Prairie Dunes Country Club - Golf Architects

Perry Maxwell’s Masterpiece in the Middle of Nowhere

The tagline says it best – “A little bit of Scotland in the Land of Oz.” Perry Maxwell built the original 9 in 1937 for a salt tycoon, Emerson Carey. The only machines used for the course’s construction were two Fords, a Model A and a Model T. The rest was done by 18 horses and mules, and a lot of manpower.

His son, Press Maxwell, added the second 9 in 1956 and Coore-Crenshaw renovated the course in 2004. If you’re lucky enough to have played Prairie Dunes before, it’s worth a third 9 to play Perry Maxwell’s original 9-hole layout, detailed on YouTube by The Fried Egg. (They also cover the full Perry & Press 18 holes on YouTube with Maxwell’s Masterpiece: Prairie Dunes.) It’s hard to believe each 9 holes on this course were built 20 years apart. Despite the original course consisting holes 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 17, and 18. The routing feels natural and the holes flow together as beautifully as any original course layout. It makes the Perry Maxwell original quote both prophetic and wise, “There are 118 holes here, and all I have to do is eliminate 100.” It’s clear Press Maxwell was equally adept at eliminating holes.

Prairie Dunes is the best course in the state of Kansas and one of the best in the Midwest. It is perennially rated a top course in both the United States and the world.

Prairie Dunes National & International Course Rankings

Golf Digest – 2023 – 2024 | #23 in America’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses
Golf Digest – 2020 – 2021 | #25 in America’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses
Golf Week – 2020 – 2021 | #11 Best Classic Courses
Golf Magazine – 2019 – 2020 | #18 in the Top 100 Courses in the U.S.
Golf Magazine – 2020 – 2021 | #31 in the Top 100 Courses in the World

Golf Tournaments Hosted at Prairie Dunes

The private club has also hosted a slew of golf tournaments over the years, including a US Women’s Open and Men’s NCAA Championship.

Trans Miss – 1958 | Jack Nicklaus, Champion | 1973, 1987, 1996, 2017 | Cameron Champ, Champion
US Women’s Amateur – 1964 | Barbara McIntire, Champion
US Women’s Amateur – 1980 | Juli Inkster, Champion
Curtis Cup Matches – 1986
US Mid Amateur – 1988 | David Eger, Champion
US Women’s Amateur – 1991 | Amy Fruhwirth, Champion
US Women’s Open – 2002 | Juli Inkster, Champion
US Senior Open – 2006 | Allen Doyle, Champion
Men’s NCAA Championship – 2014 | Alabama Crimson Tide, Team Champion
Big 12 Men’s Golf Championships – 14-Time Tournament Host -’97, ’98, ’99, ’00, ’01, ’02, ’04, ’07, ’09, ’11, ’13, ’17, ’21, ’23

The Golf Course Superintendents Association of America Video: Interview with Jim Campbell, Superintendent – Prairie Dunes

More Information: Prairie Dunes Country Club Website