Best golf courses in Missouri

[br61]

[quote name='adamjstl' timestamp='1325306056' post='4008275']
[quote name='br61' timestamp='1325296306' post='4007583']
Reading one of your earlier posts, you mentioned that you are 2 handicap, it's good enough to get you on few Missouri Amateur tournaments where they play on some of the best courses of the state.

The entry fees are very reasonable if you get a chance to play on some of Missouri's nicest courses.
[/quote]


I'm an Illinois resident.... would I still be able to play?
[/quote]

If you're a member or holds a GHIN handicap of a St Louis area course that's affiliated with MGA or Metropolitan Golf Association, I believe you can compete but I'm not 100% sure. I've seen few Illinois and Kansas residents compete.

[adamjstl]

After a few years of access to all these courses, I'd clearly go with...

 

1. Dalhousie

2. Boone Valley

3. St. Louis C.C.

4. Bellerive C.C,

5. Porta Cima

 

Actually, you could put either of the St. Albans course in there at 4 and 5 as well.

[exgolfpro]

After a few years of access to all these courses, I'd clearly go with...

 

1. Dalhousie

2. Boone Valley

3. St. Louis C.C.

4. Bellerive C.C,

5. Porta Cima

 

Actually, you could put either of the St. Albans course in there at 4 and 5 as well.

 

I have not played St Louis CC or Porta Cima, but of those you listed, I would rate

 

1. Bellerive CC

2. Dalhousie

3. Boone Valley

 

Although it has been at least 10 years since I've played Bellerive, and the conditions may be different now, but I could play this course every day and not tire of it.

[jaygween]

Of the courses I've played, mine are as follows:

 

Privates

1. Dalhousie

2. Fox Run

3. Norwood Hills (West)

4. Whitmoor (South)

5. Cape Girardeau Country Club

6. Glen Echo

7. Bogey Hills

8. Old Hickory

|

|

DFL - Whitmoor (North)

 

Publics

1. Missouri Bluffs

2. Crown Pointe

3. Bent Creek

4. Aberdeen

5. Tapawingo

6. Quarry at Crystal Springs

 

The other STL/SEMO Missouri publics aren't really worth rating. Unfortunately the Missouri side STL courses aren't that great. Annbriar and Gateway are probably the two best STL publics but are on the Illinois side.

[exgolfpro]

Of the courses I've played, mine are as follows:

 

Privates

1. Dalhousie

2. Fox Run

3. Norwood Hills (West)

4. Whitmoor (South)

5. Cape Girardeau Country Club

6. Glen Echo

7. Bogey Hills

8. Old Hickory

|

|

DFL - Whitmoor (North)

 

Publics

1. Missouri Bluffs

2. Crown Pointe

3. Bent Creek

4. Aberdeen

5. Tapawingo

6. Quarry at Crystal Springs

 

The other STL/SEMO Missouri publics aren't really worth rating. Unfortunately the Missouri side STL courses aren't that great. Annbriar and Gateway are probably the two best STL publics but are on the Illinois side.

 

I am a member of Crown Pointe so I like your Public list. Bent Creek is a solid golf course but is not always in the best shape. Tapawingo used to be my favorite course in St Louis because of the variety of holes and I always felt it was just a fun course to play, but I've heard that the condition has been lacking a bit lately? I don't know this as a fact because it has been a few years since I've played there. As for your Private list, I have never played Glen Echo and it has been at least 20 years since I've played Whitmoor, Bogey Hills and Norwood Hills. One that you might try to get on in Southeast Missouri is Westwood Hills CC in Poplar Bluff. It is a shorter course (6300?), but the greens are usually awesome.

[jaygween]

Of the courses I've played, mine are as follows:

 

Privates

1. Dalhousie

2. Fox Run

3. Norwood Hills (West)

4. Whitmoor (South)

5. Cape Girardeau Country Club

6. Glen Echo

7. Bogey Hills

8. Old Hickory

|

|

DFL - Whitmoor (North)

 

Publics

1. Missouri Bluffs

2. Crown Pointe

3. Bent Creek

4. Aberdeen

5. Tapawingo

6. Quarry at Crystal Springs

 

The other STL/SEMO Missouri publics aren't really worth rating. Unfortunately the Missouri side STL courses aren't that great. Annbriar and Gateway are probably the two best STL publics but are on the Illinois side.

 

I am a member of Crown Pointe so I like your Public list. Bent Creek is a solid golf course but is not always in the best shape. Tapawingo used to be my favorite course in St Louis because of the variety of holes and I always felt it was just a fun course to play, but I've heard that the condition has been lacking a bit lately? I don't know this as a fact because it has been a few years since I've played there. As for your Private list, I have never played Glen Echo and it has been at least 20 years since I've played Whitmoor, Bogey Hills and Norwood Hills. One that you might try to get on in Southeast Missouri is Westwood Hills CC in Poplar Bluff. It is a shorter course (6300?), but the greens are usually awesome.

 

I love Crown Pointe. Very playable course, good variety of holes, solid conditions and a great value. If I lived in that area I'd definitely be a member.

 

It's probably been 2 years since I've played Bent Creek (I think they changed ownership since I've played last), so maybe conditions have gone down, but it used to be in good shape. My only complaints with Bent are that all the par 3s are very similar yardage and all downhill a similar amount. Usually hit the same club on all of them. Also, #9 is a bad hole imo. 18 from the tips is a beast finishing hole.

 

I would agree that Tapawingo is pretty fun with a variety of holes (Having 27 helps). The past couple years they have had some issues on the greens, which I think most people think of when they mention the poor conditions. The Meramec course has flooded two years in a row and 5 or so holes of the Prairie course flooded this spring. So that has led to some spotty rough and fairways on those holes which was bad luck for them.

