Representative image Photo: Phillip Capper from Wellington, New Zealand · CC BY 2.0
Prairie Dunes Country Club
Hutchinson, Kansas, United States
18 Holes · Par 70 · Private club — no published green fee; play is by member invitation · Links
— About
About Prairie Dunes Country Club
Prairie Dunes Country Club sits on the outskirts of Hutchinson, Kansas, and it is best known for proving that first-rate links golf does not need an ocean. Perry Maxwell laid out the first nine holes on sand dunes in central Kansas, and they opened on September 13, 1937. Emerson Carey and his four sons founded the club, and Works Progress Administration support helped pay for its construction during the Depression years. Press Maxwell, Perry's son, added the second nine in 1957, making use of the same natural flow of the dunes. The course plays to par 70, and its greens are known for the ripples that golfers call Maxwell's rolls. The eighth is the hole writers mention most, tumbling over some of the most impressive ground on the property, and the 17th is a long par 5. In 2002 Prairie Dunes hosted the US Women's Open, which Juli Inkster won by two strokes over Annika Sorenstam. It is a private club with no public play, so most golfers will see it only by invitation, or on television when a national championship visits. Prairie Dunes has hosted USGA championships beyond that Women's Open as well.
- Perry Maxwell's first nine holes opened on September 13, 1937, on sand dunes outside Hutchinson.
- Press Maxwell added the second nine in 1957, twenty years after his father's opening holes, giving the club its full 18.
- Emerson Carey and his four sons founded the club, and Works Progress Administration support helped build it.
- Juli Inkster won the 2002 US Women's Open here, finishing two strokes ahead of Annika Sorenstam.
- Maxwell's greens are rippled with contours known as Maxwell's rolls.
History of Prairie Dunes Country Club
Prairie Dunes was founded in the mid-1930s by Emerson Carey and his four sons, and Perry Maxwell designed the course they built on the outskirts of Hutchinson. The Works Progress Administration supported its construction. Maxwell built the first nine holes on the dune land, and those holes opened on September 13, 1937. For twenty years the club played a nine-hole course. In 1957 Press Maxwell, Perry's son, added a second nine, completing the 18 holes played today and taking advantage of the natural flow of the dunes. The club later hosted the US Women's Open in 2002, when Juli Inkster won by two strokes over Annika Sorenstam. The club has also hosted other USGA championships. Its dune setting and grassy, open character give it the look of a links, even though it sits in the middle of the United States. The club remains private.
Signature holes at Prairie Dunes Country Club
The eighth is a par 4 that writers describe as the best known hole at Prairie Dunes, and it tumbles over some of the most impressive terrain on the property, with huge waves of land around it. The 17th is a par 5, the kind of long hole that asks for two strong shots and a clear head near the end of the round. Across the round, the greens are the real test, because Maxwell's rolls, the ripples that rise to a point and fall away, turn a good approach into a difficult putt. That is as true on the front nine as on the back nine that Press Maxwell added.
When to play Prairie Dunes Country Club
Central Kansas golf generally runs from spring through early fall. Spring can be changeable, with wind passing across the plains, and wind is a regular factor in play at Prairie Dunes. Fall usually brings cooler days, which suits a course that plays open and firm. Because Prairie Dunes is private, the best time to visit is simply whenever a member can host you, and the calendar matters less than the invitation.
Playing Prairie Dunes Country Club: tips
Prairie Dunes is a private club that does not publish a green fee, so you will need a member's invitation to play. The club is at 4812 E 30th Ave in Hutchinson, Kansas, and its telephone number is 620.662.0581. The course plays as a par 70, and wind is a regular factor, so bring layers. Ask your host about dress code, whether to walk or ride, and where the group will eat before you arrive, and confirm the arrival time so the day runs smoothly.
Visit Prairie Dunes Country Club
4812 E 30th Avenue, Hutchinson, KS 67502
Hutchinson, Kansas, United States
— FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions about Prairie Dunes Country Club
Can the public play Prairie Dunes?
No. It is a private club, and the club does not publish a green fee. Play is by member invitation, so the practical route is to ask a member to host you.
Who designed Prairie Dunes?
Perry Maxwell built the first nine holes in 1937, and his son Press Maxwell added the second nine in 1957. Together they created the dune-based 18-hole course that stands today.
Which championships has Prairie Dunes hosted?
It hosted the US Women's Open in 2002, won by Juli Inkster by two strokes over Annika Sorenstam, and it has also hosted other USGA championships over the years.
Why is Prairie Dunes called a links course in Kansas?
The land is made of sand dunes and native prairie grasses, and the course plays open and firm. That combination gives it a links-style character even though the nearest ocean is far away.