naisenrab

My thoughts going into Talamore was that it was going to be a “typical” resort course and really not pose any strategic decisions. I thought it would be more flash (the deep pot bunkers) and not as much substance. I was proven wrong very quickly. I started on the back 9 and let me tell you, that is a fun and excellent 9 holes of golf. Every tee shot gives you options, and the greens are intriguing in their slopes and angles. The bunkers are placed in perfect spots for the holes and really come into the decision making.
Since we played the front 9 second, I was already sold on the golf course when we played what I considered to be the weakest stretch of the course. Holes 1, 3, and to an extent 4 give you a very soft opening and not a whole lot of decision making. If I had started on this nine, I would have held to my “typical” resort feel for a bit longer. But that gradually starts to change, and by the 6th hole, the golf course really picks up again I think. 7-9 are a great closing stretch of solid par 4s, each with its own challenge and visual appeal.
The conditions of the course are excellent with very little else to be desired. Being nit picky, maybe a couple tee boxes weren’t cut low enough, and the occasional crab grass patch was found (these didn’t affect play at all and very few in number). Besides that, the fairways were perfect lies every time, the rough was fair, the greens true, and the bunkers perfect.
I really enjoyed my round at Talamore and had a lot of fun. I would have no hesitation playing it again. I suggest you play Talamore if you’re considering it. You will not be disappointed.

Tobacco Road has to be one of the most fun places to play in the country! It is so unique and captivating from the word go. What I believe is so hard to describe is how Strantz was able to make the blind shot not seem like a bad thing. There are quite a few of them throughout the course but instead of shaking your head and cursing the architect, there is this deep sense of excitement to see what’s over the hill! Hole 16 is the perfect example of his mastery of blind shots. The tee shot is completely blind, and you have to aim at a stove pipe up on a distant hill. Furthermore, you have to hit it over a hill and then keep it from running through the fairway. Sounds daunting, but once you’re on the tee, the use of sand and the shaping of the hills blocking your view is just so beautiful, I don’t think you can complain. Once you’ve hit to the fairway, then you make a sharp turn left up through an amphitheater of grass and sand to a green perched high above. Oh, and if you’re the bold type, from the tee you can simply go over the hills and a stand of trees and try to drive the green. It’s a fantastic hole...just like the other 17 holes on the property!
My only real criticisms of the experience are these:
First, the course could really use on upgrade on cart paths. Those a really bumpy in quite a few places. Use the sand soil to your advantage and have packed sand paths more often.
Second, for the blind shots, I think they need a better system than just ringing a bell. Some gps golf carts, fairway flags, or some periscopes would come in handy.
Thirdly, I hope that from time to time, some of the waste areas get a little more sand put in them...the ridge waste area on 15 was more rock than sand. For how much sand there is at this place, I’m sure it’s hard to keep up with it all the time.
Lastly, it was curious to find some crab grass patches around a few of the greens throughout the course. It wasn’t a bad problem by any means and won’t affect play, but for a place so popular as Tobacco Road, you just don’t expect to see that.
That’s it for criticisms, Tobacco Road is just awesome. I highly recommend you play here. Only word of advice is what I put in my Tot Hill Farm review, you need to play this course with the right mindset. Play to have FUN, MARVEL, EXPERIENCE, and DISCOVER! Do this, and you will have a great time at Tobacco Road!

