The Courses at Forest Park

The Dogwood Course at Forest Park stands as one of three public layouts within St. Louis's expansive urban park system, sharing its grounds with the Highlands and Norman K. Probstein Golf Courses. The original routing dates to 1912, designed by Scottish immigrant Robert Foulis, who served as the first golf professional at the St. Louis Country Club and became an influential early course architect in the Midwest. Foulis created several layouts in Forest Park during the early twentieth century, establishing a tradition of accessible municipal golf in one of America's largest urban parks. The course underwent significant renovation under the direction of Hale Irwin, the three-time U.S. Open champion who transitioned to course design work. Irwin's involvement brought modern design principles to the historic routing while respecting the parkland character and mature tree canopy that defines golf at Forest Park. The layout plays through gently rolling terrain typical of the St. Louis region, with fairways framed by hardwoods and strategic bunkering that rewards thoughtful course management. Forest Park itself encompasses over 1,300 acres in the heart of St. Louis, hosting cultural institutions and recreational facilities alongside its golf courses. The Dogwood Course serves a diverse public clientele and maintains the democratic spirit of municipal golf that Foulis helped establish more than a century ago. The combination of historic roots and contemporary updates reflects the ongoing evolution of public golf in major American cities.