Kansas City Recommendation

[dbdors]

I know this is an old thread, but this summer 2022 I'll be visiting family in KC, KS.  I have a goal to play golf in all 50 states, and hoping to knock out KS and MO in this trip.  I see a lot of nice KC, MO options above, but what about KC, KS?  They don't have to be exotic or expensive.  Just nice or interesting.  For Example I played a couple of courses in Salt Lake, but one of them was a nine hole that was the first course in the state.  It wasn't a terrible track, but being the first was interesting and I enjoyed it.  And for me the munis that the locals play are the most interesting.

[D0ch0l1d4y]

On 12/8/2021 at 2:56 PM, dbdors said:

I know this is an old thread, but this summer 2022 I'll be visiting family in KC, KS.  I have a goal to play golf in all 50 states, and hoping to knock out KS and MO in this trip.  I see a lot of nice KC, MO options above, but what about KC, KS?  They don't have to be exotic or expensive.  Just nice or interesting.  For Example I played a couple of courses in Salt Lake, but one of them was a nine hole that was the first course in the state.  It wasn't a terrible track, but being the first was interesting and I enjoyed it.  And for me the munis that the locals play are the most interesting.

 

Sunflower Hills is a decent layout that's typically in pretty good shape - right off I-70. Couple Mickey Mouse holes, but it also hosts a Kansas Am qualifier every year.

Dub's Dread is a good course. They stretch it close to 8k for the Monster Mash scramble in October - makes for a fun day.

 

Falcon Lakes - again, good course usually in good shape. Can get a little sloppy if there's a lot of rain. Also hosts a Kansas Am qualifier.

 

Painted Hills was a good track to drink a bunch of beer and play golf - but they are Great Life now and don't know if they are public.

 

If you have a free afternoon - Brough Creek National. Couple guys built their own 7 hole executive and used to allow public play. They are listed in GHIN, but their website is blocked through my work laptop. Someguysbackyard.com

[dbdors]

Thank you I will review and add them to my list.

 

Edit: And one interesting point, I used Google Maps to search near KC and none of the three showed up.  Makes me wonder how some courses are listed and some are not.

 

Edited December 14, 2021 by dbdors

[D0ch0l1d4y]

21 hours ago, dbdors said:

Thank you I will review and add them to my list.

 

Edit: And one interesting point, I used Google Maps to search near KC and none of the three showed up.  Makes me wonder how some courses are listed and some are not.

 

You might have to scroll around a bit. Falcon Lakes is technically in Basehor, KS but here's the map I got on search, specifically for Kansas City, KS. 
 

[duckboat24]

DO NOT GO TO PAINTED HILLS!!  You may have to drive a little from Kansas City, KS but there are several good KS courses.  Sycamore Ridge in Spring Hill is good but being Bentgrass its usually better conditioned in the spring than summer.  Dubs and Falcon Lakes as mentioned are solid.  Falcon Valley is a 9 holer that is usually in good shape.  Generally you'll want to stay away from anything owned by Great Life.  If you don't mind the drive or coming in from the west Firekeeper in Mayetta, Sand Creek Station in Newton or Colbert Hills in Manhattan are all good.  On the KC MO side Swope Park (Tillinghast) and Hillcrest (Donald Ross) have some history.  Stone Canyon designed by Greg Norman is another good one. 

[D0ch0l1d4y]

5 hours ago, duckboat24 said:

DO NOT GO TO PAINTED HILLS!!  You may have to drive a little from Kansas City, KS but there are several good KS courses.  Sycamore Ridge in Spring Hill is good but being Bentgrass its usually better conditioned in the spring than summer.  Dubs and Falcon Lakes as mentioned are solid.  Falcon Valley is a 9 holer that is usually in good shape.  Generally you'll want to stay away from anything owned by Great Life.  If you don't mind the drive or coming in from the west Firekeeper in Mayetta, Sand Creek Station in Newton or Colbert Hills in Manhattan are all good.  On the KC MO side Swope Park (Tillinghast) and Hillcrest (Donald Ross) have some history.  Stone Canyon designed by Greg Norman is another good one. 

 

LOL...agreed on Painted Hills. Those trips were reserved for the rounds that require Uber to get home. I thought Falcon Valley was still under the umbrella of Falcon Ridge - which is Great Life? If not - it is a fun 9 holes. Tomahawk Hills and St. Andrews are Muni courses and are pretty fun. Tomahawk has a couple Mickey Mouse holes, but 9 and 18 are fun to hit that far down hill.

