Championship Golfing at Affordable Rates Makes the Emporia Municipal Course a Favorite Across Kansas

Posted on Jul 14, 2020 by Visit Emporia

The Emporia Golf Course has a lot to admire from pristine greens to a championship experience, making it a great reason to travel to Emporia to hit some balls.

For over 40 years, the Emporia Golf Course, a public course located just south of Emporia, Kansas, has welcomed golfers to play a round of golf on its championship layout. Opened in 1970 and owned by the City of Emporia, the course is known as the hometown favorite location for a round of golf players of all ages and skill levels can enjoy, according to their website.

The course is located midway between Wichita and Kansas City in eastern Kansas six miles outside Emporia near the Emporia Municipal Airport. The Par 71 course measures over 6,600 yards from the back (blue) tees. The manageable length of the golf course along with affordable public rates make Emporia Golf Course one of your best choices in the state of Kansas for municipal golfing. The course is open with no housing, features rolling hills, long holes, water holes, magnificent fairways, native fescues, and provides a healthy challenge for all golfers.

“It’s a championship-level course,” said Marcus Erkel, manager of the golf course. “We host high school state golf, state tournaments and we have a practice area with a driving range and large putting green.”

The Emporia Golf course has big-city flair in a small setting. “Our golf course is just as good as a big city golf course,” Erkel said. “We have some of the finest greens in the state. And we’re usually less busy.”

Joe Leffler, of Emporia has been playing golf for more than 25 years and enjoys the pristine condition of the course. “It’s well-maintained and people are easy to get along with,” Leffler said. “For a town this size, it’s the best golf course in the state of Kansas. The greens are exceptionally, exceptionally nice. They have a heckuva nice staff and they’re always willing to work with you. That’s all a person can ask for.”

Assistant City Manager Lane Massey, who has golfed for nearly 30 years, agreed that the Emporia Golf Course is one of the best municipal courses in the state. “The one thing I’ve heard from multiple people coming to the course is that they were surprised the greens are in really good condition,” Massey said. “It’s usually in really good shape.”

The course also offers lessons for young kids and adults to get them started in the sport, Leffler said. The lessons are taught by Erkel, who started playing golf when he was 5 years old. “It’s just a good experience to be out there,” Leffler said. “They work with you the best they can.”

Location

The location is a draw for the course as well, Erkel said. “We’re a great place to meet in the middle,” he said. “We have tons of people who meet from Kansas City and Wichita or Topeka and Newton. It’s the only 18-hole course in a 50-mile radius and a lot of people from small towns come up here.”

Massey said the location is a nice perk. Since it’s south of town, it’s quiet and sometimes wildlife such as geese, ducks and deer can be spotted. “It’s nice being out in the country a little bit,” he said. It’s very peaceful to play out there.”’