Going for the Greens Kansas City is blessed with an abundance of well-manicured and challenging public and private golf courses to enjoy.

In Kansas City, the golf course is about much more than the game of golf. It’s a casual ground for talking business; a place for family and friends to relax and unwind on the weekends; and a quiet, peaceful escape on a sunny Saturday afternoon. That is why it’s not unusual to find many Kansas Citians, of all ages and skill levels, out on the greens. You, too, can play on one of the area’s challenging, innovative courses. Here’s your guide to Kansas City’s greens.

Kansas Public Courses

Deer Creek Golf Club. 133rd and Metcalf, Overland Park. This Robert Trent Jones Jr.-designed course meanders through 162 acres of rolling terrain with plenty of mature trees, sand and water. Two signature holes __ the number three and number 15 __ play around a creek. 913/681-3100 or
www.deercreekgc.com

Dub’s Dread Golf Club. 12601 Hollingsworth Road, Kansas City. Dub’s Dread is known for its natural layout, majestic trees lining each fairway, a series of lakes winding through the course and exceptionally large undulating greens. 913/721-1333 or www.dubsdreadgolfclub.com

Falcon Lakes Golf Course. 4605 Clubhouse Drive, Basehor. Designed by Carter Morrish, Falcon Lakes is the newest premiere public course in Kansas City. A championship layout, this golf course presents strategically placed mogals, manicured zoysia fairways and bentgrass greens for golfers of all skill levels. 913/724-4653 or www.falconlakesgolf.com

Falcon Ridge Golf Course. 20200 E. Prairie Star Pkwy., Lenexa. Designed by well-known architect Craig Schreiner, this course opened in June 1997 and is one of the area’s favorite courses. There are four lakes and numerous bunkers lining the greens. 913/393-4653 or www.falconridgegolf.com.

Falcon Valley Golf Course. 9801 Falcon Valley Drive, Lenexa. This course was also designed by Craig Schreiner but opened later in 2002. Falcon Valley is the only championship-length, nine-hole golf course in the Kansas City area. 913/780-5976 or www.falconvalleygolf.com

Heritage Park Golf Course. 16445 Lackman Road, Olathe. This 18-hole course, designed by Don Sechrest, has proven its level of difficulty by being used for U.S. Open qualifying. 913/829-4653 or www.jcprd.com

Ironhorse Golf Club. 15400 Mission Road, Leawood. Designed around a creek, 15 of the 18 holes are affected by water. Among the zoysia fairways are plenty of mature trees, rolling hills and a lot of bunkers. 913/685-4653 or www.ironhorsegolf.com.

Oak Country Golf Course. 8800 Scott Drive, DeSoto. Oak Country is a short, tight course that is a fun round for all skill levels, featuring an island green on the 18th hole. 913/583-3503 or www.oakcountrygolfcourse.com

Overland Park Golf Course. 12501 Quivira, Overland Park. Anywhere from 115,000 and 125,000 rounds of golf are played on this course per year. With 42 sand bunkers on 13 holes and three lakes affecting five holes, every hole is a challenge. 913/897-3809 or www.opkansas.org.

Painted Hills Golf Course. 7101 Parallel Pkwy., Kansas City. Painted Hills is an 18-hole, par-70 golf course featuring gently rolling, tree-lined fairways and beautifully contoured bentgrass greens. 913/334-1111 or www.paintedhillsgolfcourse.com.

Prairie Highlands Golf Course. 14695 S. Inverness St., Olathe. Prairie Highlands, located among cascading hillsides punctuated by natural long-standing trees, is noted for its good-sized greens and subtle undulations; it’s also described as a walkable course. 913/856-7235 or www.prairiehighlands.com.

St. Andrews Golf Course. 11099 W. 135th St., Overland Park. The front and back nines of this 1966 course have distinctive characteristics: The front features wide fairways with water coming into play on five of nine holes, and the back nine features several doglegs, well-placed bunkers and tight fairways. The course received a new clubhouse and redesign of the back nine in 1997. 913/897-3804 or www.standrewsopgolf.com.

Sunflower Hills Golf Course. 122nd and Riverview Road, Bonner Springs. Located by Sandstone Amphitheater, Sunflower Hills gives players everything from lengthy fairways and water to lots of bunkers. 913/573-8570 or www.wycokck.org

Sycamore Ridge Golf Course. 21731 Clubhouse Drive, Spring Hill. This upscale championship course, which opened in August 2000, offers two nines that are as different as night and day. It has been rated Kansas City’s No. 1 public course in Kansas by Golf Digest three years in a row. 913/592-5292 or www.sycamoreridgegolf.com.

Tomahawk Hills Golf Course. 17501 Midland Drive, Shawnee. Established in 1910, nearly every hole requires pinpoint accuracy, especially on two holes that play over a cliff. 913/631-8000 or www.jcprd.com

Kansas Private Courses

Brookridge Golf & Country Club. 8223 W. 103rd St., Overland Park. Brookridge Golf & Country Club has 27 holes of golf, a championship 18-hole course at the main clubhouse and a 9-hole course across Antioch at Brookridge West. Established in 1960, the club includes a full-service clubhouse, pro shop, Men’s Club, Ladies Association, dining room, meeting rooms, catering, banquet facilities, junior golf program, and a competitive swim and dive team. Full golf memberships, corporate membership and junior (under age 35) memberships are available. 913/648-1600 or www.brookridgecc.net.

