Dream 18: We were (virtually) seeking Wichita’s best golf holes. Here’s what we found
With unprecedented circumstances all around, golf is one of the few outdoor public activities still safely available to Wichitans at the moment.
Good thing, then, that our corner of the world is home to some of the most prestigious, challenging and just plain fun courses to play in all of Kansas.
As most everything else related to sports remains paused amid the ongoing COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, staff here at The Eagle reached out to members of the local golf community for their favorite 18 holes at the pretty courses sprinkled across the area.
The result of those conversations is this:
Wichita’s Dream 18, a composite course made up of some very picturesque and and potentially vexing holes from courses both public and private.
We hope you enjoy.
Hole 1: Wichita C.C. No. 1
Par 4, 432 yards
Considered one of the best opening holes in the region, No. 1 at WCC is a slight dogleg left with several options down the fairway, depending on the hitter’s length off the tee. A ridge splits the green and bunkers guard the front-right side of the putting surface.
Hole 2: Tex Consolver No. 2
Par 4, 440 yards
No. 2 at Tex is “one of the most underrated holes in the Wichita area,” Reflection Ridge pro Kurt Gibson said. Another dogleg left has water guarding the green, pinching it on either side.
Hole 3: Auburn Hills No. 3
Par 5, 536 yards
An iconic hole at Auburn Hills, No. 3 zigzags its way from right to left, with the green wrapping back around to the right. Length off the tee is a must to get around the severe dogleg left. Even on a Dream 18 of nothing but standout holes, this one boasts a lot of character.
Hole 4: Terradyne No. 3
Par 3, 225 yards
Terradyne’s signature par 3 is one of the prettiest in the area. A long shot is required — but not too long — with a lighthouse overlooking the back side. Not too short, either, with a long bunker and lake to the front.
Hole 5: Auburn Hills No. 4
Par 3, 183 yards
A peninsula green will leave cautious players looking to the back-right corner of the putting surface. Club selection is vital off the tee, too, because of a lingering bunker to the front of the green and water to the left.
Hole 6: Pine Bay No. 7
Par 3, 150 yards
The makeup of No. 7 at Pine Bay is similar to No. 17 at TPC Sawgrass. An island green with a rear entry means one way in and one way out. Miss your shot by an inch and you could be taking a bath.
Hole 7: MacDonald No. 8
Par 4, 387 yards
MacDonald’s top hole features a water-fronted green and short fairway. Leave your approach short and danger lurks on this pinpoint green.
Hole 8: Flint Hills No. 9
Par 4, 488 yards
Flint Hills National’s back nine is special. It opens with a wide fairway — inviting, right? Not so fast. Miss your second shot to the left and you’ll be swimming. Miss it short and sand is waiting, but that might be better than the downhill rough to the right.
Hole 9: Rolling Hills No. 9
Par 3, 163 yards
The No. 9 par 3 at Rolling Hills is a beast to climb. Running uphill all the way through the green makes its 163 yards feel more like 200, so club selection is important. It’s the toughest green on the course.
Hole 10: Flint Hills No. 10
Par 3, 169 yards
This signature hole at Flint Hills punishes all types of players. Cautious hitters will run it short into the sand or water, but aggressive ones will be chopping at bluegrass behind a tiny but beautiful green.
Hole 11: Wichita C.C. No. 10
Par 4, 447 yards
Flint Hills president Jeff Johnson grew up at WCC and said No. 10 is one of his favorites because it is, in a word, “impossible.” Playing into the prevailing Kansas wind, long hitters have only a slight chance of reaching the green in two strokes.
Hole 12: Flint Hills No. 11
Par 5, 555 yards
Another beautiful signature hole at Flint Hills and a monster par 5. Three strokes are almost a certainty at 555 yards, and once you get to the green a huge ridge is waiting.
Hole 13: Flint Hills No. 12
Par 4, 465 yards
Many golf course professionals and general managers in the Wichita area said No. 1 through 18 at Flint Hills (as in, all of them) could make the cut for a Dream 18, but the difficulty of No. 12 qualifies it as a particularly ripe choice. Driver is a must off the tee, and although this hole features a large green, a wood is also required for the approach.
Hole 14: Reflection Ridge No. 13
Par 4, 394 yards
Short hitters might have trouble clearing a huge lake off the tee, and even if they do, a severe dogleg left is waiting with a tree poking right into the fairway. Once you’re in sight of the pin, large bunkers pinch the green to make for a tough approach.
Hole 15: Crestview North No. 13
Par 4, 437 yards
Home of the Wichita Open, No. 13 at Crestview North opens off the tee with a lake to the left and trees throughout. That can make for a confusing approach. The wind is often hidden around a slight dogleg left.
Hole 16: Wichita C.C. No. 16
Par 5, 546 yards
This “certain three-shot hole,” according to WCC, requires a long and precise drive. There are a lot of options when it comes to how to attack the green, but it is heavily guarded and a ridge splits it into sections.
Hole 17: Flint Hills No. 17
Par 3, 201 yards
The final two holes at Flint Hills, our last two of this Dream 18, leave golfers wanting more. No. 17 is a long peninsula par 3 wherein the safest landing spot lies to the front-right of the green. Flint Hills bills this one as its “most natural hole,” as it slopes down and away into water.
Hole 18: Flint Hills No. 18
Par 5, 520 yards
Congratulations. You’ve made it to the grand finale of our little golf-exercise daydream!
Considered one of the best par 5s in the country, No. 18 at Flint demands a perfect drive because of its daunting lake to the left and treeline to the right. More forestry guards the green for your second shot, and you must cross another lake to reach the green.
Scoring well on this finishing hole is an accomplishment to perhaps be celebrated at the proverbial 19th hole.
This story was originally published May 3, 2020 at 5:00 AM.