Four Seasons Country Club
My Review
Who knew? Four Seasons Country Club is a hidden gem in plain sight, located in the heart of west St. Louis County, right behind the Dierberg’s at 141 and Olive. The course is in immaculate condition with nary a piece trash. In fact, I counted only 2 broken tees on the tee boxes throughout the entire 9 holes. If you see something white in the vicinity of where you think your ball might be, you can rest assured that it is your ball, not a piece of trash like you will find at most other courses. So, it is hard to lose balls, unless you hit in the numerous wooded areas adjacent to many of the holes. It is not a terribly long course and is only 9 holes but it can be a challenge, with many sand traps, large trees lining the fairways, and the occasional water hazard. Many thanks to Tony Skrivan, Four Season’s Director of Membership, for his hospitality and guidance on the course. *I do not typically rate the Quality to Cost ratio of private clubs (because you cannot typically justify the cost of a private club) but I am making an exception in this case. This is an excellent value, particularly if you live in west St. Louis County, Missouri.
Forest Hills Country Club
My Review
Forest Hills Country Club is one of St. Louis, Missouri’s great country clubs, located just off of Clarkson Road. I would put it in the same class as Meadowbrook and Norwood Hills. The course is obviously very well maintained and will test every aspect of your game. It seems to be a golfer’s club but offers some wonderful amenities for the entire family, including a new pool and an executive course that gets a lot of use from the younger (children) members. I thought it was interesting that the kids cannot play the championship course (probably by themselves) until they have “graduated” from the executive course. All in all, Forest Hills Country Club should be played if you get the opportunity. A special thanks to Drew McLaughlin for hosting me.
Florissant Golf Club
My Review
It has all of the makings of a nice course but it doesn’t quite work. But, I’ve got to tell you that at least this course has a nice personality. If I lived within a couple of miles, I would date this course as long as there were other “benefits.” Florissant Golf Club is one of the more hilly courses in St. Louis, Missouri. I’m not an expert on course layout/design but it seems as if this piece of land did not lend itself for a golf course. It is hilly and there are many blind shots to the green, even on a par 3. Yikes! At least 30% of all holes have a 10′ pin so that you see its location on the approach shot. And, the roughs were unnecessarily long. A public course should do everything possible to facilitate fast(er) play. I spent way too much time trying to find my ball in the 5″ rough, just a few feet off of the fairway (no wise cracks please). The greens were nice though, faster than average, held well and looked like smooth green carpet. All in all, the course is worth playing if you haven’t done so and I will try to play it again. Maybe I just caught it on a bad day . . .
Fore Honor Golf & Event Center
My Review
Formerly Deer Creek USA, Fore Honor Golf & Event Center has good bones and could be one of the premier courses in Jefferson County, given a few years and a lot of work. It was recently purchased by Andrea Politte and she is passionate about restoring the course to its former glory. If her enthusiasm is any indication, I am confident that the course will make constant strides. The course is 25 years old and has a good layout, particularly on the front 9. They are nurturing the greens to add speed. Right now they are pretty slow. Some holes are very, very challenging. For instance, the 3rd hole is a 147 yard par 3 with a very narrow chute from the tee box, with minimal room for error. It is one of the most intimidating holes I’ve played in a while. Many of the greens have 2 sand traps guarding the front. The really cool thing is that Andrea believes strongly in supporting and giving back to the Armed Forces, Veterans and first-responders who protect our country. She purchased the course as a way to give back to these men and women and waves their green fees. Her enthusiasm for her course and her mission is contagious. Go play Fore Honor Golf & Event Center in St. Louis (House Springs), Missouri and spend some time with Andrea; you will be glad you did.
The Quarry at Crystal Springs
My Review
Who knew? I haven’t played The Quarry at Crystal Springs for about 10 years and it has improved significantly! This is as nice of a public course as you find in St. Louis. And, it’s right in my backyard. Here’s the Reader’s Digest synopsis: Beautiful, lush fairways. Hard and very fast greens (possibly some of the fastest public greens in St. Louis). Very thick and long roughs – but shouldn’t pose too much of an issue unless you spray the ball way off of the fairway. Huge and numerous sand traps. The sand is soft and fluffy. Major water on 13 of the holes. Nash Haxel, former pro at Glen Echo, leads an ownership group that took control of the course in 2012 and they have made The Quarry into one of the premier public courses in St. Louis, Missouri. Although I really like the course, it is not perfect. But, for the price these minor blemishes are not major. Also, the course has one of the largest practice ranges in St. Louis. Great place to hone your game.
