public Links on ESPN.

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About Spencer T. Olin Community Golf Course

This is the St. Louis area's Arnold Palmer course, and the story is a friendship. Spencer T. Olin, of Olin Industries, won a pro-am with Palmer at The Greenbrier in 1954, and they stayed friends for 40 years. When Olin gave $5 million for a public course in his hometown of Alton, Palmer agreed to design it. It sits in the 750-acre Gordon F. Moore Community Park, about 30 minutes from downtown St. Louis, alongside a fishing lake, tennis courts, a rose garden and ball fields.

It's a par 72 of nearly 7,000 yards with eight sets of tees, so pick the one that fits. The course calls itself deceptively open, and that's the trick: you'll find the fairway, but the boldly contoured bentgrass greens mean the round is won with your irons. The map survey adds detail: trees line 17 of the 18 holes, there are about 56 bunkers, water comes into play on five holes, and there's about 65 feet between the high and low points. Course character from OpenStreetMap contributors' survey data.

It has held real championships: the 1996 U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links, and the 1999 U.S. Amateur Public Links was televised on ESPN. It has also hosted Korn Ferry Tour (then Web.com Tour) and U.S. Amateur qualifying and the MAGA East Side Amateur. Zoysia fairways give you good lies, there's a two-tiered grass range, a practice bunker, a 9-hole Learning Center, and the Traditions Grill for after.

It's one of 79 courses Yoink watches in the St. Louis area, and the closest alternative is Woodlands Golf Club, about 3 miles away — handy when your first choice is booked solid.

What it's like to play Spencer T. Olin Community Golf Course

There's real elevation change: some holes rise or fall about 65 feet from tee to green. 13 of the 18 holes bend, so position off the tee matters more than length. A creek or river runs through the property and comes into play on 2 holes.

Course character from OpenStreetMap contributors' survey data (ODbL).

Booking a tee time at Spencer T. Olin Community Golf Course

Book online from the course website, which has a public tee sheet and a separate one for members, passholders and Players Club golfers. The pro shop is (618) 465-3111.

How to get a tee time at Spencer T. Olin Community Golf Course

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Spencer T. Olin Community Golf Course FAQ

Where is Spencer T. Olin Community Golf Course?

Spencer T. Olin Community Golf Course is near Alton, Illinois, in the St. Louis area — about 3 miles from Woodlands Golf Club.

Is Spencer T. Olin Community Golf Course open to the public?

Spencer T. Olin Community Golf Course is Public; centerpiece of the municipal Gordon F. Moore Community Park.

How many holes is Spencer T. Olin Community Golf Course, and what's par?

Spencer T. Olin Community Golf Course is an 18-hole regulation course: 18 holes, par 72, 6,941 yards.

How do I get a tee time at Spencer T. Olin Community Golf Course when it's booked up?

Set a watch for Spencer T. Olin Community Golf Course in Yoink with your date, time window and group size. Yoink monitors the course's tee sheet and alerts you the moment a matching time opens, including cancellations. You book directly with the course.

What golf courses are near Spencer T. Olin Community Golf Course?

Nearby options include Woodlands Golf Club, The Woodlands Golf Club and Rock Spring Golf Course. Yoink watches 79 courses in the St. Louis area.

Sources

Facts on this page come from these pages, checked 2026-09-28. Rates and booking rules change, so confirm with the course.

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