Mexico Country Club
My Review
Mexico Country Club in Mexico, MO is an absolutely beautiful and wonderfully maintained 9-hole private club. The club was founded in 1920 and it has the vibe of an old-school stately club in rural Missouri. All of the grasses, from tee to green, are almost flawless and were a joy to play. The greens are small to medium-size, sloped from the back to the front, without a lot of complexity. It is imperative to keep your ball in the wide fairways (about 35 yards wide) or you will be hampered by the many trees lining the well-defined fairways and thick roughs (see picture to the left). The roughs about 10′ off of the fairway are a mix of grasses/weeds and are threadbare at times. I would actually prefer to be in this shorter, more inconsistent rough because the rich and thick roughs adjacent to the fairways are a little too rich and thick for my tastes. Traps are strategically placed around every green and there are a few water hazards as well.
Arthur Hills Golf Club
My Review
Arthur Hills Golf Club, located just outside Mexico, MO (but still considered a Mexico course), is a great all-around municipal course. It is the only 18 hole course for miles and offers a wide range of holes, demanding the use of all of the clubs and shots you have in your arsenal. The holes are fairly wide open and the greens were very nice; many had 2 tiers. The fairway grasses were a bit inconsistent but were adequate nevertheless. Many of the 18 holes were adjacent to a huge lake in the middle of the course and there were many green-side and fairway bunkers. The course originally was a 9-hole sand-green course and converted to bent grass in the early 70’s. Then in 1999, the course added an additional 9 holes and integrated them seamlessly into the existing course, so that you will have a difficult time determining which holes were added. A special thanks to Martha Cornelison, the pro shop manager, who could not have been more accommodating. You can see Martha in one of the pictures. Lovely lady!
Lakesite Country Club
My Review
Lakesite Country Club in Maysville, MO is about 70 miles north of Kansas City, and just a few miles from a ridge with many wind turbines. It is a fairly typical 9-hole rural course on 80 acres which does not have a large membership/player base to afford resources essential to a golf course, like water . . . for the fairways and roughs. But, they did water and maintain the greens. Subsequently, with minimal rain over the past few weeks, the fairways and roughs were fried. In a sea of brown, each of the 9 greens were like a mirage. And, the greens were unexpectedly extraordinarily nice. They were small, flat and lush. As good as you will find anywhere.
Terry Pierce, a retired TWA mechanic and gracious host, comes by the course every couple of hours to ensure that all players have paid their green/cart fees in the honor box.
Mozingo Lake Recreation Park Golf Course
My Review
Mozingo Lake Recreation Park Golf Course in Maryville, MO is arguably the best golf course in the Northwest quadrant of Missouri . . . anything north of KC. And, it is without question the best public course in the region. And, it is the best golfing value in the region, maybe the state. Interestingly, Mozingo is a great course without “great course” grasses like Zoysia, Bermuda, etc. Mozingo’s fairways are a blue/rye blend but they are just as good, if not better, than the more traditional grasses. The ball sits up nicely anywhere in the fairway; this is one course you should be chastised by your buddies for playing the ball up. Mozingo is a very playable course, with wide, ample fairways, large greens and non-punitive roughs. To play well, however, you will need to shape your shots and hit reasonably straight. There are a set of tees for a player of any skill level. Although Mozingo’s roughs were a little brown, they are in tremendous shape compared to any of the other courses in the region.
Mozingo Golf Course has two courses, the Sechrest 18, designed by course was designed Donald Sechrest, and a 9-hole executive course designed by Tom Watson.
Whispering Oaks Golf Course
My Review
Whispering Oaks Golf Course, formerly Marshfield Country Club, is located in Marshfield, MO. The course is very well maintained and groomed. It obvious that the membership takes pride in the course and is well managed. Even many of the sand traps have been expertly edged, which is something overlooked by some of the finer clubs in Missouri. The fairways and tee boxes are Zoysia and the roughs are of a reasonable length to promote faster play. The course has many traps, green-side, and in strategic places in the fairway. The course has a variety of looks, with some fairways flanked with mature trees, some adjacent to lakes and others fairly wide open. Overall, this is a very playable course. If you have a chance swing by the courses, about 20 miles east of Springfield I would encourage you to do so. At last check, the greens fees were only $35, which includes a cart.
