Imagine putting for par on holes Nos. 15, 16 and 17 on a Jack Nicklaus-designed course to this picturesque backdrop: A boat humming along the water, the MM bridge across the way and a quiet cove tucked around the corner.
That’s what the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame envisioned years ago when it held a Celebrity Golf Classic at The Club at Porto Cima on the banks of the Lake of the Ozarks. After all, it’s the only 18-hole waterfront Jack Nicklaus course in Missouri and was recognized by Golf Digest as one of the top private courses in the nation.
On Monday, the Hall of Fame will be back at Porto Cima, with the Lake of the Ozarks Celebrity Golf Classic presented by Missouri Eagle, and team spots remain available for the 8 a.m. morning round. Call 417-889-3100.
In fact, the fundraiser includes a full slate of celebrities. Among them are former big-league World Series winners Tom Henke and Joe Crede along with Gus Otto. Otto was an All-American linebacker/fullback for the University of Missouri in the mid-1960s who later played in Super Bowl II for the Oakland Raiders as part of an eight-year NFL career.
“The only way someone can play at Porto Cima is if they know a member and, even then, it’s quite a cost,” said Jerald Andrews, President & Executive Director of the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame. “We enjoy the course for a lot of reasons, but mainly it combines terrific scenery with a challenging layout that golfers actually enjoy.”
The front nine is cut out of a thick oak forest and plays through an undulating terrain with a number of elevation changes and uneven lies.
The back nine opens up and has much gentler elevation changes, with five holes playing along the lake.
For instance, hole No. 16 is a short par-3 guarded all along the left and around the back by the lake.
However, the finish can be a challenge.
You see, No. 17 has a split fairway, requiring shots to carry over the lake off the tee. With a fairway that slopes toward a narrowing edge on the left, golfers generally need to choose target lines carefully. The green sits on the side of a hill guarded by an 85-yard carry over the lake.
Still, it should be a pleasant experience for golfers. Each will be treated to a continental breakfast, catered lunch, a terrific golfer gift package as well as on-course beverages and snacks, plus a team photo. The day includes on-course games as well as trophies to winners. A team sponsorship of $1,500 includes use of carts.
“We hope golfers or businesses interested in entertaining clients join us,” Andrews said. “This is not only a fundraiser but a chance to say you played on a Nicklaus course.”
