What's good that's public in or near St. Louis?

[Mike Mosely]

So my friend Mike D'Accurzio is going to the St. Louis Tour stop/Fed-ex cup extravaganza next week and wants to know if he should bother to bring his clubs.  I told him I don't know anything about Missouri public golf, but I have friends who do.  Any suggestions for my buddy?  he's a 12 handicap who likes seeing new things.  he didn't even mind Tobacco Road when I sent him down there...

[rjsimper]

Gateway National and Annbriar are two publics that I have played and thought were decent.

If price is a major factor, I did not think Aberdeen was bad at all for the $$.

[John Kavanaugh]

I think Forest Park is the largest urban park in the US.  If he is alone, or with family, it is a great place to spend the day including golf or not.  The zoo and art museums are contiguous and free.  I recommend a quick trip to the Penguin House and then a short walk up the hill to view the collection of George Caleb Bingham paintings on the first floor of the museum.  Jolly Flatboatmen in Port will leave a smile on your friends face for the duration of his trip.  While neither the course, museum or zoo stands on its own for a given detour, the three together make a can't miss opportunity.

[Mike Mosely]

Wow, John.  That actually sounds really nice.  Do you have any pics?  Why the penguin house?

[Tom Walsh]

also in Forest Park- Triple A (9 holes) in great condition
try Normandie (18 holes, Foulis 1903) should be in good condition

I second the rec for Forest Park (now called Norman Probstein) 27 holes. It's in outstanding condition.

[John Kavanaugh]

A link to Forest Park: http://stlouis.missouri.org/citygov/parks/forestpark/

I recommend the Penguin House because it is right through the gate that faces the Art Museum.  Parking is going to be difficult given that it looks like that weekend is going to be historic in its beauty.  I like to park up at the Art Museum because it is free, available and a short walk down to the gate I mentioned.  The Penguin House is a new addition to an already fantastic zoo.  On a typical hot/humid St. Louis day it offers a cool down opportunity and up close visuals with a redolence of summer youth.  What can I say, I'm a sucker for the Penguins.

[Steve Pozaric]

Second for Gateway and Annbrair.  Avoid Aberdeen at present, I am told it is in terrible shape (which is too bad because I thought it decent).  Forest Park (FoPo) is interesting, but as John K said, the course is in the middle of the park.  You get to see a lot of roller bladers and joggers which can be a nice distraction; you also might find a family or two on the course who don't realize that the nice closely mown area is not in fact a picnic ground!

[Buck Wolter]

Gateway has been horribly wet this summer by nature and an assist from the superintendent I think. I haven't played it in a month but last time out it had mushrooms growing everywhere in the fairways. Still the best public especially if you want to walk but it's much better when it's a bit dry-- I think it's amazing what Foster did there with a dead-flat, brownfield site.

Jeff Stetner was organizing a trip to Columbia here to play Old Hawthorne with the Archie Art Schaupeter on Friday the 5th but that would take a full day away from the 'Western Open BMW Championship playoff for the Fedex Cup at Bellerive'.

[J_ Crisham]

In Alton, IL just about a 30 minute drive from St. Louis is Spencer T. Olin Golf Course a good but not great Palmer design. It held a US Woman's Publinx a few years back. As a side show in Alton you can see a memorial statue of Robert Wadlow the tallest person ever, 8'11"!     Jack

[Ian Andrew]

Old Hawthorne by Art Schaupeter

From Art: 18 plays about 415 yards from the tips.  Lots of choices here.  The farther left you play, the easier the tee shot, but the more blind the second shot to the green becomes.  The right hand fairway over the bunkers opens up the best view of the green, though even from that angle it isn't all obvious.  The clubhouse is going to encompass the existing house, with wings extending off both sides.  They haven't begun that work yet.

[Jim Nugent]

As a side show in Alton you can see a memorial statue of Robert Wadlow the tallest person ever, 8'11"!     Jack

You can also see the Piasa Bird painting up on a bluff by the Mississippi River. 

Wadlow was known as the Alton Giant.  My dad told me he saw him walking down the street one day in St. Louis. 

[JWinick]

Didn't realize how cuddly you were, John.  I used to live there and second Ann Briar and Gateway.  Gateway is literally 5 minutes from downtown, whereas Ann Briar is a good 30 minutes.  Even though I was once a member at Gateway, I think Ann Briar is better.   

I would do the Busch brewery tour and maybe check out some of the casinos.  St. Louis is a bit on the mediocre side, solid, but nothing you can't miss.

A link to Forest Park: http://stlouis.missouri.org/citygov/parks/forestpark/

I recommend the Penguin House because it is right through the gate that faces the Art Museum.  Parking is going to be difficult given that it looks like that weekend is going to be historic in its beauty.  I like to park up at the Art Museum because it is free, available and a short walk down to the gate I mentioned.  The Penguin House is a new addition to an already fantastic zoo.  On a typical hot/humid St. Louis day it offers a cool down opportunity and up close visuals with a redolence of summer youth.  What can I say, I'm a sucker for the Penguins.