Blue Hills

Tom Watson is certainly the most successful golfer in the history of Kansas City (the Missouri side), so it’s significant that the eight-time major winner chose Blue Hills Country Club to host his long-running charity golf outing. For 25 years, a foursome that included Watson along with Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Lee Trevino, would take to the tree-lined fairways of Blue Hills, raising a cumulative $12 million for the city’s Children’s Hospital.

The club, which sits just within the Missouri border, is one that places value on tradition; perhaps that’s why during its century-plus of existence, there have only been five head professionals. The design itself has expanded — totaling more than 7,300 yards of golf in the present day — but has otherwise remained consistent with Robert Dunning’s original design, thanks to a series of green renovations and a series of forced carries over the property’s creek. Watson remains an honorary member...not to get your hopes up, but if you receive an invitation to play, keep your eyes open!