Belk Park Golf Course

Belk Park was the premier public course in the St. Louis metro area before 1990. Then numerous new golf courses were built making Belk Park not the go-to golf course it once was. It is a course for those who like a mostly flat course, wide open off the tee and a low price. We paid $27 for a Friday tee time. This price seems wonderful; however, you can play much better golf courses, which are in better shape for $10-15 more during the week at a senior rate. Those would be Spencer T. Olin, Far Oaks and Gateway National. I would recommend these courses to play over Belk Park.

Belk Park has a major problem with drainage in the fairways, especially on the front side. These would be holes 2, 4, 5, 7, 9 & 14 on the back. The landing areas on most of these are horrendous. The fairways on holes 5 & 9, have weeds that look like crabgrass. Several tees were in rough shape too from the gold tees (holes 1, 5, 16 & 18)

The greens were in good shape. The speed of them was acceptable – medium speed. The pace of play was much better than the last time I played here. The bunkers looked well-maintained, however, one bunker on hole 8 did not have enough sand.

Great down and back course. Course was in great shape

I think this was the first time in my golfing career, I lost interest in golf during the round. After waiting 5-10 minutes on every shot, hole 17 was the hole where I truly lost interest. There were 3 groups on the 17th tee box – almost 4 groups. Holes 2 & 3 are very difficult and they always set the tone of slow play throughout the day.

The fairways were not good either. So many holes (especially in the landing areas), the drainage is so poor. There are numerous areas where there is no grass. Examples would be holes: 2, 4, 5, 7, 9 & 13.

The greens did look great, however, when you walked on them, they felt spongy. They were some of the slowest greens I’ve ever putted on. On hole 3, there were sections where tree roots were exposed on the green.

The tee boxes were not in the best shape either. Uneven, dirt patches, clover, etc.

The cart paths have never been repaired. Some of the roughest you will experience.

The only saving grace to this course was their price of $47. It was the top public course in the St. Louis area back before the mid-eighties. It also has some good design, especially the back nine.

It was really slow play but 2 guys passed us on the turn w/out asking us even though they couldn’t play any faster because of groups in front of us. Then they decided on 16 to hit like 5 or 6 balls into the green and chip and putt them. We called them out on that and they said they had to wait anyway so why not practice?

But the course was in pretty good condition.

It rained the day before, so it was cart path only. A lot of the fairways had standing water and didn’t get much roll.