Lake Thunderhead Golf Course
My Review
I would not take Lake Thunderhead Golf Course in Unionville, MO as a serious course. The course is more of an afterthought for a very nice lake community. This course was more than likely built to have another activity for residents. Here’s my rationale: 1) Sand greens, 2) Very little maintenance is done on the course and 3) #9 green is right next to a kids playground and tennis courts. So, I’m not going to spend a lot of time providing a real assessment. If I am wrong please let me know.
Birch Creek Golf Club
My Review
Birch Creek Golf Club, in Union, Missouri, isn’t quite a hidden gem, exactly, but it is tricky to find and it does provide a thoroughly pleasant golf experience. Call it a hidden cubic zirconium.
For St. Louis golfers looking for something different, Birch Creek is just a bit further on down I-44 from more familiar (and pricier) tracks, like Pevely Farms or Aberdeen, so for an extra fifteen minutes in the car, money can be saved and eighteen well-maintained holes await.
Birch Creek has two very different nines. Private homes line the perimeter of the first nine, bringing the out-of-bounds stakes well within the reach of the errant drive. The first several holes are straightforward, and the medium-sized greens are often unprotected and inviting.
Fairways are reasonably wide and the rough is short and not especially penal. If you can keep it out of the neighbors’ back yards, you may score well. Sure, the course has a slope rating of 136 from the Gold tees, but don’t let that get in your head. Swing away on the front nine, and challenge old man par.
The back nine holes take full advantage of the hilly terrain. There are steep inclines to elevated tee boxes, and the targets become smaller. Your driver may stay in your bag for much of the inward nine holes, and Birch Creek will require a bit more precision and creativity here.
By and large, the course was well maintained and clearly marked. On the morning we were there, the customers were nearly all regulars. They knew the course and played at a very brisk pace.
And though the Zoysia fairways and Bentgrass greens were nicely mowed and manicured, the cart path was a little rugged in spots. It looked as if there were some sort of seismic upheaval beneath it in spots, with buckled pavement that would have been more at home in a bad John Cusack disaster movie than on this mostly lovely golf course.
Birch Creek was casual, friendly and well worth the haul. It’s the kind of place you can leave your shirt untucked, wear your hat backwards and play in flip flops.
Riverside Country Club
My Review
As the name implies Riverside Country Club in Trenton, MO is next to a river, although it is not visible from the course. The club was established in 1908 and it is a great 9-hole course. As opposed to neighboring Chillicothe Country Club, which is a typical rural country club boxed into a square plot of land, Riverside was designed with the land in mind. RCC has a lot of personality and is fairly hilly. The grasses are outstanding for the most part. The tees are Zoysia and they are very nice. The greens are medium size with some moderate breaks and roll very well. Derek Thorne, the superintendent, came from Kirksville Country Club and has the course looking great. Apparently, this is a tough task because of the lack of water, particularly during the hot and dry summers. The course is also fairly short. It’s ypp (yards per par) is 82. Regardless, this is a very enjoyable courses to play. If you are in north central Missouri, you have some pretty good options.
Tarkio Golf Club
My Review
We played Tarkio Golf Club in Tarkio, MO on a hot July day and the course, like all of the courses in NW MO, has been starved for water. Nevertheless, TCC has been judiciously watering the fairways and greens and the course is in surprisingly good shape. It is one of the top courses in extreme NW Missouri. The course is a mature course with wonderful quick greens. There are a few sand traps and lakes but, as long as you can keep your ball close to the fairway, you will be able to score well. We gave the course a 3 rating because of how we think the course would play and look with more rain, but right now it is closer to a 2.5. The fairways are not perfect, primarily due to the drought, but the tee boxes are generally in great condition.
