The Posse Course preview
Feature Course by John Baccala,
Paradise Pointe Golf Complex
36 Holes with Lake Views in a Secluded Park Setting
The Posse Course preview
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, featuring Bluegrass fairways which were 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 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.
Photography by Bill Cromwell
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 where not only do you have the lake running down the entire left side of the fairway but you also cross it 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 of the green, if the flag is front right( over the pond / lake), it can be a little daunting from the tee box. Even when there is no water on
Paradise Pointe Golf Complex is Kansas City’ s only public golf facility that offers two challenging 18-hole golf courses, plus a 4-hole Academy course. The Posse course( the original course shown above) features rolling terrain, Zoysia fairways, and beautiful lake views. The Outlaw course is newer. It’ s longer, and features Zoysia fairways, large greens, and even more beautiful lake views.
16 May 2026 TEE TIMES GOLF GUIDE