Please read all of this...
This is golf you won’t see anywhere else! From the first tee on, there is just something unique on every hole to wow, impress, terrify, or inspire you. I’m not sure how Strantz found some of these holes but it had to be quite an undertaking. With all the rocks, hills, slopes, and wild turning golf surfaces, Tot Hill Farm must be a bear to maintain!!! From what I hear, this place has very little money coming in to help with that, so for what I’m assuming is an already taxed maintenance crew, they do an excellent job with what they have! Does that mean the fairways, greens, rough, and sand are top notch playing surfaces? No. The fairways are good but aren’t perfect, the greens run mostly pure but struggle from lack of sunlight in some spots and from heat in others. The rough sometimes varies from grass to weeds in places. The tee boxes are hit or miss: bare in some spots and just fine on the rest. It’s sad to see one of the 9 Strantz designs has changed slightly....a portion of the 13th green is not mowed anymore, and a couple bunkers gone on the 18th. Hopefully someday that back portion on 13 will be back, because I bet Strantz thought that was really cool. I’m not sure how much more money you’d need to get this property looking “perfect” (though it’s probably a lot), but as it stands, it stills plays just fine.
The coolest thing about this course is all of the exposed rock and how Strantz used it in his routing. You have to see it to believe it!
The best way to truly enjoy this place is to attack it with the right mindset. Play this course truly focusing on the EXPERIENCE, the ART, the JOY of DISCOVERY, and for FUN!!! Do this, and you will have plenty of birdie opportunities and will enjoy the overall experience, even if you hit a rock or two along the way.
As a golfer who loves architecture, and knowing that there are only 9 Strantz courses in the entire world, I strongly suggest you play Tot Hill Farm! The more people play this place, the more funds it will get, and the better experience down the line it will be. I hope this place always stays around and can get better year after year. It deserves to make it, so please, if you’re in the area, go play Tot Hill Farm!

Stone Canyon has so much potential. The greens are very challenging, some being crowned and others having severe slopes and tiers. Then the green surrounds are so impressive and very penal. Big chipping areas funnel balls down well below the greens and provide ample opportunity for a creative short game. You really need to miss on the correct spots on these greens.
The layout is another plus and something you won’t find anywhere else in Kansas City from my experience. The front nine is an especially solid loop. The back nine is nice as well but they didn’t have as many intricate greens on that side and there are a few design/set up issues I’m not sure I agree with. Last note on the layout, don’t expect to walk this course.
The reason the overall rating stays down on this course for me is the maintenance. First off, it’s all bent grass, and I just don’t think any course in Missouri should try to use bent grass. It’s just not the climate for it. That being said, they have good fairways for bent grass. Just have to avoid the many divots and the occasional burnt out patch. The tee boxes leave a person wanting with how chewed up and stressed they are. Then, the most neglected part of the course has to be the bunkers. I’m not sure when the last time those things were worked on but they were in dire need of some TLC. Two have been removed on the course, and it’s my experience that that seems to lead to more in the future. I hope not because it’s a well bunkered course and the bunkers themselves are intriguing.
A positive note for the maintenance is that the greens roll pure and true. They won’t be the fastest you play on but they are plenty fast enough with the slopes they have.
I hope this course can get on top of maintenance because it really is a great place to play.
I would suggest playing this course because it really has some interesting greens, a very good layout, a good value, and the maintenance is still good enough to have a good time.

Shoal Creek has a really nice layout that provides a great consistency in contrast. The first two holes gives you a little space of the tee and some birdie opportunities. The next 3 holes, 2 tough par 3s and a tight par 4, really ask the player for quality shots and course management. 6 and 7 are back to a lot of width and good chances for a birdie (par 4, 5 combo). Right back to the challenging par 4 8th, followed by the strategically demanding yet scoreable par 5 9th. 10 is back to giving the player some room off the tee and a chance at birdie. 11 is a really good downhill par three with a demanding green complex. Then there’s the short but devilish par 4 12th. Super good hole. Cannot go to sleep on this one because it’s short. Ball must be played to correct side of the fairway and approach must be accurate. The par 5 13th is right back to space and a good birdie opportunity. Then the quick turnaround again to the tight par 4 14th. 15 and 16 are both open par 4s, however the 15th is a longer hole with a lake and demanding green. 16 is a good birdie opportunity. Then 17 is a challenging downhill par 3, but hit this green and you could have a makeable putt as the green is one of the gentler ones on the course. The par 4 18th is a brute and quite the challenge. Make a par here and you’ve hit some good golf shots. I just feel this layout provides a great flow and variety. The other thing I really appreciate about this course are the greens. They roll very well and provide a great test from your approach to your short game.
The maintenance on the course is good but not 5 stars. The main problems being some worn/bare areas in the fairways, inconsistent bunkers, and spots of creeping Bermuda in and around the greens.
This is definitely a course worth playing, but come prepared because you will need your mind and your game to get around this place.

