Southern Hills Golf Course

Southern Hills Golf Course sits in the Black Hills region of western South Dakota, near the historic resort town of Hot Springs. The course was designed by Richard Phelps, a regional architect whose work appears primarily across the northern Great Plains and mountain states during the mid-to-late twentieth century. The layout takes advantage of the rolling terrain characteristic of the Black Hills foothills, where ponderosa pine forests meet open grassland valleys. The routing likely incorporates elevation changes and natural contours typical of courses built in this transitional landscape between prairie and mountain environments. Players encounter a mix of tree-lined corridors and more open holes that allow views of the surrounding hills. The design reflects the practical, playable style common to regional courses of its era, emphasizing strategic use of existing topography rather than extensive earthmoving or manufactured features. Hot Springs developed as a spa destination in the late nineteenth century, and the town's golf course serves both local members and visitors drawn to the area's thermal springs and outdoor recreation opportunities. The Black Hills region experiences distinct seasonal play, with the course typically open from spring through fall. Southern Hills functions as a community golf facility in a relatively remote setting, offering a straightforward test of golf amid the natural beauty of southwestern South Dakota's forested highlands.