Hallbrook Country Club. 11200 Overbrook Road, Leawood. Established in 1988, the Hallbrook Country Club features a 6,886-yard golf course, along with tennis courts, a restaurant and a swimming pool for the whole family. The club has approximately 400 members. Membership by invitation only. 913/345-9292 or www.hallbrookcc.org.

Indian Hills Country Club. 6847 Tomahawk Road, Mission Hills. A reconstruction project finished in 1999, including the installation of new irrigation, drainage systems and cart paths, and reworking of the bunkers, has updated this older course. The club is home to approximately 600 members. 913/362-6200 or www.indianhillscc.org.

Lake Quivira & Country Club. 100 Crescent Blvd., Lake Quivira. Established in 1931, the club has approximately 550 members. Golf-related amenities include a course length of 6,250 yards that is par 70 for men and par 72 for women. 913/631-7577 or www.quiviralake.com

Leawood South Country Club. 12700 Overbrook Road, Leawood. The Leawood South Country Club, established in 1969, now has approximately 420 members. The golf course spans 6,645 yards and is only one of the amenities at this family-oriented country club. The club also has tennis courts and
a swimming pool. 913/491-3888 or www.leawoodsouthoc.com

Meadowbrook Country Club. 9101 Nall Ave., Prairie Village. Meadowbrook Country Club, established in 1954, has approximately 500 members and a course length of 6,529 yards. 913/642-4640 or
www.meadowbrookcc.org

Metcalf Ridge Golf Club. 6302 W. 295th St., Louisburg. The Club of the Country, designed by Leon Andrews in 1981, is nestled in the rolling hills and walnut groves of northern Miami County, 30 minutes south of the metropolitan area. Natural elements, including native grasses, wildlife areas, a creek and several lakes, help provide an enjoyable, challenging round of golf. 913/837-5476

Milburn Country Club. 7501 W. 69th St., Overland Park. One of the most eye-catching features of Milburn Country Club is the 6,785-yard golf course. The club, which was established in 1917, now has approximately 450 members. 913/432-0490 or www.milburn.org.

Mission Hills Country Club. 5400 Mission Drive, Mission Hills. Among the various amenities at Mission Hills Country Club is a pool accessible to the entire family and a 6,309-yard golf course. Since the club’s establishment in 1914, it has grown to approximately 500 members. 913/722-5400 or
www.missionhillscc.com

Nicklaus Golf Club at LionsGate. 14225 Dearborn Ave., Overland Park. This natural, classic Nicklaus-designed golf course, part of the Links at LionsGate development, is a championship 18-hole course accompanied by a 21,000-square-foot clubhouse that includes full men’s and women’s locker rooms, golf pro shop, fine dining, grill rooms and a swimming pool. 913/402-1000 or www.linksatlionsgate.com.

Shadow Glen Golf Club. 26000 Shadow Glen Drive, Olathe. Shadow Glen Golf Club, located in the Cedar Creek development, was designed by Jay Morrish, Tom Weiskopf and Tom Watson. The 18-hole, nationally recognized championship course and the luxurious clubhouse offer the finest in membership amenities. 913/764-2299 or www.cedarcreek-kc.com.

Missouri Public Courses

Adams Pointe Golf Club. 1601 R.D. Mize Road, Blue Springs. Opened in spring 1998, this is a championship course designed by Don Sechrest. The challenging front nine is skillfully carved out of the forest and wetland areas with a creek running through all nine holes. The scenic back nine features championship links-style golf with dramatic changes in elevation and ponds that come into play on five holes. 816/220-3673 or www.adamspointegolfclub.com.

Bent Oak Golf Club. 1300 SE 30th St., Oak Grove. Four sets of tees stretch out to well over 6,500 yards. This championship course has three Pebble Beach-type holes. There are water hazards that come into play on 12 holes. 816/690-3038 or www.bentoakgolfclub.com.

Country Creek Golf Course. 21601 E. State Route P, Pleasant Hill. Country Creek offers two 18-hole courses: The Quarry (par 71), which has a large lake in its middle that comes into play on a few holes, and The Rock (par 72), which has trees to block the wind from interfering with shots, a good challenge for any golfer. 816/540-5225 or. www.countrycreekgolf.com

Drumm Farm Golf Club. 15400 E. 34th St., Independence. Opened in June 2002, Drumm Farm Golf Club offers an exciting par-72, 18-hole championship layout and a nine-hole executive course, both designed by renowned architect Dr. Michael Hurdzan. Drumm Farm features zoysia fairways, meandering creeks and well-guarded bentgrass greens. 816/350-9900 or www.drummfarmgolfclub.com.

Eagle’s Landing Golf Course of Belton. 4200 Bong Ave., Belton. Water shows up on many holes, but there are no impossibly long water carries. Perhaps the most interesting feature of the course is the number of pot bunkers that are often deep enough to force a sideway or backward shot just to escape. 816/318-0004 or www.eagleslandinggolfcourse.com.

