Tri-City Country Club
My Review
Tri-City Country Club in Emma, Missouri, is a good rural 9-hole golf course located a mile or so south of I 70. The club might have the smallest greens with the highest level of complexity (undulation) in the state. Refer to the pictures of the course. This made the approaches and putting more difficult, but fun. The fairway and rough grasses were patchy and necessitated moving the ball a bit on many shots. The grass on the tees consisted of rich green, well-manicured fescue which were too long for my taste. There are a few hazards including, water, very minimal sand and OB on the parameter. While Tri-City Country Club is the only game in (3) towns, it is definitely worth playing. A special call out to Seth Brunkhorst, who was managing the club on the day I visited. Thanks to Shirley as well for opening the course to MoGolfTour’s scrutiny.
Please visit other sections of this website, which includes a list of the Best Golf Courses in the state of Missouri. Feel free to leave any comments about Tri-City Country Club at the bottom of this page.
Eldon Golf Club
My Review
Eldon Golf Club is a very nice course in Eldon, Missouri in between Jeff City and the Lake. It has a nice layout and some interesting holes. Most of the turf, including the roughs, are short so lost balls are not a major issue. There are, however, very thick roughs particularly on the parameter of the course. The course also has its fair share of sand and water. The course also provides many different looks. Some fairways are flanked by mature trees and some are contiguous to other holes with minimal trees separating them. All in all, Eldon Golf Club is a fun golf experience. Eldon Golf Club is a great addition to a stacked line up of Lake of the Ozarks courses.
Gene Pray Memorial Golf Course
My Review
Gene Pray Memorial Golf Course in El Dorado Springs, MO is a municipal course and is one of the best golfing values in SW MO. The greens are relatively small with some, albeit minimal, undulation. The fairways, tee boxes and greens were all in reasonable condition, although most of the greens had a few trouble spots but these are likely weather-related and should be OK with some cooler temperatures and consistent moisture. Gene Pray Memorial Golf Course is a good track, particularly for a rural, municipal course. El Dorado Springs has an excellent asset here and should be proud. Dick Gardner, the club house manager, was a knowledgeable and cordial host.
Oak Hills Country Club
My Review
Typically, a course’s rating on this site takes many factors into account: the course condition, quality of grasses, layout, course maintenance, grooming, beauty, difficulty, hospitality of staff, the fun quotient and other tangible and non-tangible factors. The rating of Oak Hills Country Club in Dixon, MO is admittedly a bit high (3.5 out of 5) but its quirkiness and fun quotient won me over. As regulars to this site can attest, I love funk and Oak Hills has more than its fair share. For example, the third hole is a par 5 with a large oak tree smack dab in the middle of the fairway about 300 yards from the tee (see picture). While there are about 10 courses in Missouri with trees in the middle of a fairway, I just cannot figure out why a course designer would purposefully use this strategy . . . but I love it. Another quirky example is the 5th hole, a par 4. If you are playing the hole for the first time, you will be confused about where you are supposed to direct your drive since there is not an obvious path from tee box to fairway. There is thick natural grass just a few yards in front of the tee box and a group of medium size trees about 130 yards in the middle of your driving path guarding the entrance to the fairway (see picture).
Oak Hills Country Club is a wonderful rural 9-hole course, servicing a small town (Dixon, MO) with a population of about 1,400. There are only 2 employees who maintain the course. As a result, all of the grasses (tees, fairways, greens and roughs) have some issues but the course more than compensates for these inadequacies with its layout, uniqueness and greens, which are not typical of rural courses. The stereotypical rural course greens are small, postage stamp-size with no undulation besides an extreme slope from the back to the front of the greens. Oak Hills’ greens are small to medium size, in a variety of shapes with some dramatic breaks and undulation. The course is also very reasonably priced, for both members and non-members. The green fee for 18 holes is one of the cheapest in the state. If you going to be driving on I44, midway between Springfield and St. Louis, block off 2 hours to at least play 9 holes on this course, a few miles north of the highway.
