Written By: Brenden Leis | @b_leis7
When you think of Kansas City you don't necessarily think of it as a "Hot Spot" for golf, rather you think corn, fields, flat, etc. Wrong! Although it's no Florida, Arizona, or California it is filled with a lot of great golf courses. The great part about Kansas City golf courses is you can always play a different style depending on which part of the city you’re in. Ranging from flat links style course to traditional style layouts KC really has every type of course a golfer could want.
While it's a tough task, here's my list of the Top 5 Kansas City golf courses. (Note: The courses listed below are those which the average golfer can access on a regular basis). The KC City Tour will visit three of these courses this summer if you are looking for the opportunity to get out and play.
1) Shoal Creek
Ranked as one of the top public golf courses in the area and sporting a great, challenging layout Shoal Creek comes in at the rope spot because it literally has everything from GPS in the carts to full practice facility. Shoal offers everything a golfer could possibly want and if you’re feeling frisky the tough layout can setup at 7,000 plus yards.
2) Tiffany Greens
Located about 5 miles south of the airport Tiffany Greens features a very unique layout, the first hole is arguably the toughest starting hole in the area. When you step up onto the first tee you always want to look out at see nothing but green grass in front of you, however that is not the case at Tiffany. The first hole is just a tune up for the 17 other tests the follow.
3) Adams Pointe
Built on an old dairy farm, Adams Pointe was a course I discovered toward the end of the summer and was one I instantly liked from the get go. Not only does this course offer a driving range, putting green, and chipping area but I also has a stocked clubhouse and fantastic layout. The front nine is fairly flat and tight playing like a good ole traditional course, but then you make the turn and the back nine has rolling hills and loads of blind shots which makes the inward nine extremely challenging especially on a windy day.
4) Swope Memorial
Nestled in the heart of Swope Park sits this beautiful par 72 layout. Offering tight fairways and rolling hills Swope is a must play if you are in the Kansas City area. Not only do you get to enjoy a day on the links but you also feel like you time traveled back to the 1940s playing this short, tough old school layout. Golf isn't the only experience you will get while at Swope Memorial, you'll also get a breath taking view of the city from the 17th fairway and on occasion you can hear a lion’s roar or screams from the monkeys at the zoo which just minutes away from the golf course.
Golf Tournaments in KC this Summer
5) Drumm Farm
Built on an old piece of farmland sits this links style course. At Drumm you will endure every task a golf course could possibly offer you, although it is setup more like a links course you will still have to place shots around hills, trees, creeks, ponds, bunkers, and fescue. This course produces a challenge unlike most in the area and can be stretched out to 7,000 plus yards. Also if you don't have time to get 18 in they offer a 9 hole executive course or if you'd rather workout instead of golf they have a full gym on site.
If you're looking for a way to play these golf tournaments with people your own age, try the Nextgengolf City Tour coming to Kansas City. There will be four golf tournaments this summer on Sunday afternoons. Learn more about the summer events.
