Hillcrest Golf Course

Hillcrest Golf Course in Coffeyville, Kansas represents the work of Perry Maxwell, one of the most influential golf architects of the early-to-mid twentieth century, with contributions from Smiley Bell. Maxwell, based in nearby Oklahoma, designed numerous courses throughout the Great Plains and Southwest during the 1920s and 1930s, bringing sophisticated strategic design principles to regional municipal and semi-private facilities. His work at Hillcrest reflects his characteristic attention to natural contours and green complexes that reward thoughtful approach play. The course occupies rolling terrain in southeastern Kansas, near the Oklahoma border. Maxwell's routing takes advantage of the property's elevation changes and native landscape, creating a layout that plays longer than its yardage suggests due to the undulating ground. The design features the architect's trademark green sites, with subtle breaks and false fronts that demand precision on approaches. Strategic bunkering and the property's natural movement provide variety in shot-making requirements throughout the round. Coffeyville, a small city with deep roots in Kansas history, supports Hillcrest as a community facility that has served local golfers for decades. The course represents an accessible example of Maxwell's design philosophy outside his better-known championship venues. While it lacks the tournament history of his major works, Hillcrest demonstrates the architect's ability to create engaging golf on modest budgets and in smaller markets, a significant part of his regional legacy.