From Cattle to Korn Ferry
The club’s original greens were once fenced to keep cattle out—proof of Crestview’s deep Kansas roots. Its newest era as host of the Wichita Open puts it on professional radar each year.
The verdict
A Private Classic With PGA Pedigree
Crestview South is a quintessential Robert Trent Jones layout—broad fairways, rolling terrain, and shotmaking requirements define this Wichita mainstay. While it flies under the radar nationally, its strong membership tradition and Korn Ferry Tour pedigree make it a must-play for those with access. Get ready for genuine championship bones paired with a classic private club experience.
Course DNA
Difficulty
73
Scenery61
Conditioning78
Shot Variety68
Walkability66
Green Complexity70
Wow Factor65
Design Quality70
Don't miss
Check out the club’s hole-by-hole flyover videos online before playing for a true preview of South’s strategic tests.
At a glance
Quick facts
Longest Hole
No. 4 – 604-yard par 5
Home Event
Wichita Open, Korn Ferry Tour/Americas
Course Rating / Slope
73.5 / 132 (Black tees)
Club Relocated
Moved to present site in 1969
Original Club Established
1921 in Wichita
Major Designer Maxim
"Hard par, easy bogey" – RTJ Sr.
Facility
36 holes, full-member amenities
The design
The architecture
Crestview Country Club’s South Course is an archetype of the Robert Trent Jones Sr. era—a broad-shouldered parkland layout shaped with 1960s strategic thinking and built to challenge strong play from the tips while providing member-friendly routes for everyday golf. Fairways are framed by mature corridors, with Jones’s philosophy for 'hard pars, easy bogeys' implemented in length, well-placed bunkers, and green complexes that favor bold lines. The par 71 routing delivers a run of both brawny two-shotters and reachable par 5s that reward careful decision-making on both layups and approaches.
Robert Trent Jones Sr. channeled his signature 'hard par, easy bogey' design mantra, creating holes that test the elite but remain playable for regulars—the soul of a private club built for all skill levels.
Defining features
- Tournament-ready championship routing
- Tree-lined fairways demanding shot placement
- Large, subtly contoured greens
- Classic risk-reward par 5s
- Jones’s hallmark strategic bunkering
Hole by hole
Signature holes
Hole 1
Opening Gauntlet
PAR
4
YARDAGE
422
The first tee at Crestview South sets the tone by demanding a confident drive and a long-iron approach into a sizable, guarded green. The subtle dogleg and mature trees make placement off the tee even more critical for any hope of a clean start.
Play it smart
Favor the right-center of the fairway; a misstep left brings tree trouble, and coming up short on approach can mean a difficult up-and-down.
Where it bites
A bold play left can leave no shot to the green—missing right is costly too, so precision is a must off the tee.
Course management
Shots to think about
Nervous opening tee
Favor controlled length—don't chase extra yards left and risk the trees on No. 1.
Second shot on No. 4
Resist the urge to bite off too much; keep it in position for the third and trust your wedge.
Attacking par 3s
Target the safe third of the green; par is a good score with the surrounding bunkers and narrow shapes.
Layup options on par 5s
Set up your favorite full wedge—partial shots bring trouble from fairway bunkers and tree angles.
Long approach on No. 13
Favor the fat side—even top competitors rarely hold the narrow left with a long iron.
18th hole nerves
Pick your best target and accept the center of the green on your closing approach.
Missed greens
Play for a simple chip rather than a hero flop; South Course greens reward smart recovery lines.
On the day
What to expect
Conditions
Steady private-club conditioning with rolling fairways, classic tree-lined corridors, and fast but fair greens.
Pace
Typically member-paced with reserved tee times; not a public rush, so expect a steady round.
Vibe
Traditional, understated, and focused on member camaraderie rather than resort buzz.
Dress code
Private-club standards: collared shirts, proper golf attire at all times.
