Green Hills Golf Course
My Review
Green Hills Golf Course in Chillicothe, MO is top tier rural, public course. While this beautifully-maintained and groomed course doesn’t have a lot of Bermuda or Zoysia, the type of grass that they use on the tees, fairways and roughs is conducive to great round of golf. Your ball will sit up nicely and are consistently good. The greens, too, are very nice, particularly for a rural course. I really enjoyed playing the course. EVERY hole has one or two massive sand traps protecting the fairly large greens, which putted very true. If you are in the Chillicothe area, play Green Hills Golf Course. You’re welcome.
Chillicothe Country Club
My Review
When you picture an idyllic country club in rural Missouri, you’re thinking of Chillicothe Country Club in Chillicothe, MO. The course is very typical of rural country clubs: mature tree-lined fairways. relatively small greens and built within a square plot of land. The club takes wonderful care of their course. It is well maintained to offer consistent play. There are sand traps, a few lakes and creeks running throughout the course. For a population of about 10,000, Chillicothe has 2 great courses which could not be more different. This is a great golfing community. I wish I lived here.
Restaurant tip if you are visiting: Boji Stone Cafe, right on the square in the historic square. Their chicken salad is the best I have ever had. And, they have an extraordinary coffee bar.
Centralia Golf and Social Club
My Review
Located on Highway 22, Centralia Golf and Social Club in Centralia, MO had a lot of personality. The tees and greens are very nice and they are trying to figure out the fairways. Right now the fairways are primarily Bermuda but the course is transitioning to Zoysia. I think this is the right call since Zoysia will provide a much thicker and consistent surface, particularly in this climate. Eric Parsons, who had no golf course experience before being hired by the course, is learning quick and consulting with some of the best in the industry. The roughs were cut to the same length as the fairways so there was not a differentiation between fairways and roughs . . . except for the variety of grass. The course is not as easy as the slope rating would indicate and has some funky holes with some tricky doglegs. One of the more interesting holes is #7 which is a dogleg left, with trees in the middle of the fairway and a large tree protecting the left side of the green. I loved this hole! Besides the numerous bunkers, there are also out-of-bounds and even some water hazards. I wish I lived in Centralia so that I could play Centralia Golf and Social Club much more often.
Cassville Golf Club
My Review
Cassville Golf Club in Cassville, MO is the only game in town and for many mile around. Cassville, population of 3,300, is about 60 miles southwest of Springfield and 15 miles from the Arkansas border. The club has 200 members, which is very impressive. On the morning I played, there were no gaps in play on the front 9 and the early birds were already making the turn to the back. In fact, CGC gets 17,000 annual rounds of play. The course, which was built in 1966 (back nine in 1988), is a lot of fun to play. Besides having ample hazards (sand and water), you really have to be able to shape your ball to the right and left to play the many sharp doglegs. Some holes are wide open and many others are very narrow, guarded by mature trees, water, sand, etc. You will likely have the opportunity to use every club in your bag. The tee boxes were in great shape and the greens were relatively small with more complexity than usual for a rural course. A special call out to Chuck Edie, the manager of the course, who was great!
Carthage Golf Course
My Review
Carthage Golf Course in Carthage Golf Course, MO has a lot going for it. First, a prime tee time is one of the “toughest tickets” to come by in the region. Even with the quality of courses in nearby Joplin, many golfers from the area LOVE this course. And for good reason. It is an excellent layout with many fun holes. The original nine (now the back) was built in 1937 and the second nine was completed in 1982. Since then they renovated the original nine in 2002.
Secondly, the PGA pro, Mark Peterson has a great reputation as an instructor and club fitter. In fact, Carthage Golf Course is the only course in SW MO to carry the full line of Scotty Cameron putters.
A few of the greens and fairways are not in perfect condition, but based on the conscientiousness of Mark and the green keepers’ team, I fully expect the turf to improve over the next year or two.
I struggle at many courses to find interesting photographic subjects. Not at CGC. This course has an abundance of great photo opps. This is indicative of the personality of the course. I recommend making the trek to Carthage to play this course, particularly if you have dinner afterwards at Lucky J Restaurant and Arena. What is the arena you ask? It is a rodeo and training facility that you can watch as you eat. Last night, as I sat at my table eating a steak I watched people learn to rope calves on horseback. Pretty cool for city boy.
