Any “best” list is subjective. But when PGA golf pros and club managers can only pick one hole at their courses, this is what emerges. It’s a lineup and photos of the favorite or most challenging holes at area golf courses as provided by the course officials.
Pick up your clubs and try out these holes – then let the pros know how you did.
It’s golf season.
Branson Hills Golf Club
Branson
A beautiful Ozark vista greets you atop the tee box. Your approach into the green must avoid a lie alongside the discrete rock ledge within the right green-side bunker.
No. 17
Par 4
434 yards
Handicap: 8
Designer/course architect: Chuck Smith and Bobby Clampett
Rate: $69 (for Springfield-Branson players)
Why it’s a Favorite
This hole tests all facets of your game while offering some of the greatest views in the Ozarks. The elevated tee shot requires a moderate carry over a beautiful pond, and the second shot is challenged by a crystal clear mountain stream that trickles down the left side of your approach to a well-guarded multilevel putting surface.
Tips
Use the 150-yard marker as a target off the tee and avoid a hook as anything left will drastically add distance to your approach. Avoid being short or left on the second shot as the creek is never a good option.
Top of the Rock
Ridgedale
A grand stone entrance and walkway unveils a majestic view of the ninth green and Table Rock Lake. The final tee shot is downhill to a very difficult sloped green with severe bunkering surrounding it. The green also sits just to the right of the main Buffalo Bar terrace at Top of the Rock’s Osage Restaurant, which is a great gathering spot for spectators.
No. 9
Par 3
163 yards
Handicap: 6
Designer/course architect: Jack Nicklaus
Rates: $135
Why it’s a Favorite
With sweeping views of Table Rock Lake, this finishing hole offers a spectacular treat, especially to those lucky enough to finish their round at sunset.
Tips
Make sure to find proper placement on the green, as there is a slope that runs through the middle of it.
Hickory Hills Country Club
It’s a dogleg left with bunkers on both sides of the fairway and surrounding the green.
No. 4
Par 4
470 yards
Handicap: 1
Designer/course architect: John T. Woodruff
Rates: $80 (only with a member)
Why it’s a Favorite
It’s the level of difficulty.
Tips
Hit it long and straight.
Karen Kjar Memorial Golf Course
Buffalo
This drive-able par 4 from an elevated tee is filled with risk and reward and sets the tone for your round. Will you be aggressive and try for a fast start or lay up with a couple smooth iron shots to ease into your round? Either option requires a precise shot into a shallow green which, when executed, will leave you a makeable putt.
No. 1
Par 4
230-280 yards
Handicap: 17
Designer/course architect: Owen Kjar
Rates: $25
Why it’s a Favorite
The opening hole challenges all skill levels with options and opportunities.
Tips
Lay up to 90-100 yards. Anything closer to the green brings the pond and out of bounds right into play. The driver demands a 250-yard carry from the blue tees to clear the pond with OB right looming all the way. Big hitters be wary of anything over the green which could end up in the creek. Your bail out is left, which may leave you a Phil Mickelson flop over the trees or a low trundling chip from a good angle to a narrow green.
Thousand Hills Golf Resort
Branson
It was once described as the toughest par 4 in Missouri. The tee shot is deceiving, as it looks like the hole should be played to the right, but the best angle into the green is from the left side of the fairway which is somewhat hidden from view. It plays on a long fairway and a sharply elevated green, protected by Wildwood Creek 20 feet below and behind by a sheer rock cliff that does not give very many gifts when encountered.
No. 9
Par 4
350-460 yards
Handicap: 1
Designer/course architect: Paul Clute
Rates: $32-$59
Why it’s a Favorite
It’s the challenge of conquering. But if you don’t get greedy you might be rewarded with a par or better.
Tips
Length off the tee is a big part before hitting a lofted club into the green. It might be best to lay up and take a third shot from the approach as the fairway slopes downhill. The green almost has the feeling of an island green being protected on both sides with bunkers. Once on the green, getting the ball into the hole can be a chore as the green slopes from back to front, so being below the hole is a definite plus. Don’t be a hero. Play what the hole gives you; par is a great score and sometimes bogey is appreciated.
Horton Smith Golf Course
A slight dogleg left and a long uphill fairway.
No. 4
Par 4
445 yards
Handicap: 1
Designer/course architect: Don Sechrest
Rates: $8-$39
Why it’s a Favorite
It’s the most challenging hole on the course.
Tips
Play the left side of the fairway for best approach shot. And take one extra club for proper distance into this two-tiered green guarded by a sand trap on the right.
Rivercut Golf Course
It’s a very lengthy par 5 that plays into the prevailing summer wind. Only the longest of hitters can challenge the green in two, but the smart play is to play three shots into the green to set up for birdie with a short iron. The main difficulty is that water comes in to play on every shot to the green – and out of bounds is along the entire right side.
No. 10
Par 5
611 yards (from the back tees)
Handicap: 2
Designer/course architect: Ken Dye
Rate: $45 weekdays, $55 weekends
Why it’s a Favorite
Very few par 5s in the area play to this length, and players have multiple choices on how they choose to play. Many challenges await on every single shot – even the green is challenging.
