Tiffany Greens Golf Club observed its 20th birthday in June and a lot has changed at the course and in golf over those years. Tiffany Greens opened as a high-end championship caliber course and for four years was an annual stop on the prestigious PGA Senior Tour. Today, the course is still highly rated for its unique design and setting, but it is slightly less demanding and a little more laid back than in the past.

“Golf has become more relaxed in the past 20 years,” said Kyle Hurst, general manager and PGA Director of Golf at Tiffany Greens in the Northland. “The wearing of slacks and collared shirts tucked in is still out there, but that has been relaxed here and on other courses. I think that’s a good thing because it makes golf more inviting.”

With growing competition for the entertainment dollar, golf has also become less expensive. Green fees are about $10 lower at Tiffany than when the course opened, Hurst said.

“Golf had such a stigma as a stuffy sport and one you couldn’t play if you didn’t have money,” Hurst said.
“That was a barrier to a lot of people.”

Another barrier for some clubs such as Tiffany was the difficulty of the course. Two years ago, Tiffany Greens created 14 forward tee boxes to enable shorter hitters to reach greens in regulation after a study found the course to about 1,000 yards too long for most players. Tiffany now has five sets of tees on each hole.

The course also reduced the size of or sodded over most of its 42 sand traps, which tended to have dauntingly high lips. Some of those traps would also wash out in heavy rain, creating maintenance issues. The rough was cut shorter and some tall native grasses cut back, enabling players to more easily find their ball and put it back in play. Overall, the course is firmer, faster and faces golfers with less trouble than in years past. Feedback has been positive, Hurst said.

“You get a lot of roll, and people like that,” Hurst said. “It’s more playable and fun. If you don’t succeed at something, it’s not going to be a hobby for very long.”

But the golf course still gives the best of players all they can handle at 6,648 and 7,055 yards from the two back tee boxes, respectively. The course is undulating, requires some careful woods and irons shots to ideal landing areas and has speedy greens.

Tiffany’s front nine is a scenic journey into the woods and meadows. None of the holes border each other. The front nine is memorable from the start. The first hole, a dogleg par 5, runs downhill toward a small lake, leaving an interesting second shot. Many players lay up to left of the water but better players can try to reach the green over the water in two. “It’s really a risk-reward shot,” Hurst said.

The back nine at Tiffany closes with standout holes on 16, 17 and 18 – a par 5 and then two par 4s. All three are doglegs that reward skill and course experience in shot placement.

“People love the layout,” Hurst said. “They see it as challenging but fair.”

Designed by renowned course architect, Robert Trent Jones II, Tiffany is a par-72 layout located at 5900 Tiffany Springs Parkway a few minutes south of Kansas City International Airport. Tiffany Greens has become increasingly popular for league and social group play. It also hosts club and corporate tournaments and has a special program for players between 30 and 40.

Information on golf programs and memberships at Tiffany, along with green fees and details of the course can be found it its website, www.tiffanygreensgolf.com. The main phone number is 816-880-9600. The pro shop can be reached at extension 208.

With a spacious clubhouse, featuring a restaurant, bar and banquet space, Tiffany Greens books many weddings, reunions and other social events in its ballroom, A dining area and deck for after-golf food and beverages overlooks the course, and the club can host events for up to 200 people. Krissy Frewin is food and beverage manager. She can be reached at 816-880-9600, ext. 224 or at kfrewin@tiffanygreensgolf.com.

Tiffany Greens has one of the area’s largest selection of golf apparel and equipment. Lessons and club fitting are available from club professionals.

Hurst can provide more information on course offerings over the phone at extension 223 or via email at khurst@tiffanygreensgolf.com.