Feature
So Many Helped Make a Golf Dream Come True
Words and photos by Alan Hoskins , Feature Writer
In-kind donors made 22-year-old Sunflower Hills short course a reality .
Words and Photography by Alan Hoskins , Feature Writer
Jeff Johnson had a dream — a sixhole junior short course adjacent to Sunflower Hills Golf Course in Wyandotte County , KS . Now , more than 20 years later , that dream is a glistening gem , all because a band of golf enthusiasts stepped forward and made it happen . A million-dollar golf course for less than $ 100,000 is played by upwards of 1,000 junior golfers each year .
The dream started in about 1995 . “ We took our two kids to Disney World , and they had a six-hole wee links course with artificial turf we played ,” remembers Johnson , who is in his 42nd year as a master golf professional at Sunflower Hills . “ At the same time , we were rebuilding our putting green and first tee box , so to continue to run my junior program and give lessons , I moved across the road to the park , and we created six greens by using mowers to cut the grass to make them look like greens .”
The timing also came during the formation of the First Tee of Kansas City program . One of the first courses to become involved with First Tee , Sunflower Hills had become a program site in 1998 . “ I went to the First Tee of Kansas City and made a presentation to the board to build the course , and they agreed to help with the funding in 1999 ,” said Johnson . But not enough . “ The costs were prohibitive , and the program stalled .”
Until the building of the Kansas Speedway . “ The construction manager for the Speedway ’ s construction company , Turner Construction , was a big golf fan and played here regularly ,” said Johnson . “ I told him what I had in mind , and he said if he could be of help , let him know . That was the key .”
Opened in 2002 , thanks to nearly one million dollars of in-kind donations , the junior course at Sunflower Hills not only offers lessons for boys and girls ( photo above ) but six holes of walkable golf for juniors and adults at $ 1 for kids and $ 5 for adults .
Not only would Turner Construction provide the heavy equipment to move dirt , but it also helped get the word out . “ One company built and shaped the greens ; another put in the irrigation ,” said Johnson . “ Craig Schreiner [ Kansas City golf architect ] designed the course , and another company built a little clubhouse and put in an asphalt driveway . Moving dirt was the big project . We did have to purchase pipe for the irrigation and other things , but most of it was paid for through in-kind donations . No charge . All said and done , it cost under $ 100,000 . Without all the support , I was told the golf construction and fencing would have cost almost $ 1 million .”
Further help continued even after the official opening on May 22 , 2002 . “ That winter , we had a horrendous ice storm and rain that froze and damaged the greens ,” said Johnson . “ That spring Sandy Queen and the Golf Course Superintendents donated Bentgrass sod for the greens and got a bunch of local superintendents to come over on a Saturday to sod the greens and tee boxes . They were a huge help .”
An appearance by Tom Watson highlighted the grand opening . He also made a couple of unannounced visits to work with kids taking lessons . “ Twice he called me up and asked if I had a class — and he ’ d show up ,” remembers Johnson .
Watson continues to be a big proponent of short or Wee Link courses . “ They ’ re in vogue now and great for golf ,” he says . “ They make golf fun for any golfer . They are not so intimidating , and you have a chance to get the ball on the green and make par or birdie . First , you must learn the fundamentals of the swing — the grip and stance . But short courses teach you as much as long courses .”
16 September 2023 TEE TIMES GOLF GUIDE