Prairie Green - South Dakota - USA

Prarie Green is a true public gem. While the course is high traffic at times and bears the maintenance burdens of public play, the layout is terrific. Despite winding its way through a ritzy neighborhood on the southside of Sioux Falls, the Front nine has the look of an inland links-style course. The main drawbacks of the front nine are the number of water hazards that come into play, owing to the fact the course was built on a wetland area. Holes two and three are two of the standouts, with excellent contouring and bunkering. The back nine plays almost the opposite of the front, with abundant elevation changes in the early part of the nine, easing back into the inland links-style by the end of the course. Holes 11, 12, 14, and 15 are all stand-out holes with demanding ball-striking required for success. The highlight of the course is its use of prairie grass to frame the holes, with bunkering and mounding to add texture. The downside, however, is that Prarie Green is a busy public course that winds its way through neighborhoods, disrupting any of the ambiances that the course design itself sought to create. Overall, well worth a play if you find yourself looking for a round in Sioux Falls.