Father-Son Trip

ladahl · March 13, 2011

Lake of Ozarks?

Hi all,

My dad and I are trying something new this year..... Would SAID we were not going to "plan", but I need a little help... We were just going to hope in the car and drive until we could stick a tee in the ground. We will be leaving from Southeastern MN last week in March and play for a few days..... We always did a Scottsdale trip in years past, but wanted to try this....

Just a little background: we are both equipment crazed! Love getting new stuff, and only enjoy good courses.... I am 34 (play to a 12 from the second rear tees), my dad is 58 (20 hcp and plays form the whites)....... We want to get the most bang for our buck... We are thinking we would hit www.golfnow.com and find some deals a couple days prior, but where? What courses? We want nice courses..... No dog tracks :).... Other options?

We will shove off from Rochester, MN on March 28....

ClarkGrswld4 · March 13, 2011

lots of very good courses in the Ozarks. I think you will have a fun time but keep in mind, everything except the greens will still be dormant that time of year

dlygrisse · March 13, 2011

Old Kinderhook is the best public course I have played in the area.
Porto Cima- is an awesome Nicklaus layout, when I played it the tee boxes were in better shape than some greens I have played, difficult course, especially the front nine, but I am pretty sure it is private, you would need to know someone to get on. One of the finest courses I have ever played.

There are a bunch of other good courses, and some average ones,

Osage National is good, I would play that again. But I can't remember the others I have played since it has been awhile.

adamjstl · March 13, 2011

old kinderhook and osage national are both really nice courses... and dormant zoysia grass is the easiest surface you will EVER hit from

PhilTickelson · March 15, 2011

Would definitely recommend Old Kinderhook and Osage National, both are top quality courses and can be played for around $50 if you get the twilight rate, otherwise you're looking at 75-90 a round I think. But the twilight rates usually start pretty early in Missouri, so you should be okay.

Those are probably the top two public courses in the area, Porto Cima is spectacular, but it would cost you probably ~$150 IF you could find a member to play with, it's completely private(and completely awesome).

The Cove is a decent course, but I haven't played it since they redid some of the greens and fairways I think, but it's definitely worth checking out. The Ridge is another decent course, a lot of elevation change and fairly difficult, but not on the same level as Kinderhook and Osage. I've played Deer Chase before and it was alright, it was absolutely pouring though, so I can't say too much besides it was really wet, it's a cheaper course, and a little out of the way but a good choice for a budge round perhaps. I did not like the Tan-Tar-A course I played while I was there, I wouldn't go back.

Bear Creek valley is another option, the course is usually in pretty good shape, and it's tough. A lot of narrow tee shots, and really fast greens every time I play, but enjoyable none the less. A lot of elevation change here too, one par 5 that is like 500 yards plays almost all downhill. I hit 5 iron off the tee and had a 9 iron into the green!