Lake Golf without Leaving KC
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Paradise Pointe Golf Complex
Lake Golf without Leaving KC
by John Baccala , Golf Writer
Take your posse to Smithville and tee it up at The Posse , one of two ( with The Outlaw ) 18-hole layouts at Paradise Pointe Golf Complex along beautiful Smithville Lake . Built in 1982 , The Posse is Paradise Pointe ’ s original course that featured Bluegrass fairways and was converted to Zoysia in 2019 and 2020 . With its rolling terrain , and beautiful lake views , it differs significantly from its younger brother — The Outlaw course , which opened in 1994 .
▲ The Posse Course
( Photo by Bill Cromwell )
“ The Posse course differs from The Outlaw course in many ways ,” said Eddie Hall , Paradise Pointe ’ s general manager . “ The Posse ’ s fairways are tighter and have more undulation , there are also more lake views on The Posse , and more of your shots are influenced by Smithville Lake .”
Smithville Lake is a definite influence , mentally and otherwise , on holes 4 , 5 , and 6 — maybe the best three-hole stretch in the city , with two par 5s and a par 3 sandwiched in between .
The par-5 4th hole is a dogleg with the lake running down the left and around the green . Two small bunkers right , about 100 yards from the green , keep you from bailing out completely .
The par-3 5th is the course ’ s picturesque signature hole . It offers little room for error , considering how little room there is between the back of the green and the bottom of Smithville Lake — depending on wind direction , any number of clubs can be hit from the tee .
� The par-5 17th on the Outlaw course starts from an elevated tee to a valley fairway with trouble on both sides . Approach shots will need to navigate the dogleg right to a large green . Most players try to clear the trees fronting the green . The smart play is a layup left of the trees . A good birdie hole if played smart .
The 6th hole is a long par 5 where not only do you have the lake running down the entire left side of the fairway but it crosses the fairway twice . If you or a member of your posse escape that stretch of holes with a par or two and the same golf ball — consider yourselves exceptional Outlaws !
10 January 2025 TEE TIMES GOLF GUIDE