Three Public Golf Courses to Play in the OKC Metro

I've played these three courses more times than I can possibly count. Each has a slightly different atmosphere, but all are a good choice for either a weekend round of 18 holes or a quick 9-hole round in the evenings during the week. Coffee Creek Golf Club in Edmond, OK, is a corporate-owned course that is open to the public. John Conrad Golf Course is a municipal course in Midwest City, OK, and Trosper Golf Club is an Oklahoma City municipal course located on the southeast side of the city.

Coffee Creek has the feel of a country club with its spacious pro shop and Out of Bounds grill. The club includes a driving range and practice putting green. The course itself is well-landscaped and is surrounded by homes in the Coffee Creek neighborhood. This is a par 70 course that offers many challenges to the average golfer. Beginning golfers may find some of the holes a little too challenging. Several of the holes require the golfer to shoot over water, but 13 and 18 are the ones that always seem to attract my balls. The Par 3s at 5, 8, 11 and 14 are all straightforward holes that can help you get your score back on track if you've struggled with the water hazards or dog legs. To help with your game, the golf carts at Coffee Creek are outfitted with a GPS system. If you're able to park the cart next to your ball, then you'll get yardage to the green and even information about hazards and other tips to help you make the best shot. The score card is available online at the Coffee Creek Web site and you can also book tee times online. This course is busy on the weekends, so I generally prefer to play during the week.

John Conrad is a course I've played many times as part of a golf league. Although the fairways and greens are well-maintained, you won't get the same feel as a course like Coffee Creek that is landscaped with flowers and shrubs. The clubhouse is small, even for a municipal course. However, you'll find that a lot of regulars golf at John Conrad and that the course manager, Larry Denney, is well-known in the golf community in the Mid-Del area. The course includes a driving range and a practice putting green. The fairways on most of the holes are wide open, often with sand traps along the edges and water hazards that must be crossed or that run alongside the hole. This is a Par 72 course that is 6854 yards from the championship tees and 5511 from the ladies' tees. I enjoy playing this course mainly because I like to walk a course and John Conrad is relatively flat and easy to walk. In addition, since it is a municipal course, it is very reasonably priced. The course hosts a number of leagues and tournaments in spring and summer, so I recommend always calling ahead for a tee time. More inforamtion is available at the Midwest City Parks and Recreation Web site.

Trosper is a wooded course with a creek meandering through it and many sand bunkers around the greens. The water does not come into play as much as it does on Coffee Creek and John Conrad. This course is a good one for families to play as it is a relatively short Par 70 course. It too provides a driving range and a practice putting green. I find the first hole and the last hole the most challenging. The rest of the holes are relatively straight on. However, if you're a golfer prone to hitting into the trees, you may find yourself frequently in the woods. The course has four sets of tees that allow players of all skill levels to play comfortably. You can view the score card and find more information at the Oklahoma City Golf Web site. Like John Conrad, a number of leagues and tournaments call this course home, so call ahead for tee times.

The Oklahoma City area has many golf courses to choose from. Over the years, I've found that I return to these three over and over and enjoy myself each time. I recommend Coffee Creek for regular golfers who can maintain a steady pace of play and John Conrad and Trosper for new players and those who tend to play a bit more on the slow side.