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Sunflower Hills
Golf Course
Celebrates 47 Years
Green fees were only $ 7.50 for 18 holes when it opened in 1977 .
by Alan Hoskins
Sunflower Hills Golf Course has long been documented by professionals and amateurs alike for being one of Kansas City ’ s most challenging and demanding public golf courses .
In its early days , many of Kansas City ’ s best amateurs could be found at Sunflower Hills in some of the city ’ s biggest games . Tom Pernice Jr ., now on the PGA Champions Tour , occasionally showed up for the Sunday games . PGA star Mike Weir has played a couple of rounds , and PGA star Bob Goalby and the late TV and movie star Robert Urich also played at Sunflower .
Sunflower Hills ’ history began August 1973 , when , as a member of the Wyandotte County Park Board , the late Bill Lindquist wrote a letter to the KCK City Commissioners offering KCK Park Board land in western Wyandotte County for the sole purpose of constructing a golf course . “ It was always my dream that KCK and Wyandotte County would someday have a championship golf course , and there was no opposition whatsoever ,” said Lindquist . “ The City , the County , Bonner Springs were all interested , and they made it easy .”
By December 1973 , Packard Inc ., of LaGrange , IL , was chosen from more than a half-dozen bidders as the architect , thanks in no small part to $ 205,000 in funds from the Federal Bureau of Outdoor Recreation . The construction contract of $ 518,958 was awarded to William Maddux of Batavia , IL , and the groundbreaking held April 16 , 1975 . Additional contracts were awarded for a $ 250,000 clubhouse , $ 46,000 maintenance building , and $ 20,227 for constructing a split rail fence surrounding the entire course . A contest to name the new course drew 104 suggestions , with Andy Barolac submitting the winner .
On May 7 , 1977 , Street and Parks Commissioner Tom Lally hit the first ball , officially opening Sunflower Hills . “ It was more than a dream come true ,” said Lindquist , “ I ’ m an active golfer , and what I wanted was for KCKCC and Wyandotte County to have a recreational golf facility that was first class , and it be maintained that way .” Jim Davis was the first head pro and Scott Oliver , the first superintendent . In those days , weekday green fees were only $ 7.50 for 18 holes , $ 9 on weekends . Seniors could play during the week for $ 5 . Carts were additional at $ 18 for 18 holes .
The course plays 7,032 yards from the tips with a slope rating of 132 and course rating of 73.9 .
Sunflower Hills has an “ Amen Corner .” Both the 443-yard No . 12 and 187-yard No . 13 can present horrendous putting challenges ; the 419- yard 14th demands an accurate tee shot , and the 480-yard par-4 15th and 229-yard uphill 16th are monsters .
Under the leadership of General Manager and Head Professional Jeff Johnson , who has been at the course since 1981 , Sunflower Hills has also hosted numerous big tournaments over the years , including the Heart of America Four-Ball , the Kansas City Stroke Play Championship , qualifiers for the U . S . Open , Kansas Amateur , USGA Public Links , and twice the host to the KCGA Match Play Championship among many others .
The course had a record 56,000 rounds in 1988 . It then underwent major renovations starting in 2000 , when some bunkers were
20 March 2024 TEE TIMES GOLF GUIDE