Lake of the Woods Golf Course

About Lake of the Woods Golf Course

Lake of the Woods is the City of Columbia's course out east of town, on 145 acres it shares with a public pool and a fishing lake. It's par 71 from every set of tees, 6,369 yards from the blues (71.3 rating, 131 slope), with whites at 5,952, a combo set at 5,282 and reds at 4,767. The course calls itself relatively flat, which makes it an easy one to get around, and there are three water hazards, two of them in play. Expect big zoysia fairways, bentgrass greens, bunkers and mature trees.

It has a longer backstory than most munis. It started around 1950 as Forest Hill Country Club, nine holes with sand greens plus a three-hole warm-up course where the 18th is now. The greens went to grass in 1965, and Johnny Gavin, the pro at Columbia Country Club, designed the back nine that was added in 1972. The city bought the club in the mid-1970s and Parks and Recreation renamed it Lake of the Woods. The clubhouse by the first tee went up in 1996, and the driving range, with two irrigated bermuda tee boxes and target greens, was built in 2018.

The course stays open year round when the weather allows; the rule of thumb is a forecast high of at least 40 degrees. A solo rider cart is available for golfers with limited mobility; give 48 hours notice. City lessons are taught at L.A. Nickell, not here.

It's one of 26 courses Yoink watches in the Lake of the Ozarks & Columbia area, and L.A. Nickell Golf Course is practically next door — handy when your first choice is booked solid.

Booking a tee time at Lake of the Woods Golf Course

Tee times open 7 days ahead, online or by phone, and booked times take priority over walk-ins every day. On the day of play you can pick up whatever's left in person or by calling the clubhouse at (573) 499-GOLF (4653), extension 2. Shirts with sleeves are required and no outside coolers or alcohol are allowed.

How to get a tee time at Lake of the Woods Golf Course