Westwood - Missouri - USA

There is a depth of history at Westwood Country Club, both in its founding as a club for the St. Louis Jewish population nearly a century ago, as well as the multitude of names who have come through to tinker with its golf course since. The course was initially designed by the professional Harold Paddock, and Bill Diddell made major adjustments decades later.

Art Schaupeter completed a bunker renovation for the club in the late 1990s, while working with Keith Foster and he returned twenty years later to perform a second bunker renovation. “I am very happy about the improved visual impact of the bunkers on the golfing experience,” said Schaupeter. “The members have been amazed at how visible they are now, even as you gaze across the property from the various high spots. It has completely changed the visual character of the course.”

This club is a rarity among golf courses for one quirky fact: Despite playing at a manageable 6,800 yards, the course has a cumulative par of 74. Much else remains rather secretive due to the club’s legendary privacy policy. It doesn’t even publish slope ratings publicly in order to remain as mum as possible.

Still, holes such as No. 17, which plays to two separate fairways, is divided by Deer Creek across the middle. The safer route of the two will give little chance of reaching the green in two, but those who chance the creek may be afforded a scoring opportunity.