Berry Hill Golf Course
My Review
Berry Hill Golf Course in St. Louis, Missouri is a beautiful little (9 hole) course about 1 mile north of Lambert “International” Airport. The country-like serenity and pristine conditions are in contrast to the constant roar of airplanes taking off and landing as well as the occasional train passing by. But, these traits are actually endearing and give the course a cool vibe. The greens are relatively small and are protected by one sand trap. The tee boxes are of a quality reserved for a higher end course and the fairways are lined with mature trees, making many holes very narrow and unforgiving. Overall, the course is meticulously maintained and has those extra little touches you will find at private clubs, such as flowers surrounding each tee marker. The team at Berry Hill are very hospitable and friendly. If you haven’t played the course, I would strongly recommend you give it a shot.
Bellerive Country Club
My Review
Originally designed by Robert Trent Jones, Bellerive Country Club is a world-class club located in west St. Louis, Missouri. It has hosted several professional tournaments, including most recently the 2018 PGA Championship. The course is a stunningly beautiful course and worthy of hosting top-caliber professional tournaments. Everything about the course and the clubhouse is worthy of its elite status. If you ever get the chance to play Bellerive Country Club take it.
St. Joseph Country Club
My Review
As you drive up the hill to the St. Joseph Country Club clubhouse in St. Joseph, Missouri you will be taken back to grand ole days of golf. I imagine that at the turn of the century (1900) that only the elite of the elite of St. Joseph high society belonged to this club. It is glorious and quite stately. I did not have the opportunity to tour the inside of the clubhouse but I assume it will be lined with dark walnut, everyone speaks in hush tones and several men in suits gathered around the fireplace drinking cognac and smoking fine cigars. The course itself is actually quite stately as well with a little wear around the edges. Because of its age the trees are large and mature, making well placed drives a necessity if you want to shoot well (which I didn’t). The Bentgrass greens are beautiful, in wonderful condition and fairly quick. The Zoysia fairways are in reasonably good shape and well manicured. The rough is a little patchy and medium height. I found myself moving the ball around, particularly in the rough, to have a fair lie (hey, “winter rules” are now in effect, aren’t they?). The roughs at the high end clubs should be uniform. The sand is white and reasonably fluffy. I actually became an expert on their sand because I spent more time in the sand than Omar Sharif. The par 3’s were crazy long. I had to use my driver on 2 of them which were 200+ yards UPHILL. Yikes! Overall, I REALLY enjoyed playing St. Joseph Country Club and would definitely be a member if I lived in the area (and, if they’d let me in).
St. James Golf Club
My Review
Located just a scant 2 miles south of 44 in St. James, Missouri, St. James Golf Club is a 9 hole course that provides a challenge for golfers at every level. The course provides 2 separate tees to give you a different look if you want to play 18. Even though the slope rating is 119 it is a pretty tough course, primarily because of the elevated and sloped greens. Every green is relatively small with minimal undulation, but the elevation and slope make them reasonably difficult, so . . . your approach shots need to be very accurate. And, because of the slope, the greens are very fast moving downhill and very slow going uphill. Besides the difficult greens the course is fairly open and there were not a lot of hazards with which to contend. Uncharacteristically, I missed the only bunker on the course. The general manager, Shay Abel, is as nice as you will find and wears many hats at the Club.
Ste. Genevieve Golf Club
My Review
Ste. Genevieve Golf Club is a rural, high quality country club in Ste. Genevieve, Missouri. There seems to be a strong sense of community and the course is in good condition and well manicured. The back nine was significantly more mature, stately and interesting. The greens on both nines were interesting and there was a diversity in complexity, size, speed and undulation. The blues and whites were fairly long. Many of the par 4’s were over 400 yards. The course management is apparently trying to replicate the tall pine tree-lined fairways of the back nine on the front; many of the front’s fairways are lined with small pines. Overall, Ste. Genevieve Golf Club is a great little course in a wonderful city. Go down for the wineries and stay for the golf.