In my previous review about sand creek station played on the same date, I gave it a 4 star rating wishing I could give it a 4.5. Upon further reflection I felt that I should have rounded up instead of down. This is my possibly my favorite public course I’ve played in Kansas, and I feel like it deserves a 5 star over a 4 star. I apologize for my error in judgement on my previous review. You will not regret going to play here.

I’ll start this review off by saying it’s definitely a course I wish I could give 4.5 stars instead of just 4. Of the public courses I’ve played in Kansas, this is probably my favorite.
The reasons this review isn’t 5 stars are these. First, and this isn’t the golf courses fault really, is that the course gets a lot of play (good for the course) but being all bent grass, there is an abundance of divots in the fairways and many many pitch marks on the greens. Don’t be surprised if you’re in a divot or two in the fairway.
My least favorite hole on the course has to be hole 2. After what might be the hardest starting hole I know of while still being a good and fair hole, the second takes it a step further and rides the fence of being too much if not unfair. It’s a narrow fairway that rejects shots on the edges in most places. The lay up short of the creek has to be played behind the 150 stake since the fairway runs out at 145. This is not fair for players who cannot hit the ball far enough because their next shot will have to come over the famous tree next to the green, and that won’t do for the slower swing speeds. My last real complaint is on hole 10, the out of bounds stakes left on the second shot. That hole is already a “beast” into the wind with water on every shot. There is no need for those out of bounds stakes, especially as close as they are to an already tightish Landing area. In my opinion, out of bounds stakes when not dealing with houses is the cheapest way to make a golf hole hard and should not be used. Make the left side a hazard of 10 a hazard (penalty area).
Now for the good stuff! First, green speeds are always about perfect in my book. Pretty fast but the golfer can still be aggressive on most putts. The tee boxes while pretty well chewed up on the par threes are level and mowed to perfection (fairways same way). I’m sure the sand would be better but due to the times, I’m assuming they haven’t been getting as much attention as usual.
The golf really starts getting good on hole 3, maybe the best par 3 on the course. Hole 4 is my personal favorite, a stout par 5 that can still be reached in two with the right lines and two good shots. The fairway slopes, bunkering, and green complex makes for an intriguing hole and provides one of a few opportunities to attempt the ground game. The fairway bunkers on the right seemed to have the most neglect on the course and I’m really really hoping they don’t let those go. That would leave just bunkers on the left which would make the hole imbalanced and lessen the strategy on the second shot. Hole 5 and 6 are good par 4s. 7 is a neat long par three with a knoll that provides a blind shot (maybe not everyone’s thing). 8 is a great long par 4 followed by another good shortish par 4 on 9. 10 is a good hole regardless of those stupid white stakes. 11 is a great shorter par four where you need to take into account the yardage to the pinch point and make a strategy from there. 12 is a really cool hole with a blind left side of the green. The hill guarding the left side has a fairway slot that will funnel balls hit just over the crest running down onto the green. Can be very useful if your tee shot winds up less than perfect. 13 is a challenging redan par 3, followed by a decent longish par 4. 15 provides an different form of risk by asking the player to either lay up short of the mound of bunkers in the fairway (leaving a blind to semi blind approach) or drive it over them into the narrower part of the fairway, leaving a simple wedge or pitch. 16 is inspired by the road hole at St Andrews and is another one of my favorites on the course. You can easily see the resemblance and inspiration of the road hole on 16, and yet it still has its own flare (being a par five and the green providing more pin options). 17 is something different with a bunker cutting into the green, creating a slight boomerang shape to the front. Be extra mindful of club selection and target on this neat par 3. 18 is a solid finisher par 4 through a good stadium like shoot.
You will enjoy your round at Sand Creek Station. I would suggest making it a priority public golf experience in Kansas.

