This view from behind the green of the par-4 18th shows the contouring and sculpting work that makes the course unique and visually awesome . so no houses line the course . You have that private , peaceful , parklike setting feeling while playing WinterStone –– just you and the course .
WinterStone ’ s 18-hole championship course was designed by wellknown Craig Shreiner Architects with Todd . Rick Boylan , President of Mid-America Golf & Landscape Inc . They sculpted this superb course out of raw land . Both Shreiner and Mid-America Golf Landscape Inc . have been involved in some of the Best of the Best golf courses throughout the Kansas City Metro Area . Mid-America with course Architect Don Sechrest completed the full scale 18-hole construction of Stone Canyon in 2009 .
The 12th measures only 110 yards from the back tee ( and just 77 from the White tee ); this “ shorty ” will test your accuracy — and your nerves ! The green slopes left to right , from top to bottom , and if you don ’ t judge the distance properly , a huge bunker fronts the green . It ’ s a fun hole to play , but I rarely see more than one or two players in the group par this hole ! But the most talked-about hole at WinterStone is the par-4 10th — with a lake to carry off the tee and no “ bailout ” room right and very little left of the fairway . It ’ s a scenic hole and fun to challenge .
WinterStone is managed by Leawood-based Orion Management Solutions . The group manages several other Kansas City-area courses , including Adams Pointe , Excelsior Springs , Minor Park , Shoal Creek , Sycamore Ridge Golf Club , Swope Memorial , and Hodge Park .
I am frequently asked , “ What public course in the Kansas City area do you feel is the best ?”
Well , picking just one course is very difficult for me to answer . We have many great courses throughout the entire Kansas City metropolitan area , and to say one is the best is nearly impossible . I ’ m more inclined to say that I have a top ten list and could narrow those down to my personal favorite five . Within those five lives WinterStone . I ’ ve played this course on many occasions , and each time I play the course , as I stated before , I really feel as though I ’ m on vacation and playing upscale golf somewhere like the Lake of the Ozarks .
Regardless of which of the four tees you play , you ’ ll enjoy your round at WinterStone . There are holes for long hitters ( all four par 5s are more than 500 yards ) and short hitters . From the white tees , five of the par 4s measure 320 yards or less , but one of my favorite holes is the shortest on the course — the par-3 12th .
For me , WinterStone is one of the KC Metro golf courses that remain my proverbial “ Oasis in The Desert .” Or , in this case , my “ A Touch of the Ozarks ” in my own backyard !
WinterStone Golf Course , 816-257-5755 , 17101 E . Kentucky Road ( 291 Hwy and Kentucky Road ), Independence , MO . For tee times and more details about the course , visit www . WinterStoneGolf . com .
One of the best par 5s in the Kansas City area is the 9th hole at WinterStone . This view shows the superb sculpting of the
TeeTimesMagazine . com TEE mounds TIMES framing GOLF the GUIDE fairway and contouring June . 2024 17