From The
Editor
Bill Cromwell , Editor-in-Chief TEE TIMES GOLF GUIDE™ Magazine
Golf Continues to Flourish
With this issue , we wrap up our 24th year publishing this magazine and my 288th editorial — I ’ ve lost track of how many articles I ’ ve written and the countless other articles we ’ ve published . The years have zoomed by very fast . Even more impressive , my wife , business partner , and VP of Operations , Victoria , has copyedited and proofread every word in every article or piece of content at least three times before going to press in every issue for 24 years . My eyes and head hurt just thinking about that ! She does a fantastic job , loves the work , and deals with my press deadline demands without complaint . She encouraged me to launch this magazine those many years ago . Without her help — you may not be reading this magazine today . I am grateful for all she does !
As we tee off our 25th year in 2025 , Victoria and I look forward to bringing you , our dedicated readers , interesting golf news and content that helps to motivate you to play golf more often and at courses new to you . Many of the advertisers within these pages have been with us for the past 24 years . We are eternally thankful for their long-time partnerships , which have ultimately made the longevity of this publication possible .
It ’ s quite amazing to have witnessed and documented monthly firsthand all the changes that western Missouri and eastern Kansas golf courses and the related golf businesses have experienced over the past 24 years . Aside from the closures of multiple 60s and 70s era golf courses with open , back-and-forth fairways and small push-up greens with very few sand bunkers , like Claycrest ( Cardinal Hills ), Liberty Hills , Rockwood , River Oaks , Southview , to name a few , there are the many ongoing ownership , management company , and staff changes with the current courses . Mostly for the better , but still , many changes over the years .
I do miss the smallish , independently-owned golf stores that have all but disappeared , consumed by national chain sporting goods stores . I miss those small golf stores like Jimbo ’ s , Hands-On Golf , Pin High , The Golf Stop , and Martin City Sports , to name a few . You could pop in those small stores , grab some golf balls , gloves , and tees , get your clubs regripped , get golf tips , and shoot the breeze with the owners about golf in a relaxing golf fanatic setting . Ahh , the Good Ole` days !
When we launched this magazine in early 2001 , KC area golf was booming . New courses were frequently opening , and with that came fierce competition for rounds played . All the newly built golf courses needed golfers , as did the older ones that began losing rounds to the newer ones . Discounting golf rounds became common to entice golfers . In fact , this scenario played out nationally .
Then along came COVID-19 in 2020 , and despite the doom and gloom predicted for the world , including the “ grim death ” of the golf industry , the golf industry nationally has continued to flourish like never before — or at least in our 24-year history .
Readily available tee times — unless booked a minimum of three days in advance — have vanished , as have discounting rates ! Participation has sky-rocketed , and play has increased by 30-40 % ( conservatively ), with more new golfers continuing to enter the game than in past decades . The local KC area golf industry is as strong as ever and the busiest I ’ ve ever seen . Skeptics said the golf boom would bust by 2024 . Nope , apparently people like to play golf and take in the great outdoors . Golf rounds remain in high demand , and tee times are booked solid . Of course , we knew all along that golfers are fiercely dedicated to the sport — as are we . That ’ s why we launched this magazine 24 years ago !
Victoria and I thank all our dedicated readers and advertising partners and wish everyone a Happy Holiday season . Remember — hit ’ em straight and often .
Kansas City ’ s Longest Running Monthly Golf Magazine
Our Mission — To Promote Golf 365 Days a Year .
Tee Times Golf Guide™ Inc . Mailing Address : P . O . Box 485 , Grain Valley , MO 64029 Corporate Office : 816.886-9017
Publisher , Bill Cromwell , Editor-in-Chief For Advertisement Placement and News / Article Requests Editor @ TeeTimesMagazine . com
Managing Editor / VP of Operations Victoria Cromwell , VP @ TeeTimesGG . com
Creative Designers , Graphic Arts , Photography Bill and Victoria Cromwell
● Roving Course Analyst : Mike Hull and Ron Underwood
● Field Ambassador : Deanie Olinger
Our Team of the Best Contributing Golf Writers in KC Alan Hoskins — Lead Feature Writer Gianna Augustine — Golf Tips & Instructional Articles John Baccala — Professional Golf Course Profiler Ann E Butenas — Midwest Section PGA News Eddie Hall — Equipment Reviews & Clubfitting Tips Courtney Mahon , LPGA — Golf Tips & Instruction Baile Stephenson — Central Links Golf & Junior Golf News Guest PGA — Golf Tips & Instruction
Association News Features : CLG ( Central Links Golf Association ) – Monthly News Midwest Section PGA News – Adam Greeno , Executive Director GCSAA ( Golf Course Superintendents Association of America ) – News
Tee Times Golf Guide Magazine offers a monthly Kansas City golf magazine that is distributed throughout western Missouri , eastern Kansas and the Lake of the Ozarks area . Printed copies are found at nearly 300 locations including public and private golf courses , driving ranges , golf stores , restaurants , sports bars , resorts , hotels and many other select locations . In addition , the magazine is offered online as an inter-active E-magazine at www . TeeTimesMagazine . com .
NOTICE : The editor reserves the right to reject whatever material does not fit with the vision or intent of this publication . Advertising is accepted at the discretion of the publisher and does not imply endorsement . The contributing writers , staff or owners of TEE TIMES GOLF GUIDE™ Inc . cannot be held liable for hardship or losses incurred due to content associated with this publication or website . Written views and information expressed in this publication belong to the writers and do not reflect the sentiments or editorial opinion of the publisher or staff . We cannot be held responsible for scheduling , prices , rate changes or the occasional typographical errors .
NOTICE : Advertisers have the right to terminate promotions or special offers / coupons , change rates or fees without notice . All listed guides , rates , fees and information herein are non-binding reference material only . Always check with listed courses for updated rates and special offers .
© Tee Times Golf Guide™ Inc . 2001 through 2024 . All Rights Proprietary & Conceptual Designs Reserved . Reproduction of any part of this publication ’ s contents is strictly prohibited .
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6 Nov . / Dec . 2024 TEE TIMES GOLF GUIDE