Fred Arbanas Golf Course at Longview Lake. 11100 View High Drive, Kansas City. The facility boasts an 18-hole, Scottish Links championship course that began a makeover in June 2008. A nine-hole, par-3 executive course and driving range will be open during the renovation. 816/761-9445 or www.jacksongov.org

Hodge Park Golf Course. 7000 NE Barry Road, Kansas City. This 18-hole, par-71 course meanders around gently rolling hills and has an array of scenic views of natural prairie grasses, woodlands, lakes, streams, ponds and myriad wildlife. The course is a favorite among walkers. 816/781-4152 www.hodgeparkgolf.com.

Paradise Pointe Golf Course. Smithville Lake, Smithville. Paradise Pointe Golf Course offers two 18-hole golf courses with different characteristics: Outlaw, which is characterized by tall, native grass roughs; and Posse, which plays along the shores of Smithville Lake. 816/532-4100 or www.paradisepointe.com.

River Oaks Golf Club. 14204 St. Andrews Drive, Grandview. River Oaks, a fairly short 18-hole course, is highlighted by rolling fairways and challenging approach shots to smallish greens. This facility has seen many course improvements and clubhouse renovations. 816/966-8111 www.lpccgolf.com

Rockwood Golf Club. 2400 Maywood Road, Independence. This course’s terrain varies between flat to hilly, so expect a variety of lies in the fairways. Water hazards come into play on six of 18 holes. 816/252-2002 or www.rockwoodgolfclub.com.

Royal Meadows Golf Course. 10501 E. 47th St., Kansas City. This par-70 course has been totally rebuilt from the ground up, now featuring large, undulating greens, contoured, bentgrass fairways, zoysia tees and continuous paved cart paths, plus three new lakes. 816/353-1323 or www.royalmeadowsgc.com.

Shamrock Hills Golf Course. 3160 S. 291 Hwy., Lee’s Summit. This 18-hole course was built in 1959 on mostly flat terrain, but there are a few mounds that can cause uneven lies. The fairways are tree-lined, and the greens are soft enough to hold your shots but difficult to read. 816/537-6556

Shoal Creek Golf Course. 8905 Shoal Creek Pkwy., Kansas City. This course comes highly ranked by numerous sources. Players of varying skill levels will enjoy breathtaking elevation changes and expansive landing areas on picturesque terrain. Golf carts feature Global Positioning Systems (GPS). 816/407-7242 or www.shoalcreekgolf.com

Swope Memorial Golf Course. 6900 Swope Memorial Drive, Kansas City. This course was built by A.W. Tillinghast in 1934. It’s a shorter course with lots of undulations and two of the city’s toughest holes. 816/513-8910 or www.swopememorialgolfcourse.com

WinterStone Golf Course. 17101 E. Kentucky Road, Independence. Designed in 2003 by Craig Schreiner, this course features dramatic elevation changes and scenery reminiscent of the Ozarks. The natural beauty of the site has been enhanced by design to enable players of all skill levels to experience and enjoy it. Annual memberships and driving range are available. 816/257-5755 or www.winterstonegolf.com.

Missouri Private Courses

Country Club of Blue Springs. 1600 NW Circle Drive, Blue Springs. The Country Club of Blue Springs, established in 1968, is home to approximately 375 members, a 6,537-yard golf course and various family and sports-related amenities. 816/229-8103

Hillcrest Country Club. 8200 Hillcrest Road, Kansas City. One of Kansas City’s oldest, Hillcrest Country Club’s beautiful championship course offers challenging play in a nonresidential setting of rolling hills, mature trees and lush turf. The club, established in 1915, services
approximately 650 members. 816/523-8601 or www.hillcrestkc.com.

Lakewood Oaks Golf Club. 651 NE St. Andrews Circle, Lee’s Summit. Established in 1979, the Lakewood Oaks Golf Club features a 6,295-yard golf course and is home to approximately 410 members. 816/373-2505 or www.logc.org

Loch Lloyd Country Club. 16750 Country Club Drive, Village of Loch Lloyd. Established in 1990, the club has approximately 395 members, and the 18-hole course is blessed with waterfalls, lakes and crystal clear flowing streams. 816/322-1022 or www.lochlloyd.com.

The National Golf Club of Kansas City. 6700 N. National, Parkville. Members of The National Golf Club of Kansas City willhave the distinction of playing legendary Kansas City golfer Tom Watson’s first signature golf course. Wide, sculpted fairways offer views of the golf course, water and 100-year-old sycamores. Another 18-hole golf course, The Deuce at The National, was designed by Tom Watson’s design team, offering its own sports bar-themed clubhouse. 816/746-0200, 816/587-4663 or www.thenationalgolfclub.com.

Staley Farms Golf Club. 10310 N. Olive Ave., Kansas City. Staley Farms Golf Club offers its members a 7,004-yard, par-72 course that is a throwback to the golden age of golf course architecture. Its design was inspired by the work of the pre-eminent architects of that period who used every possible feature of the land to produce naturally strategic golf holes. 816/734-3839 or www.staleyfarmsgolfclub.com.