Ozarks National has been well written about already, so I’ll try not to spit out everything you might have already heard, even though I will try to defend a few parts of the golf course that have drawn some criticism. The best compliment I can give the golf course myself is it is a course that you can play differently every time you play it, I don’t think you can ever be bored here. The options of play (especially along the ground) are endless and you can really be creative around the property! I love that. For being such a big property and a “mountain” course, it is very walkable. The overall look of the course is different than the other courses at big cedar. ON truly looks like a place that could host a US Open.
The true gems on the course are holes 4, 8, 9, 10-13, 17, and 18. The other holes are very good as well but these are standout holes in my opinion.
To defend a few critiques on the course, I’ll start with the 7th hole. Many people have a complaint that it isn’t long enough to be a par 5, and so therefore they think it is a bad hole. As a par 5, maybe they are right. But take out the “par” and just look at the hole and the shots it requires to accurately hold that green in two shots, and it is a good hole. The green is in a beautiful setting and is very interesting to play around. Take the hole for what it is and forget the par, I think it is a good hole that way. Next up is hole 15. It’s a blind tee shot on a short hole with a green that isn’t to challenging. The green is probably the most disappointing part of the hole. However, with the land they had to work with on that hole, I actually quite enjoy it. The necklace of bunkers was the only way to make that tee shot interesting without blowing out the hill. Then the bunkers further up the fairway, combined with the slope to the left pinching in actually make you have to think a little off the tee. I think it’s as good of a hole as they could have made in that spot overall. Finally, 17 green gets some flack for not being interesting enough. I find the green to have some subtleties that keep it interesting. Furthermore, when the wind gets up, 17 is interesting enough as is. It’s a pretty hole.
My criticisms of the course are these. The par 5 first hole could really stand for some extra length (as well as 7...for it to be truly a par 5). Then, on holes 14 and 15, I believe the slopes kicking shots off the fairways to the left are a little too punishing and severe. Finally, for such a long and challenging hole, the 16th green seems to be a little small in my opinion.
The pricing of the course I don’t think makes it a great value because I’m not on board with any golf course being around $200 to play....like Buffalo ridge, it is not family friendly to play, even though they try to make it out to be, 5 people playing at $195 is going to be $1000. That’s rough. But, it is an amazing place to play and one worth playing many times. So that does make it a good value I guess.
I truly love this golf course for all its options and intricacies. Play it, and play it again. Keep an open mind when playing and you’ll find this golf course to be very exciting and worthy of all the praise it has received.

I was personally not as impressed with Colbert Hills as some people make it out to be. They obviously went for the high wow factor with all of their steep downhill holes. Kind of hard not to have a lot of elevation changes on that property. But the layout is almost only big drop tee shots to firm fairways, in Kansas wind conditions. Unless you’re a golfer who can control his ball perfectly, big downhill holes like these...especially in windy conditions...only leads to a lot of ball searching and head scratching. Would have been nice to see a few more uphill holes and ridge top holes. Furthermore, there were a couple holes that they didn’t seem to take notice on how the fairways were sloped, these being holes 1 and 9. I hit a bullet 2 iron down the extreme right side of 1 and may ball hardly stayed in the left side of the fairway. Same thing happens on hole 9. Both fairways were fairly narrow for this course and it seemed they neglected to level them out a little.
During the time of my round, the COVID-19 events were going on, so maybe that meant maintenance could not be as diligent on the course. I’m going to give them the benefit of the doubt and say that the course conditions are normally a little better. When I played, many bunkers were unraked and growing lots of grass inside them. The greens were fairly slow, and many had been scalped from some mowing attempts to widen them I guess. The fairways had a lot of stressed or dead spots. Some of the tee boxes had tail weeds on them.
You just don’t expect that from a course as well spoken of as Colbert Hills. Again, maybe it was due to the times.
All that being said, still some positives that make this course worth playing. The green settings are generally in really nice spots and have some interesting features. A few holes of note that I particularly liked were the par 4 third, a really pretty hole with a good approach over a creek to a well bunkered and shaped green. The par 4 6th is a rare uphill hole that has a well bunkered and situated green. The par 5 tenth is a pretty hole and provides some good thought provoking. Then the best holes in my opinion are the par 4 15th and par 5 16th. That’s a really good duo of holes that fit seamlessly into the land they occupy.
Overall, I’m happy I got to experience this golf course, and I would suggest you to play it if you’re in the area. However, due to the nature of the layout, and the conditions of the course (at this time) I would not call it the best public golf course in Kansas.

