The Dream 18

Business and golf go hand-in-hand, and increasingly so, according to a series in BusinessWeek Magazine back in June 2002. While the research may five years old, the information is still relevant – the golf course is a great place to do business. Locally, those numbers are reflected in the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Golf Tournament – 240 players participated in this year’s event on Aug. 17 at Loma Linda Country Club.

There are several elements that make a great golf outing – the biggest, of course, is how well you perform and perhaps, how well your partners play. While businesses often have one or perhaps two courses in which it would entertain clients or employees, the following is a conglomeration of golf holes, made from courses in the Joplin Tri-State Business coverage area, that I believe show the best of what the area has to offer.

1.

Peoria Ridge, Hole No. 2 Par 4

Starting things off is a difficult par 4. Measuring 425 yards from the tips, players must hit their tee shots to an elevated fairway which slopes right to left. Shots that fall to the right will sit downhill in the rough, while those to the left will have a tree blocking the green. The putting surface is elevated, with a kidney-shaped bunker guarding on the right.

2.

Carthage Municipal Golf Course, Hole No. 9 Par 5

There’s a feeling that comes with the ability to reach a par 5 in two. That feeling doesn’t come too often, here. Players have a tight tee shot with trees guarding on the right. A fairway bunker sits pleasantly to the left, guarding against a draw. The fairway dips before rising to the green, which has bunkers guarding on the right. A good tee shot puts players in position to reach in two, but anything in the trees will require a lay up. Don’t get too cocky once on the green, either. The long, narrow putting surface has been known to produce three-puts.

3.

Neosho Municipal Golf Course, Hole No. 13 Par 3

This signature hole offers golfers not one, but two distinct challenges: an elevated tee shot — over water. The elevated tee box is surrounded by trees, making it more difficult to judge the wind, which will always come into play. A bunker sits at the front, right side of the green, waiting to swallow anything coming up short. Anything long leaves a second shot toward

4.

Loma Linda Country Club (North Course), Hole 8, Par 4

Don’t let this 396-yard par-4 fool you. The signature hole at Loma Linda puts a premium on accuracy. A tee shot of 200 to 225 yards is all that’s required to get you started, but the tight, tree-lined fairway will emphasize mistakes. From there, it’s a short iron to a green with water short and on both sides.

5.

Twin Hills Golf and Country Club, Hole 2, Par 4

This hole plays 431 from the back tees. Playing with a slight dogleg to the left, the tee shot should be on the right side of the fairway, as the trees on the left may hinder the approach. Even if the green is reached in regulation, it’s big and fast, which punish a bad putt.

6.

Crestwood Country Club, Hole 18 Par 4

Players can either opt for the conservative lay up off the tee, or try to hit a 240-plus drive over the creek to give a short shot to the green. A large tree blocks a view of the hole and the fairway, so a bad drive will be severly punished. Laying up too far to the right means a tree will hinder the approach. Long grass is lurking on all sides – proof that holes should be played from back to front.

7.

Peoria Ridge Golf Course, Hole 11 Par 3

The signature hole at Peoria Ridge is another elevated par-3 that has potential for great risk or reward. The severe elevation makes club selection tricky. Water lurks behind the green, but will only taunt – it shouldn’t come into play. Those falling short will have to pitch back up to the green, where the only safe hole location is in the middle.

8.

Twin Hills Golf and Country Club, Hole 7, Par 5

The bad news – it plays to almost 600 yards from the tips. The good news, it goes downhill (and often, downwind). Still there is plenty of this par-5 to go around. A long tee shot is only the beginning of Twin Hills most difficult hole. Water sits about 100 yards in front of the green, testing those who go for the green in two or anyone who gets too greedy with a layup. The large, undulated green makes for a great finish.

9.

Briarbrook Golf and Country Club, Hole 10, Par 4

This 456-yard, double-dogleg hole starts downhill to the right, then goes back up and to the left. Trees surround the fairway, punishing a drive that trails off in either direction. The approach back up to the green can be a maddening one. The green slopes from back to front, but watch out for the dropoff on the left.

10.

Carthage Municipal Golf Coursse, Hole 5, Par 4

This one time par 5 has been reduced to a long par 4. The left is guarded by a fairway bunker and out-of-bounds, while a wayward tee shot to the right will flirt with a few trees to block the approach shot. While an elevated tee helps add distance, the real difficulty is the large green, sloping back to front, with water directly behind. Because the green is elevated in the back, approaches without enough spin may find the water. Putting is also especially difficult here.

11.

Peoria Ridge Golf Course, Hole 10, Par 5

Just because the scorecard reads 549 from the back tees, it plays longer. Players are faced with water on the left, out-of-bounds on the right and hilly terrain just to the right of the fairway. Those tempting the green in two will have a long approach to an uphill green guarded by two bunkers in front. Those electing to lay up can take trouble out of play, but the uphill approach makes the depth of the green deceiving.

12.

Twin Hills Country Club, Hole 11, Par 3

While it measures 179 yards at its greatest, the water and bunkers protecting the hole provide a very intimidating tee shot. Short shots go in the water, left or right is in the sand, and long leaves an uphill pitch toward water. The wind really comes into play here.

13.

Neeosho Municipal Golf Course, Hole 3, Par 4

A tight dogleg right, the tee shot on this 405-yard par 4 won’t require a driver. Trees on the right forces the player to look left, but to far left may run down the hill by the 16th hole. A slightly undulated green makes it difficult to lag long putts.

14.

Carthage Municipal Golf Course, Hole 11, Par 4

Easily one of the most difficult par 4’s in the area, the 11th at Carthage looks much easier than it plays. Tee shots go extra long off the elevated tee boxes, and can get an extra kick off downward undulations in the fairway. Trouble surrounds the fairway – out-f-bounds on the left and a lateral hazard on the right. Slicers may have a hard time keeping the ball in the fairway in the ground is hard, as the fairway slopes slightly to the right after 220 yards. The approach is over water, with a bunker guarding on the right.

15.

Briarbrook Country Club, Hole 11, Par 3

A picturesque hole, the 11th measures 160 yards from the back tees, and plays to green sloping back to front over a gully. A pot bunker sits right of the green. Shots that sail long have the potential of running off the front. It’s not the longest par 3, but it doesn’t have to be.

“There’s no room to bail out,” says Brent Lauber, golf pro at Briarbook.

16.

Peoria Ridge Golf Course, Hole 18, Par 4

With water, bunkers and native grass coming into play, this hole offers every bit of trouble this Oklahoma course has to offer. A wide landing area will collect well-hit tee shots, while the long native grass guards right. Water come slightly into play on the left. Bunkers surround the green. Reaching the green in two is a reward, here.

17.

Loma Linda Country Club (North Course), Hole 15, Par 5.

Trees have been added to the right of the tees, meaning the old shortcut across the dogleg is no longer possible. Rough has also been added 100 yards from the green, meaning layup shots must be carefully selected. The green has a bunker long and right and a shallow, rock lined creek runs at the front.

18.

Loma Linda Golf Course (South Course), Hole 17, Par 4

The nines have recently been reversed at Loma Linda’s public course, placing the signature 17th hole at the end of the round. Here, it’s the finishing hole purely for it’s ability to give golfers fits. Driver is too much on this short par 4. The tee shot is hit to the left, long and right may find the water. The approach is over water, usually into the wind, to a slightly elevated green. Wind is a key factor here – if it’s blowing at all, club selection is difficult.

[[In-content Ad]]