 

Glen Echo had some of the best greens I've played on. Very quick and well maintained. I wasn't a big fan of the course layout though. Norwood is solid but not a must play. Whimoor, Bogey Hills and Old Hickory were pretty blah imo.

 

I've played Kimbeland CC in Jackson, MO and Fox Haven CC in Sikeston, Mo but have not played Westwood Hills. Will have to try and get on out there sometime.

[adamjstl]

I've always felt Tapawingo was overrated. The Meremac and and Woodlands have multiple holes that feel squeezed into the land. Annbriar and Gateway National are easily the two best public courses in the St. Louis area.

[exgolfpro]

I've always felt Tapawingo was overrated. The Meremac and and Woodlands have multiple holes that feel squeezed into the land. Annbriar and Gateway National are easily the two best public courses in the St. Louis area.

 

My love of Tapawingo is purely based on the enjoyment of playing the course. Every hole is different and I thoroughly enjoy playing there. I would agree that a few of the holes are a bit squeezed in.

 

Every single person I talk to says that Annbriar is the best St Louis public course. I like Annbriar, but I don't love Annbriar. The holes are well designed and offer a variety, but it is not a very good walking course (which I do 100% of the time). I also feel like 9 and 18 are identical holes to each other. This is not a slam on Annbriar, but I would rather play Gateway or Stonewolf.

[jaygween]

I've always felt Tapawingo was overrated. The Meremac and and Woodlands have multiple holes that feel squeezed into the land. Annbriar and Gateway National are easily the two best public courses in the St. Louis area.

 

My love of Tapawingo is purely based on the enjoyment of playing the course. Every hole is different and I thoroughly enjoy playing there. I would agree that a few of the holes are a bit squeezed in.

 

Every single person I talk to says that Annbriar is the best St Louis public course. I like Annbriar, but I don't love Annbriar. The holes are well designed and offer a variety, but it is not a very good walking course (which I do 100% of the time). I also feel like 9 and 18 are identical holes to each other. This is not a slam on Annbriar, but I would rather play Gateway or Stonewolf.

 

The more I've played Gateway, the less I'm liking it. I think a lot of the acclaim for it is the fact that it's the only public course with bent grass fairways in STL. Other than that, I don't think the course is all that interesting. Not many memorable holes. I'd rather play the Bluffs. Bluffs would be better if the majority of the par 3's weren't big drop shots. I need to play Annbriar again as it's been a few years.

[McMoo]

St. Louis is really lacking in top end public courses. There are a lot of nice courses but nothing spectacular. There are some great private courses.

 

I haven’t played in the ozarks or Kansas City but here’s my top 10 list for the St. Louis area. Aberdeen is my favorite public course when they actually have the greens rolling fast.

 

1. Bellerive

2. Dalhousie

3. Old Warson

4. St. Louis CC

5. Fox Run

6. St. Albans - both courses

7. Persimmon Woods

8. Meadowbrook

9. Forest Hills

10. The Legends

 

I haven’t played Boone Valley or Norwood or any of the private clubs in St Charles or west.

[adamjstl]

St. Louis is really lacking in top end public courses. There are a lot of nice courses but nothing spectacular. There are some great private courses.

 

I haven't played in the ozarks or Kansas City but here's my top 10 list for the St. Louis area. Aberdeen is my favorite public course when they actually have the greens rolling fast.

 

1. Bellerive

2. Dalhousie

3. Old Warson

4. St. Louis CC

5. Fox Run

6. St. Albans - both courses

7. Persimmon Woods

8. Meadowbrook

9. Forest Hills

10. The Legends

 

I haven't played Boone Valley or Norwood or any of the private clubs in St Charles or west.

 

Aberdeen is a very fun course to play. Very unique to St. Louis.

[StlEER]

I've always felt Tapawingo was overrated. The Meremac and and Woodlands have multiple holes that feel squeezed into the land. Annbriar and Gateway National are easily the two best public courses in the St. Louis area.

 

My love of Tapawingo is purely based on the enjoyment of playing the course. Every hole is different and I thoroughly enjoy playing there. I would agree that a few of the holes are a bit squeezed in.

 

Every single person I talk to says that Annbriar is the best St Louis public course. I like Annbriar, but I don't love Annbriar. The holes are well designed and offer a variety, but it is not a very good walking course (which I do 100% of the time). I also feel like 9 and 18 are identical holes to each other. This is not a slam on Annbriar, but I would rather play Gateway or Stonewolf.

 

Really have to disagree on Tapawingo. It is a horribly designed course(s) in my opinion. Too many holes just squeezed in with OB/Hazzard on both sides and fairways funneling balls that way. Every single tee shot on Woodlands ranges from draw bias to draw required. Don't get me started on the absurdity of Prairie #1 and Meramac is as forgettable as it gets. I play it because it's close and decent public courses are limited but I truly hate the course. Also, the yardages on the scorecard are significantly incorrect. If I was a straight ball hitter I would probably think differently but playing a (sometimes controlled and sometimes not controlled) cut it doesn't fit me.

 

9 & 18 identical at Annbriar? Yea the physical geography is similar due to running parallel. 9 is easily reachable with even an average tee shot and a tricky green. 18 is not possible to reach for 99.9% of golfers and requires a pretty strategic tee shot and layup with a fairly simple green. Can understand having issues with the course as a walker...man props to you for taking that on. It would be a b****.

[Morety]

I'm partial to Dalhousie. My favorite in St. Louis is Old Warson.

[stevepoz]

I have been at Greenbriar, so am partial to it. My top ones, other than my own:

StLCC

Old Warson

Bellerieve

Boone Valley

Westwood

Fox Run

Log Cabin/Bogey Club ( short but great condition, large variety of holes)