Tips
Play driver or 3 wood off the tee, but the best play is to always lay up short of the water crossing. There is no real advantage to trying to go over the water if you can’t reach the green in two. If you are laying up, keep the second shot to the right side. Most will have a short to middle iron into the green for their third shot, but don’t over-club, as anything long rarely stays short.
LedgeStone Country Club
Branson West
Dubbed The Quarry, the short hole has a 100-foot vertical drop from the back tees to the green. The putting surface is cut back into a rock bluff with a pond guarding the front of the green.
No. 15
Par 3
116-200 yards
Handicap: 15
Designer/course architect: Tom Clark
Rates: $59-$99
Why it’s a Favorite
With a stunning view, people are always talking about this hole whether it’s a good or bad score.
Tips
Trying to pick the correct club with the elevation drop and our constantly changing wind directions. Short and left is the only chance for bailing out and not costing yourself a penalty stroke.
Deer Lake Golf Course
Long par 3 hole with elevated tee box and trouble all around the green.
No. 11
Par 3
143-211 yards
Handicap: 8 (men); 6 (women)
Designer/course architect: Bill Amick
Rates: $22
Why it’s a Favorite
It’s a nice looking hole with water.
Tips
It’s challenging because of the length with water on the left and a bunker just right of the green.
Buffalo Ridge Springs
Hollister
This short par 4 has a beautifully framed tee box that sits high up on the mountain side and descends to a landing area that is well protected by bunkers on the left and a meandering stream on the right. The green is protected by a huge false front, bunkers to the right and two distinct tiers on the green.
No. 15
Par 4
366 yards
Handicap: 14
Designer/course architect: Tom Fazio
Rates: $125
Why it’s a Favorite
With a beautiful water feature and remarkable scenery, this hole immerses golfers in the serenity of the Ozarks.
Tips
The tiers on the green demand a precise approach shot.
Island Green Golf Club
Republic
The course’s signature hole, the green is an island with a bridge for access to the green. It is a beautiful setting with the challenge of landing the ball on the Island.
No. 15
Par 3
196 yards
Handicap: 8
Designer/course architect: Jerry Slack
Why it’s a Favorite
The wind seems like it is always in your face, making club selection a challenge compounded by the water.
Hidden Valley Golf Links
Clever
It’s tucked along the James River and plays out of bounds on the right for the length of the hole.
No. 12
Par 5
544 yards
Handicap: 1
Rates: $34-$40
Why it’s a Favorite
It’s a good, fair challenge for all levels of play.
Tips
Better hit it straight.
Twin Oaks Country Club
Among four tough closing holes, the final hole is a demanding par 4 that puts a premium on the tee shot. You head due south into a prevailing wind and must find the fairway to properly place the approach shot on an extremely difficult green to two-putt. The green is well-guarded with deep bunkers on three sides, making it nearly impossible to get up and down – or even to keep it on the green. Three and four putts are not uncommon for even the best players.
No. 18
Par 4
420 yards
Handicap: 5th handicap hole on our scorecard
Designer/course architect: Floyd Farley
Rates: private
Why it’s a Favorite
It is a great atmosphere with the clubhouse in backdrop and the American flag waving behind the green. It is a demanding and fair hole that allows for great topography for a gallery to finish watching a round of golf.
Tips
Find the fairway with your drive, accurately place your approach and carefully two-putt the green.
The Pointe at Pointe Royale Golf Village
Branson
A beautiful dogleg left requires a tee shot short of the creek, but long enough to give you a midshort iron into a green protected by a large bunker and out of bounds right behind the green.
No. 3
Par 4
415 yards
Handicap: 3
Designer/course architect: Robert Trent Jones Jr.
Rates: $43-$69
Why it’s a Favorite
This hole is beautiful and challenging. While putting on the green, you get a great view of Lake Taneycomo as it passes by.
Tips
Keep your drive short of the creek and on the right side of the fairway to avoid tree trouble.
Highland Springs Country Club
It’s a long par 4, usually into the prevailing wind, with a large lake guarding the right side.
No. 12
Par 4
440 yards
Handicap: 4
Designer/course architect: Robert Trent Jones Jr.
Why it’s a Favorite
It is a beautiful hole that challenges golfers of all skill levels.
Tips
Focus on the fairway bunker on the left side. Drive the ball toward it but with a club that will not reach the bunker.
Honey Creek Golf Club
Aurora
There’s water on the left of the fairway, two ponds on the right of the fairway and a big lake in front of the green. You’ve got to hit the last 150 yards over water.
No. 10
Par 4
450 yards
Handicap: 1
Designer/course architect: Bill and Scott Welch
Rates: $33-$38
Why it’s a Favorite
Every golfer is talking about No. 10, usually with four letter words. With the water, it is just a very beautiful hole.
Tips
If you don’t get a good drive where you are comfortable with going for it, then you can hit down the right side of the pond where there is a bailout fairway. Then, hit a wedge or 9 iron to the green. You still have to hit over the water, though.
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