Early April St Louis

[vallygolf]

Early April will find me in St Louis.  

1. What course conditions can I reasonably expect (I expect variability but what is typical)

2. Any cant miss public within an hour of downtown. (no cost restrictions)

3. Any higher end golf resorts (nice hotel with decent golf) within an hour of downtown?

 

Thanks in advance.

[mci711]

Conditions should be starting to get into shape by then but won't be prime yet. If you are downtown you should play Gateway National directly across the river. Not a ton of good public courses in the area. Gateway, Annbriar, and maybe Pevely Farms or Aberdeen would be my picks for public courses. Nothing fits your description for number 3. 

 

Are you a member at a private course? There are a lot of decent accessible private options.  

[exgolfpro]

Be prepared for wind.  Depending on the course, probably damp/dormant zoysia.  Most likely will be cart path only.  

 

As for courses, it seems Annbriar (Illinois) is everyones favorite course.  Other top publics include Gateway National (bent fairways)(Illinois), Pevely Farms, Tapawingo and The Bluffs.  If you get out a little further, I would recommend Crown Pointe GC in Farmington.

[vallygolf]

Thanks for the tips.  I have read Gateway national quite a bit, and it looks to be really close which is a bonus, but not critical.  It looks like Ill be able to catch a Cardinals game while there, any tips on lunch and dinner spots in the vicinity of Busch stadium. (doesnt have to be walking distance,  Im looking for cant miss places).  Also any recommendations on high quality accomodations?

[mci711]

35 minutes ago, vallygolf said:

Thanks for the tips.  I have read Gateway national quite a bit, and it looks to be really close which is a bonus, but not critical.  It looks like Ill be able to catch a Cardinals game while there, any tips on lunch and dinner spots in the vicinity of Busch stadium. (doesnt have to be walking distance,  Im looking for cant miss places).  Also any recommendations on high quality accomodations?

 

Depends on what you are looking for. Salt & Smoke is in ballpark village and is really good BBQ. Super convenient and probably the best food near Busch. For dinner check out "The Hill" St Louis' little Italy if you want Italian. Gian Tony's or Lorenzo's are my picks for dinner. Lunch spots Amighetti's or Gioia's. Gioia's won a James Beard award and has been on food network, cooking channel etc. But I think Amighetti's is better. The Hill is kind of known for the food and a great safe neighborhood. 

 

High end accommodations - Ritz in Clayton or 4 seasons down town. 

[vallygolf]

10 minutes ago, mci711 said:

 

Depends on what you are looking for. Salt & Smoke is in ballpark village and is really good BBQ. Super convenient and probably the best food near Busch. For dinner check out "The Hill" St Louis' little Italy if you want Italian. Gian Tony's or Lorenzo's are my picks for dinner. Lunch spots Amighetti's or Gioia's. Gioia's won a James Beard award and has been on food network, cooking channel etc. But I think Amighetti's is better. The Hill is kind of known for the food and a great safe neighborhood. 

 

High end accommodations - Ritz in Clayton or 4 seasons down town. 

thx.  Exactly what I was looking for.

[Lefty_3Jack]

Gateway is all bent which will be lush in early April.  Unfortunately, everywhere else has zoysia fairways and they'll be golden brown.  More so, expect the conditions to be wet and windy no matter the course.  Gateway is windier than others because it's flat AF.  

 

Ann Briar and Missouri Bluffs are good representations of the terrain around St Louis.  

 

St. Louis does pretty well on food, even compared to larger markets.  I've been to Chicago, SF & NY Little Italy's and The Hill is larger than all three of them.  It's hard to go wrong with Italian or BBQ in St. Louis.  Goia's sandwiches are ridiculously good and reading this is going to force me to get one today!  If you want to try St Louis Pizza, Imo's will be your option staying downtown.  I personally like Joe Boccardi's and Faraci's the best, but Imo's is still good.  I don't know that a lot of out of towners like our pizza though.     

 

 

[mci711]

1 hour ago, Lefty_3Jack said:

Gateway is all bent which will be lush in early April.  Unfortunately, everywhere else has zoysia fairways and they'll be golden brown.  More so, expect the conditions to be wet and windy no matter the course.  Gateway is windier than others because it's flat AF.  

 

Ann Briar and Missouri Bluffs are good representations of the terrain around St Louis.  

 

St. Louis does pretty well on food, even compared to larger markets.  I've been to Chicago, SF & NY Little Italy's and The Hill is larger than all three of them.  It's hard to go wrong with Italian or BBQ in St. Louis.  Goia's sandwiches are ridiculously good and reading this is going to force me to get one today!  If you want to try St Louis Pizza, Imo's will be your option staying downtown.  I personally like Joe Boccardi's and Faraci's the best, but Imo's is still good.  I don't know that a lot of out of towners like our pizza though.     

 

 

 

I live on the Hill now and lived in Chicago's Little Italy for 5 years the past decade. There is just no comparison at all. Chicago feels no different than any other neighborhood. The Hill is an awesome place. 

[Lefty_3Jack]

4 minutes ago, mci711 said:

 

I live on the Hill now and lived in Chicago's Little Italy for 5 years the past decade. There is just no comparison at all. Chicago feels no different than any other neighborhood. The Hill is an awesome place. 

Sei tornato dove appartieni!  

[br61]

Having lived in STL area for several years, two courses not mentioned here but could be checked out are Far Oaks and Stonewolf in Fairview Heights area.

 

Hill has several excellent places to eat out. Last month I went to McGurk's a mile or two south of stadium. It's pretty good too. An Irish pub and eatery.

[Birdie Retriever]

Far Oaks is one of my favorites on Illinois side.  On Missouri side, Missouri Bluffs is Fazio Design up in St Charles County and is worth the drive.

 

For good BBQ you can’t go wrong with Sugar Fire. They have a few different locations now. 

Edited February 4, 2022 by Birdie Retriever