Karsten Creek Golf Club - Stillwater
Karsten Creek Golf Club serves regular practice facility of Oklahoma State's golf teams. This par-72, 18-hole golf course is steeped in the game's history, having been designed by legendary golf course architect Tom Fazio and named after revolutionary club designer Karsten Solheim. The course stretching over 7,000 yards with challenging holes that are set against a beautiful backdrop.
Karsten Creek is cut from 1,100 acres of dense woods which can create some interesting challenges for wayward shots that veer from the fairway. In addition to wooded areas, players will encounter challenges like the sunken creek of the par 3 11th hole and the 110-acre Lake Louise that borders the course’s 555-yard closing hole. Golf Magazine describes the course’s greens as “subtly contoured and very fast” in the “Top 100 Courses You Can Play” list.
Shangri-La Golf Club - Afton
Afton's Shangri-La Golf Club offers 27 holes of pristine, lakeside golf. The course is divided into three nine-hole courses that border the Neosho River which creates a scenic and challenging experience. The course’s 80 bunkers, complex greens and challenging tee locations make it one of the best tests for golfers in the northeast region of the state.
Renovations that include fluid elevation changes and new bunkers have modernized the par-36 Legends Nine. The Heritage Nine provides players with a new experience on every shot thanks to the course’s diverse layout. This section of the course heavily incorporates Grand Lake, which forces golfers to make constant choices between playing it safe and being aggressive on approach shots. The Champions course combines the features of the other nines to create a challenge that is felt from the first hole, which features a green guarded by both water and sand.
Jimmie Austin OU Golf Club - Norman
The Jimmie Austin OU Golf Club serves as the home course and practice facility for the University of Oklahoma golf teams. The par-72 course stretches over 7,500 yards and is covered in course designer Perry Maxwell’s signature fairway bunkers. The Jimmie Austin has hosted both the men’s and women’s Amateur Public Links Championship as well as both the Big 12 and NCAA Regional Championships.
The 18-hole course is made up of rolling hills, native grasses and majestic bur oak trees that force players to be creative with how they play. The first hole is a tree-lined par 4 with a green protected by bunkers. The back-nine features back-to-back par 3 holes that incorporate a pond to the right and bunkers in front of their respective greens. The course wraps up with a par 5 where you’ll make a high-risk/high-reward choice to try to carry over the creek that protects the front of the green or play it safe lay up in front of it.
Chickasaw Pointe Golf Club - Kingston
Chickasaw Pointe Golf Club is an 18-hole, 7,011-yard course set against a beautiful view of Lake Texoma in Kingston. Course designer Randy Heckenkemper built the par-72 course with rolling hills and well-manicured bermudagrass fairways. 15 years after its opening in 1999, Heckenkemper returned to create new holes for the course to round out the scenic golfing experience.
Chickasaw Pointe features four tee options that change the distance of each hole. The course puts a priority on tee shot placement, as approach shots can be tricky due to water features and the strategically placed bunkers.
Cherokee Hills Golf Club - Catoosa
Designed by legendary golf course architect Perry Maxwell in 1924, the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino's Cherokee Hills Golf Club is an Oklahoma golf staple. The championship golf course was renovated by Tripp Davis in 2004, giving a modern touch to this historic course.
Cherokee Hills is full of tree-lined fairways, dramatic elevation changes and rock formations that can affect your ball's landing. The first hole is a challenging par 4 that consists of a tree-lined right side with bunkers on the opposite side and two more bunkers near the green. The second and longest hole is a par 5 that plays 628 yards, making it one of the longest holes in the state. There are plenty of opportunities to put low numbers on your scorecard, including the sixth hole, a short, 478-yard par 5 with options to play it safe in the double fairways or take a risk and try to reach the green in two shots.
Winstar Golf Course - Thackerville
The 27-hole Winstar Golf Course is cut from the natural formations of the Red River Valley, creating one of Oklahoma’s most unique golf experiences. The course consists of up to 7,000 yards of golf from the back tees and has plenty of paths to lower scores.
The front and back nine feature two par 5 holes with accessible greens, providing golfers with birdie or eagle opportunities. Each hole has a Bermuda green with a low, fairway-style cut that lines the perimeter, giving players plenty of recovery opportunities after wayward approach shots. Most of the holes feature at least some form of dogleg turn, requiring players to make decisions between playing it safe or taking risks.
Forest Ridge Golf Club - Broken Arrow
Opened in 1989 and designed by Oklahoma native Randy Heckenkemper, Forest Ridge Golf Club is the centerpiece of the Forest Ridge community. The Forest Ridge Golf Club is a long, par-70 course that will challenge experienced players.
The is 18-hole course is full of natural challenges including lakes and rigid berms that add an extra level of difficulty to every shot. The first hole features a fairway covered in berms with a pond protecting the green, challenges that will be present throughout your round. In addition to the well-maintained golf course, players can take advantage of Forest Ridge’s high-end amenities that include two beautiful clubhouses and an upscale restaurant that ranks in the top 20 nationally on Golf Pass' list of best off-course amenities.
Turkey Creek Golf Course - Hennessey
Turkey Creek Golf Course’s 18 holes play roughly 6,400 yards from the longest of the three-tee options. There are short par 5 holes throughout the par-70 course that can be reached in two shots, providing aggressive players opportunities to put birdies and eagles on their scorecards.
Lincoln Park West Golf Course - Oklahoma City
Lincoln Park Golf Course’s west course consists of 18 holes that provide a tournament-quality experience from the first tee to the last green. The 6,600-yard course begins with a par 5 that features a large green which leaves a lot of room for creative approach shots. On several holes, the massive lake that sits on the property will come into play, forcing players to make difficult choices about how to approach each shot.
Trosper Park Golf Course - Oklahoma City
Expansive putting greens, lush fairways and a player-friendly layout are just a few things you’ll find at Oklahoma City’s Trosper Park Golf Club. The course consists of 18 holes with minimal sand and water traps, making it one of the fastest courses to play in central Oklahoma.
Stretching roughly 6,600 yards from the back tees with a small creek that meanders through the entire course, golfers at Trosper will feel little pressure when taking their tee shots. The collection of bunkers and trickily-placed trees provide just enough of a challenge to keep more advanced players engaged without frustrating casual golfers.
KickingBird Golf Course - Edmond
Since its opening in 1971, KickingBird Golf Club has established itself as one of the premier courses in the state. It has hosted the Oklahoma Open several times as well as the Oklahoma State Amateur tournament.
Following a nearly $21 million renovation that was completed in 2023, the course stretches roughly 6,900 yards. Precise tee shots should be a high priority to avoid the thick collections of trees that line the rough. The front and back-nine holes are par-35 and feature one par 5 each, both of which are relatively short and provide players with a great opportunity to score low. The course features minimal water and sand traps, which makes for an overall enjoyable experience for golfers of all skill levels. The clubhouse is also home to The Lookout at KickingBird, a full service restaurant that serves breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner and features a connecting sports bar.
Lake Hefner Golf Club North - Oklahoma City
One of two courses at the Lake Hefner Golf Club, Hefner North provides golfers a challenging experience with a breathtaking view of Lake Hefner. The lake adds an extra challenge to the course in addition to the man-made ponds and sand traps that are scattered throughout the 18 holes.
The north course at Hefner is surrounded by the lake, adding a bordering water hazard to nearly every hole. Designed by Randy Heckenkemper, the course plays just under 7,000 yards from the back tees, with the longest hole being the par-five fourth hole. It includes a 590-yard dogleg right with a water hazard just before the green.
