Can’t remember the name but there was one in the Ozarks that was really nice.
Had a sweet trip planned down in Ks/MO last year get cancelled by a family death of a friend.
Shoal Creek
Firekeeper
Swope
Anyone been to these?
There are some pretty good courses in the Ozarks. Old Kinderhook and Porto Cima are probably my two favorite. There was a Payne Stewart course down there that was a blast as well, but I don't remember what it is called. Tons of good golf down there.
I've played most of the courses in the KC area including the three you mentioned. Swope Memorial is a very old course with tons of huge mature trees. The clubhouse is really old (unless that has changed - I haven't lived there in quite awhile). It isn't in the same category as Shoal or Firekeeper.
Shoal Creek is a very good golf course. I would put Firekeeper in the "excellent" category, particularly for tournament golf. They can make that golf course incredibly difficult if they want to, and from the tips it's a beast. Too bad it is so far from...pretty much anything.
I have a great story from Firekeeper. I went back a few years ago for my birthday and four of us played. My friend John made a hole in one on 16, but we didn't see it go in. Still not sure why, the green is below the tee box but none of us saw it. Based on club selection and comparing it to my shot, we guessed John had went long over the green. It was super windy. After wandering around through the weeds for awhile, I walked by the cup to mark my ball. Son of a.....John's ball is sitting at the bottom of the hole. I say nothing. He goes to drop but someone else is hitting so I tell John to get the flag. He walks over and sees it in the bottom of the cup. My other friend figures out what is going on and he starts screaming. The final guy, who is the worst of the group, is way over yonder. He sees the three of us on the green hamming it up and he's yelling at us. We can't hear him over the wind and he can't hear us. It was a cluster.
I was gambling with John at the time, and he just went up two after I made par. We both par 17 (a very short par 4). On 18, I took the bomber route to the right, the other three went left (split fairway). I had 110 yards and I jar it for an eagle. WTF is going on here? Two friends, including John, didn't see it. The crappy golfer in my cart did. I told him not to say anything. The guy in my cart doesn't play often and says "this is why I don't play with you guys."
We get to the green and John asks where my ball is. I told him I made it. He says "from the fairway?" I say yes. He looks in the hole and the ball is sitting there. Lots of laughter. John makes par and we push our bet.
So I hole out for eagle on the last hole and didn't even get shot of the day. But at least I didn't owe him a beer.
We get in the clubhouse and tell the GM about the hole in one. He takes John's picture, gives him a pretty cool ball marker, says he'll send him something else. Crappy golfer says "what do you get for making an eagle on 18?" The GM says "you made eagle on 18?" Crappy golfer says, "no, he did", and points at me. GM says "who the hell are you guys? Do you play on any tours?" I said "none of us broke 80 and chump over here probably shot 150. Tour pros we are not." GM says that's cool but you get nothing. More laughter. The GM bought our first round, and we were the first group off so my friend got off easy on the beverages.
That was a fun day. Even the stop in Lawrence for a beer on the way home was fun.