 

If he's visiting from out of state, Sycamore is a small hike, but agree it's worth it. Firekeeper is a longer hike, but could still get there and back in a day (70-80min each way from the Legends). Firekeeper can be a sloppy wet course depending on time of year.  Colbert is 2+ hours each way. Sand Creek is 3+ each way.

 

Agree on Swope and Hillcrest. Though neither have a driving range if that's important to you. Haven't been to Stone Canyon in a while, but it was nice last I played. Adam's Point is a fun track too on the far east side of the metro. Shoal Creek is one of my favorite public courses in KC.  Shiloh Springs up in Platte City isn't too bad depending on the course condition.

Edited January 7, 2022 by D0ch0l1d4y

[duckboat24]

17 hours ago, D0ch0l1d4y said:

 

LOL...agreed on Painted Hills. Those trips were reserved for the rounds that require Uber to get home. I thought Falcon Valley was still under the umbrella of Falcon Ridge - which is Great Life? If not - it is a fun 9 holes. Tomahawk Hills and St. Andrews are Muni courses and are pretty fun. Tomahawk has a couple Mickey Mouse holes, but 9 and 18 are fun to hit that far down hill.

 

If he's visiting from out of state, Sycamore is a small hike, but agree it's worth it. Firekeeper is a longer hike, but could still get there and back in a day (70-80min each way from the Legends). Firekeeper can be a sloppy wet course depending on time of year.  Colbert is 2+ hours each way. Sand Creek is 3+ each way.

 

Agree on Swope and Hillcrest. Though neither have a driving range if that's important to you. Haven't been to Stone Canyon in a while, but it was nice last I played. Adam's Point is a fun track too on the far east side of the metro. Shoal Creek is one of my favorite public courses in KC.  Shiloh Springs up in Platte City isn't too bad depending on the course condition.

Falcon Valley is independent / not under Great Life.  

[dbdors]

Again, thank you all for the advice.  Very helpful

[Mstacks]

On 12/8/2021 at 2:56 PM, dbdors said:

I know this is an old thread, but this summer 2022 I'll be visiting family in KC, KS.  I have a goal to play golf in all 50 states, and hoping to knock out KS and MO in this trip.  I see a lot of nice KC, MO options above, but what about KC, KS?  They don't have to be exotic or expensive.  Just nice or interesting.  For Example I played a couple of courses in Salt Lake, but one of them was a nine hole that was the first course in the state.  It wasn't a terrible track, but being the first was interesting and I enjoyed it.  And for me the munis that the locals play are the most interesting.

 

Hey, KC resident here. Sounds like you might have the MO courses on lock, but on the Kansas side, there are a few good public options. I'd consider these:

 

Dub's Dread – out by the racetrack/Legends shopping center. At one time the longest course in America, with the ability to stretch to 8100 or something?

Sykes/Lady – public course owned by the city of Overland Park. New, really nice clubhouse and restaurant in the last 3ish years. Good conditioning for a public course.

St. Andrews – also a public course owned by the city of Overland Park. Usually well maintained for the obscene amount of play it gets.

Sycamore Ridge – a bit of a drive, as it's in Spring Hill, Kansas. The toughest of these courses and probably the best course of the bunch. Usually well maintained as well.

Ironhorse – down in Leawood, was sorta recently acquired by Troon Golf. It's probably the priciest on the list and I admittedly haven't played it but always hear good things.

 

Hope this helps!

[dbdors]

Thank you, will check them out

[dbdors]

Yes, that is great thank you.

[dbdors]

Just an update, I have tee times with my brother-in-law and cousin for Dubs on Friday morning, and I have a single for myself for Shoal Creek on Monday.  Hillcrest had a tourney on Monday.

 

Again, thank you all for the info.  Looking forward to playing

[dbdors]

On 6/15/2022 at 9:42 AM, dbdors said:

Just an update, I have tee times with my brother-in-law and cousin for Dubs on Friday morning, and I have a single for myself for Shoal Creek on Monday.  Hillcrest had a tourney on Monday.

 

Again, thank you all for the info.  Looking forward to playing

Dubs Dread was very nice, but challenging.  I only had time to play nine at Shoal Creek, but did get to play with my brother in law.  They were starting everyone on the back nine.  I really enjoyed both courses.  A lot more elevation change than I'm used to around here. On thing I noticed, we played early on both, but Shoal Creek felt a lot cooler.  Dubs was very humid.  No big deal for this Houston guy, but it was interesting.  Would love to play either of them again.

Edited July 11, 2022 by dbdors