Forbes Golf Course sits on the grounds of the former Forbes Air Force Base in southwest Topeka, Kansas. The course was designed by Bob E. Baldock, a California-based architect who worked extensively on military and municipal projects across the western United States during the mid-twentieth century. Baldock's designs typically emphasized playability and maintenance efficiency, qualities well-suited to courses serving military personnel and public golfers.
The layout occupies relatively flat terrain characteristic of the Kansas landscape, with mature tree plantings defining fairway corridors and providing strategic interest on an otherwise open site. The course operates as a public facility following the base's closure and conversion to civilian use in the 1970s, serving both Topeka residents and visitors. Its routing reflects the practical design approach common to military courses of its era, offering straightforward golf without excessive length or severe hazards.
Forbes provides accessible golf in Kansas's capital city, maintaining the unpretentious character typical of courses built to serve military communities. The facility includes standard practice areas and a clubhouse that supports casual play and local competitions. For golfers traveling through the region or Topeka locals seeking a round, the course offers a functional layout in a setting that reflects both its military heritage and its role in the community's recreational infrastructure.
FAQ
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
Forbes was designed by Bob E. Baldock.
Yes. Forbes at Forbes Golf Course is listed as welcoming public or guest play on Course Vaults.
Par at Forbes is 36.
Forbes plays 3,203 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at Forbes is 132.
Forbes is a 9-hole course.