I’ve played Tanglewood a bunch of times and it has never disappointed me with its course conditions. Even though today, as the greens were still recovering from aerification and they had fixed a few drainage issues it seemed around some greens, the grasses in the fairways, greens, and rough were all super healthy and perfectly playable. When the greens completely heal, they’ll be back to their pristine condition that I have come to know and love. Only knock on conditions I’d ever give this course is the type of sand they use in their bunkers (it’s the gravely kind). That being said, their bunkers are still always well maintained and if you’re not hesitant to play from the more grainy sand, then very playable as well. You just don’t have to worry about conditions here.
Furthermore, the value is tremendous. Couple excellent conditions with a very nice layout at around $30-40 and you have one of, if not the best value for golf in the state. I wish I could give it a 4.5 star rating as 4 stars just doesn’t seem right. My idea of a 5 star course is very high so I couldn’t give that here. But 4 stars seems low.
The layout of the course has a lot of high points. It has a great set of par 3s...and very challenging ones at that. The par 5 second hole has always been one of my favorites, though it’s one that’s probably learned through multiple rounds. The par 4 fourth is a great test of golf due to its demanding tee shot and great green. The Par 4 ninth is a fun hole that has a few neat features...don’t lose focus on this green, it’s a doozy. The par 4 11th is a nice little hole and gives a few options of the tee (inside there’s a plaque for a hole in one on this hole, but I wouldn’t recommend that play haha). The par four 14th is another great par 4. Many people will remember the par 5 17th with its peninsula green as a good hole, and I would agree. I love this hole more for the mounding behind the green and its risk reward nature than for the water features alone.
If you’re in the area or plan on driving through the area, take the time to go play Tanglewood. You will not be disappointed and you’ll more than likely have a very fun day on the course!

Indian Foothills is a golf course that started as an old nine hole golf course with push up greens, that then added a modern back nine. Both nines are short, with quite a few drivable par fours for the longer hitters. The original front nine actually has some pretty cute little holes that can be appreciated for their routes through the trees and for the ground contours on a few (3rd hole in particular). The back nine is wide open with no trees but it does have good mounding and more bunkers. Sadly, the bunkers are in desperate need of maintenance. The rest of the course is maintained to a level one might expect from a small town 18 hole course, fairly average. Some quality holes include the 1st-3rd, 5th, 12th, 14th, 16-18.
In the end, I thought it was a fun recreational round, but nothing special. I’d recommend keeping it in your back pocket as an option to go play if you’re near the area, especially if you’re looking for an enjoyable and not stressful round for a good price.

Winterstone is a great value, fun track, and surprisingly a decent challenge (given a little wind and it could be a good challenge) You will not regret making a trip to play winterstone. I played it after the course received significant rain and the grass was still dormant. The fairways looked like they will be great playing surfaces in the spring and summer, as well as the greens. The rough is consistent. All in all, the playing surfaces were and will be very good for play.
The layout has a lot of cool holes. The par 3s are solid holes and vary in length well. The par fives all provide good risk reward options. There are a lot of good par 4s. My only complaint about the layout involves the par 4s. Due to land limits I’m sure, the par fours are pretty short. There are only a few over 400 yards, so for the better golfer, those holes don’t provide as much of a challenge.
Final notes on the layout, make sure you got a good fairway finder shot. Those fairways are really tight in a few spots, so be ready for that. Lastly, while it is a nice place, it is very hilly so I wouldn’t expect it to be a walking course.
In conclusion, Winterstone is a great value and a really good track to play. Well worth playing multiple times. If you haven’t been there, I would suggest making a trip. You’ll enjoy it.

