Plattsburg Country Club
My Review
Plattsburg Country Club in Plattsburg, MO is a very unusual course. The course is in terrible condition all of the way up and down the line. It is in disrepair and is need of a major renovation in every aspect. I would argue, as well, that it is potentially dangerous. There are several bridges that look like they are ready to collapse at anytime. That’s the bad news.
The good news is that it was in foreclosure and a few members of country club purchased the club in August, 2017. They know better than anyone of the challenges facing this new public course. I understand that they have big plans for the course and started with the changes immediately after closing. The course seems to have really good bones for an excellent and FUN course. It could be a top tier course in Missouri with a dedicated and well financed team. Look at the pictures accompanying this listing. They make the course look like one of the finest courses in the country. Plattsburg Country Club has several very interesting holes, many of which could be a signature hole at any course. The greens, too, are crazy . . . in a good way (if you like out-of-the-ordinary features on courses). The green on #5 is probably 120′ long and 12′ to 15′ wide. What makes it even more unusual is the extremely severe hill in the middle of the green. My ball was on the back side and I literally could not hit it hard enough (with my putter) to make it up the hill. But, in the greens’ defense, they were wet with morning dew and were all fairly long, probably to expedite the healing process. They were among the slowest Bent grass greens I have played. Whatever the reason, these could be a lot of fun to play if repaired. As a side bar, the greens on the front are different, for the most part, than the back because the front nine was designed and built many years after the original 9 was built.
Side bar #2. The course shares a parking lot with the Plattsburg High School and the football field abuts the first hole. As I was playing 18 I was treated to the music of the marching band practicing for an upcoming parade.
Right now, I can only dream about this course and what it can be. But, I am excited to see what the new owners have in store.
Oak Valley Golf Course and Resort
My Review
Union Hills Golf Course in Pevely, MO was purchased from the Teamsters in 2016 and the new owners, Tauqeer Haider and Younus Shah, appear to be committed to dramatically improving the course and resort grounds. Their first step in rebranding was changing the name to Oak Valley Golf Course and Resort. The mature course is definitely in transition but the new blood is already showing signs of a revitalized golfing experience. The medium-size greens do not have a lot of complexity but have been nursed back to health. Even the new carts are on the higher end with very comfortable seats. Most fairways, some very narrow, are flanked by trees with sand and water hazards strategically placed throughout the course . . . putting a premium on well-placed drives. It looks like all bunkers are in the process of converting to white sand, if the new traps on the 18th hole are any indication. For those hearty souls who prefer walking, you should probably get your steps in on the treadmill because this would be a very difficult walk; the first tee is about .5 miles from the clubhouse, the 10th tee is a comparable distance and the course is very hilly. Although we only rated OVGC a 3 (out of 5 golf balls), we fully anticipate this course to improve to at least a 3.5 rating in the next year or two. Also, Oak Valley Golf Course and Resort completely renovated the club house, putting in a state-of-the-art wedding/meeting facility, with a beautiful view overlooking the Mississippi River.
Mark Twain Country Club
My Review
With a population of just over 1,000 residents, Paris, MO has a pretty darned nice golf course, Mark Twain Country Club. There are a variety of looks to the holes, from a wide open field to a narrow chute off of the tee. The greens are the best part of the course and are in excellent condition for the part. They are not typical of the small, round greens you will find at most rural courses. These have some interesting shapes and contours. A few of them need a little TLC but I think their members will put in the time and effort to correct this issue. Water hazards come into play on a few holes but there are no sand traps. The residents of the community obviously take pride in this course. I wouldn’t drive from St. Louis to play the course, but I would definitely love to play it again if I was in the area.
Elk River Golf Club
My Review
Elk River Golf Course in Noel, MO is in the extreme southwestern corner of Missouri:
– 4 miles to Arkansas
– 6 miles to Oklahoma
The course, which was built in 1967, is named for the adjacent river, Elk River, which is is a picturesque destination for canoeing, rafting, camping and fishing. It is one of the flattest courses in the state and is therefore one of the most walkable. All fairway and rough grasses are short so you will have a difficult time losing your ball . . . unless you hit it in one of the few water hazards. The greens are medium-sized with minimal undulation. The manager, Bobby Thomas, was very friendly and accommodating.
Neosho Municipal Golf Course
My Review
Neosho Municipal Golf Course is a great community course in Neosho, MO. The original tree-lined front nine was designed and built by Perry Maxwell in 1924. The second nine was constructed in the 1980’s. There is actually one additional nine that has been moth-balled. If you keep your ball on the fairway your ball will be sitting up nicely; if you veer off the fairway the grass will not be nearly as consistent. The greens are very nice, hold well and putt true. The course is spiced with some sand, water and OB but not over powering. Overall, Neosho Muni Golf Course is a very playable golf course and the 12,000 residents of Neosho are fortunate to have this course.