Briarbrook Golf Course
My Review
Briarbrook Golf Club is located in Carl Junction, a suburb of Joplin, MO. For a community-owned course, Briarbook is great. The tees, fairways and greens are in excellent condition . . . for the most part. With a couple of million dollars, Briarbrook could transform itself into a top-tier course because its foundation is conducive to a wonderful golf course. The greens are fairly large, with large sweeping breaks and many of the tee boxes are plush. Although there are some bare spots on the fairways most are in good condition.
I enjoy me some funk and the 11th does not disappoint. It is a 160/130 yard par 3. When I drove up to the tee box there was only one green in sight but it just didn’t seem to be the right green because its front side looks like the steep backside to another hole’s green. Plus, you have to hit over a lake to this elevated green (the elevation prevents you from seeing the green’s surface), 80% of the left side is protected by a tree, and the right side has a bunker. Crazy hole! This hole is definitely a contender for our 18 Funkiest Holes in MO. A couple of pictures of this hole are included to the left.
All in all, Briarbrook Golf Course is a great community course and, if you live in or are visiting the Joplin area, you should play it.
Thanks to the GM and Head Golf Pro, Kaleb Forkner for his hospitality.
Cameron Veterans’ Memorial Golf Club
My Review
Cameron Veterans’ Memorial Golf Club in Cameron, MO is a wonderful community 18-hole course. You can tell that everyone associated with the course, including players, has a lot of pride in the course. The course is well maintained and does wonders with, what is likely, a very small budget. It is a very playable course and offers something for golfers of all skill levels. It is also a very walkable course because the tee boxes are typically very close to the preceding greens. And, the rolling hills are not steep. Nice design. The greens are fairly small but putt true and have a some break to them. Like many rural courses, Cameron Veterans’ Memorial Golf Club started as a 9 hole sand green course and they added another 9 and sod to the greens years later.
Brookfield Country Club
My Review
Brookfield Country Club in Brookfield, MO is one of the nicest and most manicured golf courses for miles. For a town of only 4,000 residents I was pleasantly surprised. While it doesn’t offer a lot of bells and whistles, it does offer its members a pristine golfing sanctuary. The medium-size greens are the alter for this sanctuary, and are in pristine condition, nary a blade of grass out of place. They are a bit slow however. The tees are beautiful and the fairways are plush and the ball sits up nicely. BCC offers a great golfing experience and you should play it if you have the opportunity.
Valley at Terre Du Lac
My Review
Terre du Lac is a private lake community with public access to the two golf courses, one very playable and fun 18-hole course and one 9-hole course. Valley at Terre Du Lac is the neglected 9-hole course and is probably not worth playing if you prefer a pristine golfing experience. Since the course does not get a lot of play it does, though, provide an ideal, albeit very challenging, track for beginners and slow players who do not like being rushed. Most of the grasses (tees, fairways and greens) are in rough condition and many of the greens are even smaller than those on the Skyview course. If you are passionate about off-roading you will love this course because the cart paths are torturous and give the same sensation as being in a Jeep on a washed-out mountain road. If you do play the Valley course, bring plenty of balls because the odds are against you finishing with the same ball with which you started. You WILL lose balls, particularly on those fairways that are extraordinarily narrow and slant towards the woods. The courses have a great staff, lead by John Pusateri, pro shop manager. Also, a special thanks to Rory Basden and Blake Barlow who were very knowledgeable and hospitable.
Skyview at Terre Du Lac
My Review
Terre du Lac is a private lake community with public access to the two golf courses, one 18 and one 9-hole course. Skyview at Terre Du Lac is the 18-hole course and is, by far, the nicer of the two. Skyview has a lot of character and is fun to play. Having a good handle on your approach shots is a must because the greens are small (and slow). They do, however, hold nicely and roll fairly true. The course provides its share of challenges for golfers of every level with a multitude of ways to add strokes to your round, including: bunkers on almost every hole, water hazards, OB and long holes such as #17, the 579 yard par 5. The courses have a great staff, lead by John Pusateri, pro shop manager. Also, a special thanks to Rory Basden and Blake Barlow who were very knowledgeable and hospitable.