Stone Hedge Golf Club
My Review
**** FOR SALE ****
For sale by owner (George Brown). George purchased this nice 9 hole course in Marshall, Missouri in 2007 and would prefer to hand over the reins so that he has time play the course more often. Stone Hedge Golf Club is well maintained and can be enjoyed by golfers of all skill levels. The course is longer than most in the Show Me State, particularly for a rural course, and has a full arsenal of hazards including large bunkers, water, thick/tall natural grasses lining most fairways, et al. The tee boxes and greens were beautiful as were the large, very expensive homes surrounding the course. For almost $1 million this hidden golf gem in MO can be yours. BTW, the price also includes a pool, club house, maintenance building and equipment. If someone wants to put together an ownership group, I may have an interest.
Feel free to leave any comments about Stone Hedge Golf Club at the bottom of this page.
Marceline Golf Course
My Review
Marceline Golf Course in Marceline, MO is a mature course and has some of the fastest greens in North/Central Missouri. Besides being fast, the greens are in beautiful condition. The course is fairly flat and is well laid out. The tee and fairways grasses are so nice they look and play like Zoysia. The superintendent, Rob Sims, has the course looking and playing great! There are no sand traps but water comes into play on a few holes. I made the mistake of playing the from the tips on #8 and had a nice drive. As I watched my ball split the fairway, rising right towards morning sun, the last thing I saw was a splash . . . in the lake I couldn’t see from the tee box. Marceline Golf Course also has some very fun holes and should be played if you are in the area.
Lockwood Municipal Golf Course
My Review
It is actually quite amazing that Lockwood, MO – population of 936 – even has a golf course. I have noticed while traveling throughout the state playing every public and private course that the minimum population threshold for having a golf course is 1,000 . . . and that is typically a low quality course, such as one with a sand green course. While we rated Lockwood Municipal Golf Course in Lockwood, MO 2 out of 5 golf balls, it deserves 5 out of 5 for courses in cities with less than 1,000 residents. Even though it was raining and the course was closed, their superintendent, Darin Parker, met me at the course and was a knowledgeable and hospitable host. Lockwood Golf Course is an excellent value and layout. Considering the course’s budget and current irrigation system, the grasses are in fairly good condition. The greens are small and flat but rolled fairly true. I also sensed that Lockwood residents take a lot of pride in their community and their golf course.
The Golf Club at Deer Chase
My Review
After driving deep into Ozark Country by taking State Highway 54 to Old South Highway 5 to State Highway 7 to State Road V to an unnamed gravel road I finally arrive at The Golf Club at Deer Chase at the Lake of the Ozarks. I was expecting a typical rural Missouri course. Nope. This is a wonderful course that is excellently maintained. It truly is off of the beaten path but very much worth the drive. The course has a very unique vibe compared with the other Lake courses and was a lot of fun to play. The course’s team, including its pro, Marv Boegler, had the course in wonderful condition. The Bermuda grass fairways seemed like Zoysia; they were thick and the ball sat up well. The greens were as soft as a goose down pillow and putted true. Trouble abounds but you can score well if you keep your ball on the fairway. There are many sand traps, lakes, OB and other potential issues throughout.
The Lake of the Ozarks is worthy of a week-long golf trip and The Golf Club at Deer Chase should absolutely be one of the courses you play.
Osage Country Club
My Review
If you are not from the area, you may think that by its name Osage Country Club in Linn, MO, sounds like a beautiful Ozarks resort-style golf course. It is not, but it is still a wonderful small town (pop 1,500), 9-hole course. Like many small town courses across the country, Osage CC’s membership is waning a bit from the highs 10 years ago. But, the club still offers much to its members including a course that will provide a good test of your golfing skills and a pool. The greens are medium-size and are fairly flat. All in all, if you are in the area, give the course a shot.