
Oakwood Course
Oakwood Country Club


About this course
Oakwood Country Club sits in Kansas City, Missouri, and features a design by Tom Bendelow, the prolific Scottish-born architect who laid out hundreds of courses across America in the early twentieth century. Bendelow, who worked for A.G. Spalding and later independently, became known for creating playable, strategic layouts that suited the needs of growing golf communities. His designs typically emphasized thoughtful routing over dramatic earth-moving, making efficient use of existing terrain. The course occupies rolling Midwestern terrain characteristic of the Kansas City area, where natural elevation changes and mature tree-lined corridors define the playing corridors. Bendelow's routing philosophy generally favored variety in hole length and direction, with greens that rewarded accurate approach play. The layout reflects the design principles of its era, when courses were built to challenge skilled players while remaining accessible to the broader membership. Oakwood Country Club serves as a traditional private club in the Kansas City golf community, maintaining the kind of member-focused culture typical of established country clubs in the region. The course has undergone modifications over the decades, as most designs from Bendelow's era have, to accommodate changes in equipment technology and maintenance practices. It represents one of many Bendelow designs that continue to provide the foundation for club golf in American cities, preserving elements of early course architecture while adapting to contemporary play.
Rankings
Ranked by CV ratings from golfers who've played this course. Positions are shown worldwide, by country, and by state; the Private column compares member-only and guest-restricted courses.
Best in World
Best in USA
Best in MO
Quick facts
- Location
- Kansas City, MO, USA
- Access
- Private
- Year built
- 1912
- Holes
- 18
- Designer
- Tom Bendelow
- Par
- 72
- Length
- 6,528 yards
- Difficulty
- 72.5/134
- Course Vaults score
- 8.0
Getting there
Oakwood Country Club sits gracefully in the heart of Kansas City's most prestigious residential enclave, accessible via Kansas City International Airport (MCI), roughly twenty minutes north by car, or via the closer Charles B. Wheeler Downtown Airport (MKC) for those arriving by private aircraft. The drive from either hub carries you through the leafy neighborhoods that define the city's south side, where tree-lined boulevards and brick estates signal your entry into one of the Midwest's most established golfing communities. The final approach winds through quiet, manicured streets before arriving at Oakwood's gates - a seamless transition from urban sophistication to the serene grounds where this venerable club has anchored Kansas City's golf heritage for over a century.

FAQ
Common questions about Oakwood
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
Oakwood has a Course Vaults score of 8.0 out of 10 based on 23 logged golfers.
Oakwood was designed by Tom Bendelow.
Oakwood is listed as private on Course Vaults; guest access is typically restricted.
Par at Oakwood is 72.
Oakwood plays 6,528 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at Oakwood is 134.



