Overland Park wants to improve Sykes-Lady Golf Course

Overland Park wants to bring a new design and new excitement to its “other” golf course.

Since the city renovated and redesigned St. Andrew’s Golf Course a couple of years ago, it has become the most heavily played public course in the metropolitan area.

Now, the city hopes a similar overhaul could re-energize the Sykes-Lady Golf Course at 125th Street and Quivira Road.

A preliminary plan calls for carving several new holes out of a sizable wooded area on the northwest edge of the course. City officials say that when golfers are asked what they like most about the updated St. Andrews layout, they usually cite the new holes that were created in the woods there.

Plans also call for redesigning and renovating several existing holes on the main course as well as the nine-hole, par three course. There also would be installation or repair of some cart paths, bunkers and tee boxes.

The city is working on the plans with Todd Clark of CE Golf Design, who did the St. Andrews re-design.

Sandy Queen, manager of city golf course operations, said work on the first phase of renovations is expected to begin in September 2011. It is undetermined what will be included in that first phase, but Queen said it probably would not involve putting those new holes in the woods. He said it would be more logical to undertake other changes first.

The total 27-hole golf course includes the nine-hole West Links layout, which is located a couple of blocks southwest of the main complex. During renovations, 18 holes will remain open at all times, Queen said.

All improvements would be financed with revenues generated through golf course fees. Queen said the city usually collects a profit of about $300,000 to $500,000 a year, and that money is set aside for improvements. It is expected that the first phase will cost $500,000 to $750,000.

Before proceeding with any changes, the city will get reactions and input from the public. Queen said ideas and opinions offered will get serious consideration when the final plans and work schedules are put together.

The first public hearing is scheduled for 7 p.m. Aug. 5 at the St. Andrews Course, 11099 W. 135th St.

For years, the most popular of the two city courses was the Sykes-Lady layout, which until recently was named the Overland Park Golf Course. The St. Andrew’s makeover changed that situation dramatically.

“Overland Park rounds continue to go down. But you have to continually reinvest in and revitalize a golf course,” Queen said.

Course play and revenues also have been hurt by the recession and by increased competition from several new high-quality public golf courses around the metropolitan area. This year, Queen said, play has been dealt a blow by the rainy weather, much of which has come on weekends.

In the more distant future, the city plans to renovate and expand the course clubhouse. It is older and one-third the size of the St. Andrews clubhouse, which opened in 1997. Queen said some design work has been done on the clubhouse plan, but construction work on a new facility would not begin until course improvements are completed. Cost estimates for the clubhouse project have been placed at about $600,000.

Contact Loren Stanton at 385-6068 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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