Adams Pointe was not exactly what I was expecting. Way more elevation change than I thought would be on the course. The overall layout was well done with a lot of good solid holes. A few that were not my favorite kind of holes, but that’s not necessarily bad.
The greens were very nice, especially for early March. They were smooth, fast, and interesting to putt on.
Since it was early March, the conditions should be taken with a grain of salt. However, since the fairways are bent grass, I would assume that they would struggle in the hot Missouri summers.
All in all, I believe it is a good fun golf course. If you’re in the area and want to have a fun time and make a few birdies, Adams point is a good place to go.

The golf course at Creekmoor is a huge ball park that is well worth the 90+ rate to play at least once. The layout is really well done with a few really cool holes. The bunkering is different than a lot of courses you play but really fair. The fairways are very generous. However, the course gets hard starting on the approach. The greens can be very tricky to hit with the high winds around this property. Also, many of the greens have steep tiers (some of which are maybe a hair excessive) that can be very hard to get on and hold. Making all of this worse is the fact that Creekmoor has some almost US Open caliber rough. The stuff is thick, nasty, and can give some real cruddy lies. Your short game skills will be tested.
The green speeds out here are normally around a 10 which doesn’t seem to be great. However with these greens, having them smooth and at a 10 is good enough for a fun experience.
If I were to give any knocks on the course, they would be this. First, I do feel the tiers are a tad excessive in some places (the tier on 8 being almost unfair considering you can’t see the putting surface to start with). Lastly, while not the golf course’s fault, the big houses lining most holes isn’t my idea of a pretty view. However, the houses are far enough off the holes that they don’t influence play. If you can get past looking at the houses, you will like what you see in the golf course.

I think I enjoy what Johnny Morris has done to Buffalo Ridge more every time I play it. Unfortunately I come to expect more from this place as well. For a place that is trying to be top notch, and for the price you have to pay to play here (it’s not family friendly in pricing) there are a few things you don’t expect to see. First, you don’t expect to see lots of poa annua creeping into the nice bent grass greens. That seems to be a problem with a lot of Missouri courses lately...and that’s not a good thing in my opinion. Secondly, you don’t expect to see weeds growing in the sand of quite a few bunkers. Listen, I understand it’s been raining a lot here recently, and there has been nonstop activity for Big Cedars maintenance crews, especially preparing for The Legends of Golf, but removing weeds from bunkers is basic and simple stuff. Again, it’s not something you expect or like to see from a place this expensive and billed as this amazing. Lastly, there were a few spots where creeping Bermuda was getting into the fairways. That has to be stopped because I have witnessed how that stuff takes over zoysia fairways!
Outside of that, I had no problem with the fairways being uncut in certain areas and the greens being a little slow. It has rained a lot here and they probably couldn’t get the mowers everywhere they needed too or at the lowest heighth that they like.
Listen, this course has got a great layout, and some absolutely stunning holes! It brings you into contact with nature and some beautiful scenery. This isn’t a course for minimalists , because there is a lot of landscaping and nature enhancements going on. However I think anyone can appreciate just how much effort has been put into this place to make it over the top and beautiful! I fully recommend playing this course! I just hope they can start putting their best effort back into getting this course in its best possible appearance.

Eagles Landing is one of those golf courses that doesn’t appear to be much until you get out on it and realize it’s pretty fun to play. Furthermore, it might be easy to think of it as not much of a challenge looking at it based on scorecard or maps. However, after playing it, I can say the course has just enough teeth to make your round fun while still having that little bit of challenge to keep you interested.
Some positives for the golf course are it’s firm and well shaped greens. They can be a little tricky to get close to the pin at times. The layout is another positive, the front nine especially has some cool little holes. 18 is one of the tougher finishing holes you’ll find. The bunkering on the course is also a positive. Lots and lots of sand, you’ll be lucky if you stay out of the sand all day.
The negatives are really what keep my overall rating down on this course. First, while the tee boxes are zosyia, they are a little fury and there are a few that aren’t level. The worst thing about the course though is it’s fairways. There is plenty of grass in them, but also multiple kinds. I think they intended them to be bent at one point in time but now they are a mixture of bent, other grasses, and weeds. All maintained at a height that is just a little to high to be called fairway height.
Don’t let the negatives keep you from experiencing Eagles Landing at least once. I thought it was fun and a good value.

