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It's in the Hole

Local golfers help us pin down eight titillating tee-to-green trips.

Those who swing the sticks know: Springfield golfers have it pretty damn nice. Not only are there a number of fine public courses and several beautiful private ones in the immediate vicinity of Springfield, Branson has several top-quality links just a half hour down the road.

But a good course is only as interesting as its details. Because no one on the GO staff has time to golf, we called up several local duffers to find their favorite specific holes at local golf courses.

Number 6 at Rivercut.   Number 7 at Millwood.   Number 17 at Millwood. All photos by Michael Ragsdale

NO. 4, 7 and 17, Millwood Golf & RAcquet Club

Jason Bekebrede, 29, a local developer and regular golfer, says holes are memorable for how much pressure they put on a golfer in the tee box. Millwood Golf and Racquet Club’s seventh, with plenty o’ trees and a relatively narrow fairway, is one such hole. “You have to hit it in the exact right spot, otherwise you’re screwed,” Bekebrede says. “If it’s a bad drive, you’re taking three shots just to get [to the green.]” Another Millwood hole, No. 4, Bekebrede says, is tough because of houses (expensive ones, we would surmise) in close proximity. Nothing makes for a longer day on the golf course than knowing you shattered someone’s $2,000 poolside vase.

And sometimes a hole doesn’t have to be technically perfect to be a favorite hole—sometimes it just needs to drop your jaw. That’s what Springfield’s Dave Aguirre says about Millwood’s No. 17, where the green’s elevation is far below that of the tee, meaning you’re hitting downhill.

No. 15, Hidden Valley

This hole at the off-the-beaten path Hidden Valley (located west of Nixa, deep in the hills of Christian County) runs abreast of the James River, with a large bluff just across the narrow band of water. Trevor Crist, a local insurance broker and a 20 Under 30 winner in 2006, says it’s beautiful, but a challenge. “That thing must have magnets in it, because every ball I hit shoots straight towards the bluff.” The ridge of rock, which surrounds the entire course, can also cast some funky shadows on the hole, making vision tricky.

Hole No. 18, Highland Springs

This picturesque hole is, without a doubt, the highest-profile in the Ozarks—it’s the one you see every year on the news, when the winner of the Price Cutter Charity Championship holes out and lifts his expensive putter above his head in triumph.

Drury women’s golf coach Lisa Tinkler says the hole is a classical finisher, especially in the context of a tournament. “The 18th hole should always finish to where if you’re behind in a tournament, you can take a risk and go for it,” she says. Eighteen at Highland presents that opportunity. It’s a par five, and you can reach it in two shots. But be careful, there’s plenty of water. “It’s a short shot if you lay up, you can get a par every time, but it’s so tempting…”

No. 18 and 6, Rivercut

Tinkler likes this public course’s finishing hole for the same reason she enjoys Highland—the risk vs. reward factor. “It’s lined with water on the right hand side for probably three quarters of the hole, and then you go over the little creek,” she says. If you can clear the creek on your second shot, you could make a coveted eagle (a score two below par—in this case a three) but hit it in the drink and you’ll be screaming words you probably shouldn’t at a public course.

Another Rivercut beauty, hole No. 6, is a scenic par three near water, with a two-tiered green that can be “imposing,” Crist says, when pin placement is on the upper portion.

No. 9, Horton Smith

Okay, so Horton Smith isn’t the nicest course in Springfield, but it’s one local duffers know by heart. On this hole you finish the front nine with a bit of a conundrum—keep it to the right or risk bouncing your ball out into traffic on Scenic Avenue (one local TV news station did a recent report on just this phenomenon.) It’s a fairly standard par five if you keep your drive straight, but if you have a bit of hook or slice (as most golfers of suspect caliber do) and you’re teetering on the brink of a visit to an auto glass shop.

Want to play these courses?

Highland Springs

5400 Highland Springs Blvd., 417-886-0408, highlandsprings.com

This is without a doubt the most professional quality (and hoity toity) club in Springfield, with exclusivity to match. You’re not playing here unless you know someone more influential than us.

Fees: $65 for 18 holes for guests with members on weekdays, $85 for guests on the weekends. Guests are not allowed to play without a member.

Hidden Valley Golf Links

4455 Hidden Valley Rd., Clever, 417-743-2860

It’s a bit of a winding drive, but once you’re at Hidden Valley you’ll gawk. The James River Valley it calls home is stunning. The course is nice, and plays host to many local corporate and charity tournaments.

Fees: $19 for 18 holes without a cart; $31 for 18 holes with a cart ($25 without a cart on weekends and holidays, $37 with a cart.) $11 for 9 holes without a cart; $18 for 9 holes with a cart ($16 on weekends and holidays without a cart , $23 with a cart.)

Horton Smith Municipal Golf Course

2409 S. Scenic Ave., 417-891-1655, parkboard.org

This municipal course (run by the Greene County Park Board) is open every day but Christmas. We suggest making a tee time, but if you show up you can usually wait out a spot.

Fees: $17 for 18 holes ($22 on the weekend)

Millwood Golf and Racquet Club

3700 E. Millwood Dr., Ozark, 417-889-4200, millwoodgolf.com/golfcourse

Golf membership: $7,000 upfront fee plus $340 a month. This also gets you access to Millwood’s pools, golf social events and other facilities. The better value for infrequent players is to know someone and pay per round.

Fees: $56 for 18 holes for guests of members, $70 for people who aren't guests but are members of other private golf courses. Those who are neither a private golf course member nor a guest are not allowed to play.

Rivercut

2846 W. Farm Road 190, 417-891-1645, parkboard.org

It’s hard to believe this beauty of a course southwest of Springfield is a muni—in fact the only reason we do believe it is because we can’t drink there.

Fees: $38 for 18 holes and a cart ($47 on weekends)


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