Before you tee off
Your game plan
01
Dial in Long Irons
Several lengthy par 4s and par 3s require precise, confident long-iron play off elevated tees and tight lies.
02
Trust Strategic Layups
Layups matter as much as bombs—rehearse your preferred wedge distances for three-shot holes.
03
Get Green Speeds
Ask a member or the pro shop for the day’s green speeds, as the classic Jones contours can turn slick in summer.
The lore
How it came to be
- 1921
Crestview Country Club founded by three businessmen west of Wichita
- 1921
James Dalgleish credited with laying out the original club's golf grounds
- 1969
Club relocates and opens South Course, designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr.
- 1989
Wichita Open professional tournament moves to Crestview
- 2015
Playing surface and bunker modernization reported by Golf Design Unlimited
- 2023
Club announces bunker renovation project
Stories & legends
What makes it special
A Club's Great Migration
Few courses can claim to have been uprooted and fully relocated like Crestview, but the 1969 move allowed Robert Trent Jones Sr. to put his stamp on a fresh canvas. Today’s South Course is a testament to reinvention and classic American design.
A Family Affair
Generations of Wichita golf families have learned the game on Crestview’s fairways. Its two courses make the club a social anchor in east Wichita, where rivalries and friendships both run deep.
For the group chat
Fun facts
1
The original greens at the old Crestview site were fenced to keep out wandering cattle.
2
Robert Trent Jones Sr.'s design philosophy—'hard par, easy bogey'—lives in every hole.
3
The South Course regularly hosts the Wichita Open, a respected Korn Ferry Tour/Americas stop.
4
The club boasts 36 holes, doubling options for members and guests.
5
Crestview survived relocation, fire, and the Great Depression in its century-plus history.
Build the trip
If you're making a Wichita golf trip out of it
CourseAccessWhy it's on the listTrip
Sand Creek Station
Public
Destination public with open, fun layout just north in Newton.
Cherry Oaks Golf Club
Public
Relaxed, playable course west of town for a casual round.
Wichita Country Club
Private
Wichita’s grand old club—classic test if you land an invite.
Tallgrass Country Club
Private
Another strong area private, often noted among Wichita’s elite.
Prairie Dunes Country Club
Private
National icon, worth the drive if you secure access for a bucket-list day.
East or northeast Wichita is your best hub—close to Crestview and within range of downtown and airport lodging.
Course DNA
If You Like Crestview Country Club South Course
Courses with the most similar DNA profile — matched by deviation shape across all eight playing characteristics.
Strong DNA Match8.0
The Ohio State University Golf Club - Scarlet Course
Columbus, OhioWhy it matches: What links these two? A comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character — a familiar feeling, expressed in The Ohio State University Golf Club - Scarlet Course's own setting.
Strong DNA Match7.5
Woodland Country Club
Carmel, IndianaWhy it matches: There is real overlap here. Woodland Country Club a comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character, making it a compelling counterpart to Crestview Country Club South Course.
Strong DNA Match7.2
Framingham Country Club
Framingham, MassachusettsConditioning
Why it matches: Framingham Country Club is a natural next stop after Crestview Country Club South Course: it offers similarly polished playing surfaces.
The architect's other work
More from Robert Trent Jones Sr.
Southern Hills Country Club
Tulsa, OklahomaA major-championship icon with Maxwell pedigree
Oakland Hills Country Club (South Course)
Bloomfield Hills, MichiganAmerica’s Monster: The Major Champion’s Test Awaits
RTJ Golf Trail at Capitol Hill (Judge Course)
Prattville, AlabamaDramatic, Water-Laced Public Championship Challenge
Wilmington Country Club
Wilmington, DelawareDelaware’s championship classic, modernized for PGA Tour
California Golf Club of San Francisco
South San Francisco, CaliforniaA Bay Area icon of strategic championship golf
Oakland Hills Country Club (North Course)
Bloomfield Hills, MichiganDonald Ross craft on hallowed Michigan ground
Community Sentiment
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