I have been a member if the University's golf team that plays on this course since 2015. Let me say, if you are in the area, you should play Mules National. It won’t cost you more than 10-20 dollars and you’ll be playing a fun and surprisingly challenging golf course. Don’t let the yardage fool you, as this course has six tough par threes that make the course play much longer than it’s actual yardage.
Furthermore, once you play this course, you’ll realize that they got the most out of the property the course has. Trust me on this one, you won’t be disappointed playing this course because of the great value you get!
As any golfer, you’ll want to know about the greens. The greens get a lot of play, so the pitch marks can be a problem. The green speeds are kept around a 9-10 I would say, but this is not a knock on them. There are such dramatic slopes to these greens in places, they can’t be much faster. Overall, I have appreciated the speed and smoothness of these greens.
To be realistic, there are a few things that this course struggles with. First, if you’re a player who likes tight tee boxes, you won’t like these tees. They are kept higher for some reason that I have never understood.
My biggest problem I have with this course is that ever since it was redesigned with the zoysia fairways, more and more creeping Bermuda has entered into the fairways and tees. Apparently it’s hard to kill Bermuda and not kill the zoysia, but it’s a shame to see the patches of Bermuda in the otherwise good zoysia fairways.
Other than that, I really think you’ll enjoy playing this fun track.

I have played this golf course on multiple occasions. Seems like I always play it when the grass is dormant but guess that’s my fault. Big Creek is a golf course that is worth playing multiple times, it is that good. The course isn’t much different from the first time I played it, only difference being is that they decided to change their bunkers just a little as well as get rid of a select few of them. Outside of that, seems like this course never changes and that’s a great thing, because it is a great place to play. I believe the course’s biggest strength is it’s wide variety of holes it offers! The par threes are all different in length, the par fives are solid and offer a couple of risk reward opportunities, but the par fours are fantastic! The par fours range from drivable holes like numbers 3 and 16, to absolute brutes in the likes of 7 and 18. Inbetween those are very thoughtful holes with all sorts of options you can take.
As far as conditioning, I can’t really speak for the summer months but the last two times I have played it (late November and mid March), it has been in very acceptable shape. The grass hasn’t had time to grow so there are quite a few sod patches around the lips of the bunkers that are basically ground under repair. The fairways were in great shape, the rough was easily playable, and the greens were a very good speed considering the time of year. They do seem to have added new collars around a few of their greens and those will also need some time to grow in. Overall, a very well maintained course, especially in the dormant season.
This public golf course is a must play in Arkansas, so if you’re ever going through or near Mountain Home, take the time and play Big Creek!

Annbriar Golf Course is a nice track to play. The front nine is very solid and easily walkable. The back nine has some exciting holes but walking it is not recommended. The 18 is definitely memorable and worth coming back to play.
The maintenance of the course on this date was fair but not to the high standards that previous reviews made me expect. The fairways and tee boxes were fairly shaggy, as well as the greens. It was obvious that the summer heat had taken its toll a little bit but there’s nothing you can do about that. The bunkers had plenty of sand but hadn’t been worked that day by maintenance and players also failed to take them after play. Even with these things, the course played well and was fair.
I’m not sure if this is the best public course in the St. Louis area, but it is definitely worth playing.

The Bridges at Hollywood Casino is a golf course with a lot of potential. The layout is great, especially the par threes! The course is a very stern test of golf and you will need your best game to score well. If this course was in top shape, it could easily be one of the best in the area if not the state.
Unfortunately, the course seemed to have suffered from some heavy rain and neglect. The rain damage is understandable since the weather is uncontrollable. But the weeds creeping into the greens, some dead spots in small areas of the greens, the total neglect of some tee boxes, and lack of sand/maintenance in most bunkers was a let down. I am no business guru but seeing as this is a casino course, one would think funds would be easily available for the upkeep of this course. It’s a shame to see a terrific Arnold Palmer layout not live up to its potential.
So if you’re wanting to play on a course that is in top shape, this isn’t the place. However if you want to be challenged and play a fantastic layout, then you might just want to give The Bridges a try.