There have been a number of improvements at Turkey Creek, including the expansion of the biggest lake to three acres. The lake is fully stocked with bass, catfish and blue gill by the Missouri Department of Conservation.

New and improved Turkey Creek
hosting great event for veterans

Loeffler's Link

June 27, 2018

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. --- It would be fair to say Turkey Creek Golf Center is new and improved, but it's not completely accurate.

It's new and improved, sure, but it's getting even newer and more improved as we speak.

It's so new and improved, it's guaranteed to whiten your clothes and make your breath fresher!

Well, maybe not that new and improved.

But if you haven't been to Turkey Creek in recent years, you may not recognize it.

"The course looks completely different than when we opened it up," Turkey Creek owner Dan Baumgartner said. "People who haven't been out here in a while say that all the time."

Let's start with the original nine holes at the par-3 facility.

"We've added 400 trees and bushes in the last few years," Baumgartner said, "and every hole now has anywhere from two to four tee boxes. That gives you not only different distances, but different looks and different angles.

"And we now have two waterfalls, which people have been getting married by, taking prom pictures by, and things like that."

Let's recap here.

^ When the facility opened in 1999, there wasn't a tree to be found. No trees = no shade, and that equals no fun when it's 95 degrees. Not anymore.

^ And the tee boxes ... there are now 24 of them on those nine holes, which gives you a multitude of different combinations and different experiences.

"You can play the distances that are easier," Baumgartner said, "or you can get back there and have a real challenge. And the greens are rolling really great."

It's a course that if you play consistently, it can't help but improve your game and score.

"In golf, you score from 100 yards in," Baumgartner said. "The MU women play and qualify here because if you can hit these greens and score here, you're going to score better at other golf courses."

Along with the Mizzou women, both the William Woods men's and women's teams and several area high school teams are taking advantage of not just the golf course, but the practice areas.

So there's added comfort, variation and aesthetics --- they've also planted a nursery-full of flowers around the course, while the great views of the State Capitol and Katy Trail Bridge remain.

^ In addition, the playability is vastly improved. Again, when the course opened, if you missed most of these greens, there were sharp drop-offs nearly barren of grass that often led to near-impossible second shots.

Tons of dirt have been moved, however, and the grades around the greens are much more gentle and are covered with thick grass. And there are new cart paths leading right next to most greens.

"It's amazing how many older people we have coming out and playing now," Baumgartner said. "Because before, it was a great big climb for them."

The lakes have been enlarged, with the biggest one now covering three acres. It's fully stocked by the Missouri Department of Conservation with bass, catfish and blue gill for your fishing pleasure --- at no charge, all you have to do is ask.

TCGC has one pump station and is getting ready to add another, to keep the facility completely watered. Also, Baumgartner is in the process of switching the lighting on the nine to LED, and reviving Friday Night Lights.

Playing golf in the light at night ... there's nothing quite like it.

NEXT, THERE'S THE WELL-DOCUMENTED AND HIGHLY-ACCLAIMED Ken Lanning par-3 nine --- now in its third year --- which was built especially for handicapped individuals, youth and our veterans.

(To read about it, please see ... http://www.loefflerslink.com/inside-8.html )

"It's starting to get more play all the time," Baumgartner. "Word is getting out."

Baumgartner owns the land, which he's leasing to Missouri Golf Association for $1 a year for 30 years. The course is technically owned by the MGA, but is maintained by Baumgartner and his staff.

On July 2, from 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., the first Heroes Outing will be held on the Lanning course, as veterans and their families are invited to participate in a four-person scramble (limited to the first 72 players).

Families can go fishing, while food, beverages and music will be provided --- all free for the participants.

Through donations and sponsorships from area businesses, the goal is to raise $45,000 to purchase three special needs golf carts.

Simply put, it's a great event.

"It's a really great deal all the way around," Baumgartner said.

Turkey Creek's practice complex is second to none in Central Missouri. Along with a new tee being added to the driving range, there are now seven target greens at various distances to shoot at, and there are two putting/chipping greens surrounded by three sand traps.

There are also sand volleyball courts, while the mini-golf course --- which is no easy test, either --- "continues to get a lot of play," Baumgartner said. "It always has."

In these days of shrinking windows of time, you can do a lot in very little of it at Turkey Creek, even if you only have an hour.

"You really can," Baumgartner said. "It's not just family-friendly, it's time friendly."

LAST BUT NOT LEAST, RIGHT NEXT TO THE CLUBHOUSE Baumgartner is building Capital Bluffs Banquet Center, a 15,000-square foot, two-floor facility that's scheduled to open Sept. 1.

It will have two decks and two patios with "great views," a full kitchen, and "a lot of bathrooms, you can't have too many," Baumgartner said. It will cater to weddings, birthday parties, graduation parties, or any other occasion you can think of.

Turkey Creek is currently hosting these events in a large tent between the clubhouse and ninth green, but it's obviously dependent on the weather. Starting Sept. 1, not anymore.

There's a lot to do at Turkey Creek --- and a lot of work to do to keep it maintained. "I'm trying to come up for air, I'm so worn out," Baumgartner said with a smile.

As you can tell, Turkey Creek is certainly new and improved.

Still, it's getting better all the time.