Elks at Elks Golf & Country Club

Elks Golf & Country Club in Shawnee, Oklahoma, was designed by Perry Maxwell, the renowned architect whose work across Oklahoma and the broader region helped define strategic golf course design in the early-to-mid twentieth century. Maxwell, known for his routing sensitivity and use of natural terrain, created courses that emphasized thoughtful shot-making over pure length. His portfolio includes Southern Hills in Tulsa and Prairie Dunes in Kansas, among many others, and his influence on American golf architecture remains significant.

The course sits in central Oklahoma, where the landscape typically features rolling terrain with native grasses and stands of hardwood trees. Maxwell's designs in this region generally work with existing land contours rather than imposing artificial features, creating holes that feel organic to their setting. His greens are characteristically contoured with subtle breaks and strategic bunkering that rewards precise approach play.

Elks Golf & Country Club serves as a traditional private club in Shawnee, a city located between Oklahoma City and Tulsa. The club provides a social and recreational center for its membership, typical of community country clubs established in smaller Oklahoma cities during the early-to-mid twentieth century. Maxwell's work at this level—beyond his most famous championship venues—demonstrates his ability to create engaging golf on varied budgets and scales, bringing strategic interest to courses serving local memberships.