36 Holes of Lake Resort Golf Without Leaving KC
Feature Course
Paradise Pointe Golf Complex
36 Holes of Lake Resort Golf Without Leaving KC
by John Baccala , Golf Writer
Okay , it ’ s summertime and you need a vacation spot that offers great golf options , maybe near a lake somewhere , but there ’ s just not enough days or the time for a long road trip . No worries , pack your clubs and golf gear , and head to a huge lake right here within the Kansas City metro –– Smithville Lake .
Paradise Pointe Golf Complex , along the shores of beautiful Smithville Lake , offers a weekend of golf on its two 18-hole courses , The Posse and The Outlaw . Opening in 1982 , The Posse is Paradise Pointe ’ s original course that featured Bluegrass fairways and then 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 .
Did you know ? Both The Outlaw and The Posse courses were named in honor of notorious Missouri outlaw Jesse James ! James was a native of the area , and historic records indicate he and his gang actually frequented the area where the courses sit from the mid-1800s until April 3 , 1882 , when James was assassinated in St . Joseph .
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 6th hole is a long par 5 ( see photo below ) 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 !
“ That stretch demands accuracy off the tee in order to set up for the next shot ,” Hall said . “ These holes utilize Smithville Lake on every shot , offer great scenery , and very demanding shot precision . The greens are large on these three holes , but because the greens have some subtle breaks in them , they challenge golfers to hit approach shots within reasonable distance for a chance at a birdie putt .”
Even when Smithville Lake is not in play , there ’ s still water , like on the par-3 15th . It is not a particularly long hole , but with bunkers left
“ 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 The Posse ’ s 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 spectacular par-5 6th hole on the Posse course demands accuracy with approach shots to carry the lake fronting the green . Very little bail-out around the green for wayward shots .
( Photo by Bill Cromwell )
16 July 2024 TEE TIMES GOLF GUIDE