Golf in the State of Kansas
Kansas, named after the Kansas River, and with official nickname "the Sunflower State" and unofficial nickname "the Free State", is bordered by Colorado, Missouri, Nebraska and Oklahoma. It is predominantly known as an agricultural state, but still has a respectable number of golf courses (216), with Kansas City boasting 31, the largest city Wichita at 21, capital Topeka 9 and Manhattan 5.
A short drive from Kansas City will bring you to top-rated, public, Ironhorse Golf Club, Leawood. Historic 18-hole Hays Municipal Golf Course, Hays, mixes links-style characteristics and parkland-characteristics, and numerous of its holes have water hazards to be carefully avoided. Falcon Valley Golf Course, Lenexa, is a championship 9-hole course for those looking for a quick round. Links-style Sand Creek Station Golf Course, Newton, is an 18-hole public course with the rare feature of an active railway running through the course. Sunflower Hills Golf Course, Bonner Springs, is a challenging yet affordable championship 18-hole course and has on staff three teaching professionals, for those needing help with technique. Oak Country Club, DeSoto, boasts inexpensive rates, great service and challenging golf on 18-holes. If Dorothy only knew about all these great courses, perhaps she would have stayed!
Pro golfers with Kansas connections include Hale Irwin, one of the greatest golfers ever, who was born in Joplin, Missouri, but partially raised in Baxter Springs. Marilynn Smith, born in Topeka, was one of the original LPGA founders and is a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame. Tim Norris, now residing in Manhattan, was born in Fresno, California where he was Fresno's Athlete of the Year in 1960. He won numerous tour events before retiring from tour play to become head golf coach at Kansas State University. Grier Jones was born and raised in Wichita and in 1969 was named the PGA rookie of the year. Judy Bell, born in Wichita, has been inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame and was the first woman President of the USGA.