Cardinal Hills, a Golf Course in Liberty

Cardinal Hill is a golf course on Liberty’s northern edge.  The course has been there since about 1970 under the ownership of William Jewel College, but has recently been changed from the previous name of Clay Crest Golf Course in March of 2009.  Locals come out to enjoy a game on these green, dipping forest hills, including cool and overcast winter days.

Players come in all year says assistant course manager Jeff Zimmerman, “unless there’s snow on the ground”.  Zimmerman says that players “are in here not-stop from open to close.”  On this 43 degree day, there were about nine players on hole and at the driving range in 360 degree view from the club house, younger and older, male and female.

Many players come from Liberty, but not all.  According to Zimmerman, some come from Gladstone, Parkville and play here on behalf of local school programs for primary and secondary schools.  “North Kansas City ladies’ golf team plays out here, and so do the boys.”

For young players, there is a junior program.  “It’s a huge one.  It’s like 150 kids,” says Zimmerman.  Because of the size, Cardinal Hill is beginning a two-year program to include more young people wanting to play golf.  “Also, Kansas City Golf Association is an organization in the Kansas City area that puts on a junior program.  It’s a summer program.”  The organization plays at many courses throughout the summer, one of the stops being here in Liberty’s Cardinal Hill Club.  Zimmerman says that they will be played again this coming summer’s program, as well. 

Like many places, this golfer’s playground offers teaching from in-house instructors Jim Jamis or Zimmerman himself.  “We can do groups---whatever people want to do”, Zimmerman says.  People can come in at any time to schedule personal lessons or group lessons to improve their golf game.  This course also houses other opportunities for the public as a Liberty location that can be used for charity events and for tournaments.  “We stage the carts, we do the range of course…we score the event for them, make their food---whatever they need we give them.” 

“One of our marshals runs an event year.  It’s for exotic birds---a fundraiser for them.” Most recruiting for the various events that happen on the course is done by the tournament organizers.  For example, a local Hospital will sign up its staff to play and the club will provide the course.

“All our tournaments are open to the public.   We usually try to have one a month---different tournament---open to the public.  One of them is called Sizzlin’ Summer Scramble.” This particular event “turned out to be an annual one”, he says.  Scrambles, by the way, may have prizes.  He says, “we’ve got scrambles that pay.  First prize [for example] gets 100 bucks gift certificate in the shop.”

There are other events Liberty and surrounding area local golfers to be a part.  “We run mini-leagues out here.  We’ve got a Thursday night men’s league that I put on.  [It’s] open to the public---whoever wants in, I put on a league.  It’s 15 to 30 people.  It’s a just a fun thing,” Zimmerman says.

Liberty has some good sites to have a good time:  the square, local restaurants and event spaces, and a couple of golf courses to play.  To set a tee time for Cardinal Hill, click here.  For Liberty Hills, click here for a guest coupon before March 15.

Keep It Real,

Carl G.