Stockton Golf and Country Club
My Review
Stockton Golf and Country Club in Stockton, MO is the only game in town since Cedar Oak Lodge closed its course a few years ago. Stockton Golf and CC is a nice rural, community course with tree-lined fairways. As the manager said before I began my round: “Keep ’em between the trees and you’ll be ok.” True story. The tee boxes are in fairly good condition but the fairways and roughs are a bit patchy, which will necessitate moving your ball to find a spot of grass from which to hit. The small greens are very soft and the slightest of arc on your approach (or even chip) will leave a ball mark. These greens are as good as you will find for a small rural, public course. As long as you are avoiding the trees you should be able to score well here since there are minimal hazards.
Stanberry Golf Course
My Review
Stanberry Golf Course in Stanberry, MO, like the other courses in extreme NW Missouri, has been hit by the almost drought situation in the region. Its roughs are cooked and the fairways, while brown and bare in spots, are holding their own. The tee boxes are in fairly good condition and the greens, which are large with big sweeping breaks, are in good condition. This SGC is the only course for 15 miles and it is excellent course for this rural community.
Twin Oaks Country Club
My Review
Twin Oaks Country Club in Springfield, MO is a private club with about 450 members. This course and club can compete with any private club in the state. Its management is obviously world class and the club does everything a finer club will do from a branding and esthetics standpoint. Their sense of branding reminded me a lot of Dalhousie in Cape. Everything is first class. Even their bathrooms on the course are as good as you will find on any course. All sand is white and fluffy; fun to play out of. The large greens are fairly flat, but they are soooooo fast that the smallest of breaks will be exaggerated. On the day I played the greens were close to a 12 stimp but they normally keep them at around 10. These suckers were pretty darned fast, definitely in the top 5 fastest I have played this year in Missouri. I thought it was interesting that the cart paths ended just after many tee boxes and started back up right before the green. I wonder what they do after a lot of rain? Carts cannot be restricted to cart paths. Knowing this course, they probably have some sort of hover cart.
Per capita, Springfield has some of the best private courses in the state. I would have a difficult time determining which club is the best between Twin Oaks, Highland Springs and Hickory Hills. All are incredible. Once I complete my objective of playing every course in the state, I will have to come back with 3 impartial judges to determine which course(s) will make the top 5 country clubs in the state.
Their Director of Golf, Rich Brittan, was as accommodating, knowledgeable and hospitable as you will find. He’s an extraordinary representative of the club. . .
Betty Allison Junior Golf Course
My Review
Betty Allison Junior Golf Course is a wonderful par 3 course, managed and maintained by the city of Springfield, Missouri. It is adjacent to the Bill and Payne Stewart Municipal Golf Course. Beside the Top of the Rock in Branson, this is one of the best par 3 courses in the state. However, the Top of the Rock costs in the mid-$100s to play and Betty Allison is free to kids 12 and under. This course is primarily for the beginner golfer, college student looking for something different to do and for experienced golfers wanting to hone their short game skills. Most par 3’s are minimally maintained. BAJGC is maintained by the Payne Stewart Courses so its grasses are first rate. We only gave the course a 2 ball rating . . . because it is a par 3. If it had been a regulation course it would have rated at least as high as its big brother across the street.
Millwood Golf and Racquet Club
My Review
I knew nothing about Millwood Golf and Racquet Club in Springfield, MO and had no expectations before playing it. I was blown away. It truly is a first-class club/course and is a lot of fun to play. Their superintendent has done a great job improving the grass over the past couple of years. The greens have different shapes, slopes and sizes but have one thing in common, they are fast and are pure. It is similar to Highland Springs, in terms of complex holes running throughout an upscale neighborhood. The holes are typically very narrow, but the roughs are cut to a reasonable length. The club also has a wonderful practice facility so that members can work on every part of their game. The first hole is obviously too close to the driving range because there were hundreds of balls on the fairway. Next time I will play with a colored ball on the first hole. I was also surprised that they let members wear denim on the course. Not saying that is good or bad; just surprising.
I’m even more blown away by the quality of courses in Springfield. Millwood is in the top tier with Hickory Hills, Highland Springs and Twin Oaks. These four courses are as good as any private course in any city in the state.