DeSoto Country Club
My Review
Cottonwood Golf Club in De Soto, MO is a course in transition, starting with its name . . . and the greens. The course is now called DeSoto Country Club. They are basically starting from scratch but they have a fairly good layout from which to start. They are growing the greens from seed, versus sod, so it’ll be a few years before they are back to the course’s glory days. Right now, the greens have minimal grass so putting is a challenge. The lead picture is indicative of the condition of most of the greens. The rest of the course also needs a lot of TLC. The good news is that the course is charging an appropriate rate to play and, therefore, the green fees are some of the lowest in the state. If you are in the area and want to play a round we would definitely give it a shot; just have low expectations.
Meadow Lake Golf Course
My Review
Of the two courses in Clinton, Meadow Lake Golf Course seems to be getting more play. Their marketing skills are obviously better honed because both courses had their virtues. When I was there the course was hosting 2 separate clinics for kids, which was great to see. The course is fairly short but difficult. Many hazards abound including sand, lots of water, unruly roughs and OB. It should be rated a 3 out of 5, but I downgraded it a little because of its condition. A public course that is catering to public players of all skill levels should do everything they can to speed up play. The condition of the roughs are definitely not conducive to quick play. I may have caught them right before they mowed the roughs so I would like to hear from you if you are a regular player at Meadow Lake Golf Course.
You can leave comments at the bottom of this page.
Clinton Country Club
My Review
Do not let the low slope ratings fool you. Clinton Country Club in Clinton, Missouri can be a difficult course if you are not hitting it straight and carrying at least 180 yards on your drive. There are a few chutes separating your drive from the fairway that will test any golfer. The course needs a little TLC but they are maintaining the club better than most other rural courses. All in all Clinton Country Club is a nice course that we would recommend playing if you are in the Clinton area. When you are there say hi to their superintendent extraordinaire, Rodney Hunter, who has been with the club since 1972. I got to the club at 7 am and he had already been there for 2.5 hours.
Feel free to leave any comments about Clinton Country Club at the bottom of this page.
Hidden Valley Golf Links
My Review
Don’t let the drive fool (or deter) you!!!!
Hidden Valley Golf Links in Clever, MO is miles deep in the middle of farm country. As I was driving down the narrow 2-lane gravel road towards the course, I assumed that the course would be in ill repair and in need of a lot of TLC. I did not believe that a small rural population could support and sustain a quality 9-hole, much less an 18-hole, course. Boy, was I wrong! Hidden Valley Golf Links is like a mirage in a valley surrounded by huge Ozark hills. The course is beautifully maintained and groomed. There are many opportunities to find trouble in one of the many bunkers, water hazards, OB, etc. The greens are in great condition and the tee boxes are outstanding. One of the owners, Rob Alberty, could not have been more hospitable and welcoming. To promote faster play the course did something I have never seen, all of the tees markers are black. This encourages players to play from the tees appropriate to their skill level without the stigma of playing from the red or green tees. If you are ever 20 miles southwest of Springfield, MO I would recommend that you play Hidden Valley Links. Nice course, nicer people.
Windmill Golf Course
My Review
Windmill Golf Course in Clark, MO needs a lot of TLC but the owner/greens keeper/pro shop manager/maintenance manager, etc., Kurt Pemberton, is doing an admirable job. Seriously, this man is doing EVERYTHING by himself. While Windmill will not be the most manicured or lush course you will play, it is definitely worth the trip just for the opportunity to play probably the most difficult hole in Missouri, #7 (see the picture with the “John Madden” scribbles/diagram), which I call “Threading the Needle.” This is a seriously whacked hole but I’ve been dreaming about it for the past 24 hours. I want to go back and play it again. This hole has also inspired me to publish a list on MoGolfTour.com of the most difficult and funkiest holes in our great state.
A little more about the course, Windmill’s fairways are almost non-existent. I think “fairways” is not the right descriptor. They are more of a pasture and there is no difference between the fairways and the roughs. The tee boxes and greens, however, are in much better condition in comparison. The greens are small, elevated and have a severe slope running from the back to the front. If they were mowed any shorter any downhill putts would run off of the green.
I played a few holes with 80 year old Dean Barry who lives right behind the green on the second hole. He plays every day and he was simply a delight. His picture is included. How can you not love this guy?!
BTW, this course is for sale. $800k will buy this slice of heaven with 112 acres of prime land in Clark, MO, the “club house,” equipment, and everything you see.