A well-kept golf secret near Lee’ s Summit boasts a century-old clubhouse.
Feature Course
Unity Village Golf Course
Lands 2023 Watson Challenge Champ, Robert Russell
A well-kept golf secret near Lee’ s Summit boasts a century-old clubhouse.
Editorial by Alan Hoskins, feature writer
Arguably Kansas City’ s well-kept golf secret, it now boasts one of the city’ s most prominent head professionals. Robert Russell, the 2023 Watson Challenge champion and former head professional at the Nicklaus course at LionsGate, assumed the role of general manager of Unity Village Golf Course in Unity Village, MO, on April 1.
Milburn Country Club, and Jacque Madison of the Midwest Section PGA’ s Employment and Club Membership told me we have to hire this guy. He’ s going to be great for us.”
Russell, 51, resigned in January from LionsGate after nine years at the course, the last seven as head professional.“ It was just time,” said Russell.“ I was unsure where to go when I got a call from Unity Village. It has a very interesting course, there’ s a ton of amenities, and I can still play in some events. So managing the entire operation was very appealing.”
One of the first amenities was time off to play in the Senior PGA Championship at the famed Congressional Golf Club in Potomac, MD, in late May.“ A really challenging course,” said Russell, who did not make the cut. In 2024, Russell finished second in the Senior PGA Professional Championship, earning a spot in the 2025 Senior PGA Championship.
Robert Russell with his 2023 Watson Challenge Championship trophy outside of the historic Unity Village Golf Course clubhouse. Russell serves as the golf course’ s new GM.
For anyone unfamiliar with Unity Village, a majestic 165-foot tower dominates the skyline on Highway 350 between Raytown and Lee’ s Summit. The golf course is just a small part of a sprawling and spectacular 12,000-acre campus at 1901 NW Blue Parkway.
“ We got lucky. We are very blessed to get Robert,” said Guy Swanson, the Unity Village World Headquarters chief operating officer at Unity Village.“ Luke Smith, the head professional at
A very popular venue for weddings, the campus offers a garden terrace, a rose garden, stunning trails, the picturesque Bridge of Faith, and multiple chapels. It also boasts Kansas City’ s largest fountain
16 July 2025 TEE TIMES GOLF GUIDE