Patrick Koenig
Courtesy of Canyata
Courtesy of Canyata GC
Courtesy of Canyata GC
Courtesy of Canyata GC
Canyata
Marshall, IL • Private
Overview
Energy-industry CEO Jerry Forsythe grew up in east central Illinois and wanted to convert 300 acres of his childhood memories into a family retreat. After golf architect Bob Lohmann built him an elaborate three-hole golf course on the property, Lohmann’s then-associate Mike Benkusky convinced Forsythe to stretch it to nine holes and later into a full 18. Ultimately, two million cubic yards of cornfield were moved to form Canyata’s massive fairways and greens, which are edged by waterscaped ponds, artificial creeks and a dazzling array of bunkers. With only a handful of rounds played each year by invited guests, Canyata’s manicuring is always nearly flawless. That changed in 2025 after the course's acquisition by Texas-based Escalante Golf, which opened the club to a small national membership.
About
Awards
Ranking history:
100 Greatest: Ranked since 2009.
Highest ranking: 37th, 2013-'14.
Previous ranking: 85th.
2025-'26 ranking: 86th.
Best in State: Ranked third, 2011-'14. Ranked fourth, 2015-'18, 2023-'26. Ranked fifth, 2019-'22. Ranked inside the top 5, 2009-'10. Ranked inside the top 10, 2007.
2025-'26 ranking (and previous): 4th.
Panelists
Ratings from our panel of 1,900 course-ranking panelists
100 GREATEST/BEST IN STATE SCORES
Shot Options
Character
Challenge
Layout Variety
Fun
Aesthetics
Conditioning
Reviews
Review
“Canyata has many absolutely wonderful holes (particularly the opening stretch), a couple fine but forgettable ones, and one absolutely terrible hole. But what keeps this course from being deserving of truly elite status is the conditioning. Despite playing on a very hot sumer day in the late afternoon during a long drought, the course was soaked. Most tee shots and nearly all approached shots plugged upon landing. Punch shots played along the ground into the green took one splashy bounce and stopped dead in their tracks. My partners' cart even sprayed up water driving through several fairways. I asked the pros beforehand if there were any unusual course conditions of which they wanted me to be aware and they didn't mention anything about the water. Other courses in the area are struggling to prevent drying out, but something is wrong here. That said, the layout, service, experience, and fun of this place are not to be missed if you get the opportunity."
Read More2025
Review
“The opening 4 or 5 holes of Canyata are great, each have a variety of shot options with various risk / reward scenarios. There are a couple of holes that appear to be forced fit. The par 3's are all approximately the same length, which is a negative. The 16th hole is just awful, one of the strangest holes in golf. Service levels are top notch."
Read More2025
Review
“Canyata has some great and challenging holes, some quirky holes, some not so great holes, and a few holes that appear to be just added because they somehow fit. The opening 4 or 5 holes are the highlight of the round, and the 16th hole is one of the worst holes that I've played, with a large tree in a ravine blocking most good tee shots from a front pin location. It wasn't in great condition on the day that we played Canyata, and the pins were in the same location as the day before. The service levels were top notch. I played better courses with rankings in the top 100 - 125 tier than Canyata, which is probably where Canyata is headed since it appears to be dropping in the rankings."
Read More2025
Review
“This course could have only happened if Gerry Forsythe had not fallen in love with golf and owned several thousand acres of very good farmland near Marshall, IL (about 40 miles west of Terre Haute, IN). It is not near anyplace except the rich soil upon which it was built and now sits lovingly. There are a lot of good holes here, good strong carries and just a sense of quiet and solitude about the course. The course twists and turns throughout and that is presented to you in the first few holes, left to right, right to left, downhill, left to right uphill, and it continues like that all day long, ending with a long, forced carry 18th, a wonderful "decider hole" at the end of a match. I'm ready to go back."
Read More2025
Review
“One of the most unique experiences you'll ever encounter playing the game of golf. Wonderful conditioning and feeling like you're the only group on the golf course makes for the ultimate golf round. Staff is accommodating and attentive. Always say yes if offered the opportunity to enjoy a round of golf here."
Read More2025
Review
“For now, one of the unique experiences in golf in this country; recent ownership changes may threaten the surreal experience of being the only golfers on the property. The course is challenging and provides substantial variety; conditions are beyond compare due to the extremely low play."
Read More2025
Review
“Canyata is a wonderfully fun and unique golf experience. The golf course has great elevation changes and deep ravines with high quality bridges allowing a fun routing of the greatly varied hole designs and green complexes. It is in excellent condition. I highly recommend playing Canyata if you have the opportunity."
Read More2024
Review
“Outstanding course on a great site with superb conditioning"
Read More2023
Review
“Shocking elevation changes and contours for the area, was totally not expected w/ the surrounding flat farmland areas. Surreal conditioning, no divots or ballmarks anywhere even on the range due to lack of play. Our host said they had less than 350 rounds in 2017 and out of those 164 total players visited the property. Standout holes include downhill par 3 3rd, toughest hole #4 an uphill dogleg left over water w/ a 4 tier green, 9th & 10th that work along a lake, and the 14th a dogleg left around a lake w/ a wonderful green complex and challenging pitch if you bailout left. Green complexes were very fair yet challenging. #16 needs to be tweaked a bit, 2 large trees block corridor of play if you lay up...its more of a risk risk hole instead of a risk reward. Great work by the design team w/ design variety between balance of uphill/downhill holes, long/short holes, dogleg right/dogleg left holes, variety of hole direction w/ wind, and different hazard placement. Unique experience driving in as you literally drive through a creek to get back to the clubhouse."
Read More2022
Review
“An island of hilly, forested preserve in the middle of Illinois farmland. Every shot makes the player think."
Read More2021
