Early April Golf Trip in IA,MO,KS

[gunning4u]

Need some help finding a place to go

My buddies and I are looking to make a golf trip in a month or so. Anybody have some good ideas where to go in maybe southern IA, northern MO, or KS. I live in south central MN and we would like to only have to drive 4-5 hrs. Just looking for a nice course not too expensive 50-75$ a round and a town with some good night life we want to do some parting as well.

[upndown1]

Swope Memorial and old Tillinhast course that they jsut held women's pub links at:

http://www.swopememorialgolfcourse.com/vie...3&page=2055

 

Tiffany Greens where they held the Bayer senior pga even for several years:

http://www.tiffanygreensgolf.com/view.asp?...7&page=3198

 

Adams Point where the golf channel is making their home course for this region and has held and will hold many USGA and MGA events:

http://www.adamspointegolfclub.com/

 

Claycrest: Co-founder National Association of Greenkeepers of America Chester "Chet" Mendenhall

designed and a tough lil track:

http://www.claycrestgolf.com/

 

You have the plaza for fine dining etc:

http://www.countryclubplaza.com/

 

Ameristar Casino (there are several others as well):

http://www.ameristarcasinos.com/kc/index.asp

 

this is all KC, MO / KC,KS area

Hope this helps

[nele22]

If you play at Shoal Creek in Kasas City I would join you. It is a very nice track. Around $70 with GPS on the carts. Plus You could hit the Plaza in dowtown K.C for all of your night life needs! ;)

[alcap26]

If you get the chance to get to Colbert Hills in Manhattan, KS then I would take advantage of it...it is not close to anyting but a great course to play.

[jshel]

If you're going down 35, a place to stop either on the way down or back is the Harvester (just north of Des Moines). Very good Keith Foster layout that has good early season rates (especially if you walk).

 

www.harvestergolf.com

 

The Tournament Club of Iowa is pretty decent as well, but it is much more of a riding course. It's owned by the same people who run the Legends in Prior Lake. It's a Palmer design that doesn't feel like an Iowa course. Lots of trees, some elevation change. It feels more like Northern Minnesota than Iowa. If you play there, make sure you spend the 4 or 5 bucks for the yardage book. There are a few places where it comes in very handy.

 

www.tcofiowa.com

 

Just a suggestion from another Minnesotan dying to play.

[gunning4u]

The trip is pretty much set 4 of us are going down on 4-20 to 4-22 hitting the Twins Royals game Friday night and we have great seats. Playing a round Sat afternoon then hitting a good BBQ spot (Any suggestions near the plaza) to be determined. Sunday hitting the links one more time then heading home. We are having a problem finding a 100-120$ a night in the plaza district that has a heated pool and hot tub, which is a must.

[Night train]

Gates BBQ is pretty hard to beat in KC........lots of good golf suggestions given already.

[gunning4u]

Thanks everyone and Up and Down thanks for the links. We are playing Adams Point for sure. Trying to decide between Swope and Claycrest between the two which one is better, or does anyone have another suggestion. Thanks again.

[ez1putt]

You are doing yourself a serious disservice playing Adams Pointe then swope/claycrest. Adams Pointe is a poorly maintained nice layout. They had this strange breed of grass when it first opened, then they tried to switch to bentgrass about 18 months ago. It looks nice now (green all the time), but plays like crap. They overwater it all the time, and the ball just sinks to the ground. I have played it no fewer than 100 times, and really only play there now as a last resort (and it's VERY convenient for me to go there).

 

Play Shoal Creek, then Prairie Highlands / Sycamore Ridge. Swope is definately better than Claycrest, but neither is up to the three others I listed. I echo the Colbert Hills recommendation or the Harvester course in Iowa listed above.

 

Fiorella's now has a Plaza location, so I'd pick that of the "chain BBQ" places over Gates. Arthur Bryant's in the ghetto is world famous (skip the one at the casinos) or Oklahoma Joe's is another very classy place (in a gas station) not too far from the plaza.

[Gripit N Ripit 54]

If you get the chance to get to Colbert Hills in Manhattan, KS then I would take advantage of it...it is not close to anyting but a great course to play.

 

Most Definatly!!! My Favorite course of all time, be sure to stop there, you will not be dissapointed!!!!!

 

Brian

[upndown1]

Maybe I misuderstood - I thought you were limited to $50-75 dollars.

I picked courses that offered a variety in the cheaper range.

 

I disagree with the assement of Adams Pointe. swope, claycrest assesment.

 

Adams pointe is what it is for the money. A good public course that is cheaper than most that have the same ammenities. If you are looking for resort style course, then it doesn't come close - it is very played and shows it. It has huge fairways (placement becomes key on several), a lot of missouri wind and postage stamp greens.

 

Swope is Old - in the 20s I believe. Back when they made fairways close together. No driving range. Fast greens! Playing it is because you want to play a course where McSpaden and Nelson etc played - it is playing a piece of golf history course.

 

Claycrest is a course a lot of people don't like - 11 blind shots, blue grass, you must be able to work ball both ways. There is not a level lie from 100 anywhere on the course or a level lie from anywhere for that matter. Ball is either above or below your feet and is uphill or downhill.

Its 6400 plays about 6900 because of the severe elevations changes. Par 3 17 plays 52 feet uphill from 175 and usually into a prevailing wind.

Lowest college NAIA round in last 4 years there is 69(once). Narrow fairways and postage stamp greens. Brithish Amatuer champion few years ago was making trek through US and stayed to play 2 days after course ate his lunch first day - 70 was best he could shoot 2nd day.

I played with Jeff lat year, the assistant pro at longview who missed Q-school cut by 1 twice and played hooters tour for his first time on the course. I quote "I don't know why I never played here before, this is a great track!"

 

Tiffany - At times has the best greens in KC in my opinion. At other times - well it is a resort course that gets some play.

 

If money wasn't a problem, I would say Lionsgate where they play the Bayer now. Great track that is a good test.

 

I disagree on Shoal Creek. It is the most overrated course in the area. It got #2 in golf digest for state of missouri. Expensive, bad customer service, greens are in crappy shape every time I play there (crappy considering it is supposed to be #2 course)

 

There is one more you might consider because it has 2 courses on the property and is cheap - I am not particually fond of it but loads of people love it:

http://www.paradisepointegolf.com/view.asp...&page=12130

You guys could golf all day there without having to go anywhere else. good pro shop and decent food.