Mt. Vernon Golf Course
My Review
Mt. Vernon Golf Course in Mt. Vernon, MO is a typical rural municipal course with a limited budget. The course does, however, provide a excellent golfing experience for the residents of Mt. Vernon and the surrounding area. The greens are on the small side and have minor undulation. The ball sits up nicely in the fairways and give players a good chance to score well. The green fees are very reasonable and, if you walk, you can play 18 holes for under $20. Great value. Overall, I enjoyed playing the course and would love to play again. Jeremy Weiss, the course manager, was very accommodating and made sure that John Lind took good care of me.
Off topic a bit, but if you are in Mt. Vernon and are looking for a good cup of coffee or food try Keen Bean. Everything about this place is cool and great!
Mound City Golf Club
My Review
Mound City Golf Club in Mound City, MO is a wonderful 9-hole course located about 40 miles north of St. Joseph. I am told that Tom Watson owns some hunting acreage not too far from the course and stops by the course occasionally. The members are very proud of their course and there is a strong sense of community at the club. The course is holding up fairly well, considering the minimal rain the NW corner of Missouri has experienced over the past several weeks. The primary grasses (tees, fairways and greens) are all in good condition. The roughs are getting a little toasty and a couple of the lakes are dry . . . nothing that a few inches of rain couldn’t cure. All in all, Mound City Golf Club is a nice course that provides a great golf experience and test of your golfing skills.
MCCC’s 7th hole will likely make my list of the funkiest 18 holes in Missouri. This little ditty is a short 350 yard par 4, down hill. The 57 foot wide fairway is lined by large trees and it slopes to the right. Then, there is an abrupt dogleg to the left. If you can hit an accurate draw on your tee shot, you will ideally aim to the right side of the fairway and try to draw your ball into the slope. The hole was so intriguing that I stopped to watch the next two foursomes play the hole. Only one ball out of eight had a drive that stayed in the fairway and had an easy pitch to the green. The other 7 all sliced, rolled down the slope or pushed their ball to the right of the trees on the right side of the fairway. If you are able to avoid the trees on the right and hit it far enough you will have an opening to the green. This is one funky hole that I loved!!!
Montgomery County Golf Club
My Review
Montgomery County Golf Club is located in Montgomery City, MO, which is 7 miles north of I-70 about midway between St. Louis and Columbia. When you picture Montgomery City think Mayberry. Unlike many small towns across America with populations of under 3,000, Montgomery City’s downtown area is still thriving and I expected one-bullet Barney Fife to pull me over at any time and interrogate me about my tail light being out.
The golf course is a nice 9-hole course that seems to serve as a social conduit for the community. On the day we visited there were many kids at the course taking lessons. The unattended small cottage-like “proshop’s” door is is unlocked during business hours and the sign on the door says: “Please use the honor system to pay for your golf and your snacks.” This reinforces my faith in mankind, again. MCGC obviously has a minimal maintenance budget but the course is in respectable shape and provides a straight-forward golf experience, with minimal flash. There are mid-size trees scattered throughout the course and there is no real difference between fairways and roughs in terms of grass quality and length, but your ball will have consistent lies and lost balls will be kept to a minimum. The greens are fairly small and round with a slight slope for drainage. Besides the large lake that is adjacent to many holes, there are not a lot of hazards to get in trouble. The course has a good, friendly vibe and I would recommend playing it if you are in the area.
Windmill Ridge Golf Course
My Review
The two nines can not be any more different.
Windmill Ridge Golf Course in Monett, MO is one of the nicer municipal courses in the state and is very playable. The front nine, separated by Lincoln Ave. (but is connected by a tunnel under the road), is typical of an old school rural Missouri private country club. The back nine is more of a links-style course.
The front nine:
– A classic rural country club layout and design
– A single row of mature Oak trees lining most fairways
– Grasses are lush
– The greens are medium size with big sweeping breaks
– The holes are contiguous for the most part
The back nine:
– Links style
– Much more wide open/fairways are not line with trees
– Fairway grasses are more lush
– Greens are more narrow with much larger undulations
– Deep and thick native grasses border most holes
Both nines have bunkers, which are in the process of being renovated (at least I hope that is the reason they are in disrepair), some water and OB.
Overall, while not perfect (particularly for a rural muni course), it is a pretty darned nice course. I would be more than content playing here every day. If you live in SW MO, get down to Monett and play Windmill Ridge Golf Course.
Sullivan County Country Club
My Review
Sullivan County Country Club in Milan, MO is the last course on this crazy odyssey of mine. Undoubtedly, there will be new courses to open and existing courses to close, but this is the last course on my list of Missouri golf courses, both public and private. Milan is located in extreme north central Missouri about 35 miles from the Iowa border on Highway 5. The course has nine holes on steep terrain but has been cleverly designed to include 2 sets of tees on each hole. On a couple of holes the tee placement gives players a completely different perspective. Hole 5, for example, is a par 4 and on Hole 14 is a par 5 . . . same green, same fairway but it plays much differently. Daniel Cordray, a former professional golfer, maintains the course and, considering that the area has experienced drought conditions, the grasses are in fairly good condition. The greens are built up with false fronts, backs and sides. Many of my approach/chip shots hit a little short on the greens and rolled back down the hill. All in all, this is a fun course to play and I will definitely play it again if I am ever in the area again.