If golf is part of what you want from a home, one of the first distinctions to understand is public versus private. The Kansas City metro has both, and the difference shapes how you get onto the course, what it costs and how it relates to a nearby home. This guide covers the basics, with examples from around the metro. Specifics vary by club and change over time, so confirm them with the club.
What "public" means
A public golf course is open for anyone to play, usually by paying a fee for each round. You do not need a membership to tee off, which gives you flexibility without an ongoing commitment.
Many public courses in the metro are owned by a city or county, often called municipal courses:
- City of Overland Park: Overland Park Golf Club, with 27 regulation holes plus a 9-hole par 3 course, and St. Andrews Golf Club, with 18 holes.
- Johnson County Park and Recreation District: Heritage Park in Olathe and Tomahawk Hills in Shawnee, which the district says was built in 1910 and is the oldest course in the metro.
Other courses take public tee times too. Ironhorse Golf Club at 15400 Mission Road in Leawood describes itself as a public course, and Troon manages it. On the Missouri side, Swope Memorial in Swope Park opened in 1915, was redesigned by A.W. Tillinghast in 1934, went through a historic restoration in 2025 and books tee times online.
Our golf courses pages list the courses around the metro. Tee-time systems and fees differ from course to course and change, so check the current details with the course before you plan around them.
What "semi-private" means
A semi-private course sells memberships but also takes public tee times. The balance between members and public play is set course by course, so ask what a membership includes (booking windows, rates, guest rules) and when the public can play.
What "private" means
A private club limits play to members and their guests. A club may be organized as a tax-exempt social club under section 501(c)(7) of the tax code. The IRS requires such clubs to be supported by membership fees, dues and assessments, and limits income from nonmember sources to 35 percent of gross receipts, with no more than 15 percent from the general public's use of the facilities. That is one reason private clubs control outside play closely.
Membership is arranged club by club. Milburn Country Club in Overland Park, for example, says its memberships are "structured to fit an array of needs" and are reserved for a limited number of members, and it asks prospective members to contact the club. When you talk to a club, ask about:
- the membership categories (full golf, social, junior or others) and what each includes;
- the initiation fee and whether any part is refundable;
- monthly dues, any food and beverage minimum, and how assessments are decided;
- the application process, any sponsor requirement and whether there is a waiting list.
Treat this as research separate from the home itself.
Where home buying comes in
Living on or near a golf course and holding a membership at that club are usually two separate things, whether the course is public or private.
Buying a home next to a private club does not make you a member, and being a member does not require owning a home on the course. Some communities have specific arrangements between the neighborhood and the club, so confirm how any given golf course community is set up with both the club and the homes association. In Kansas, homes associations operate under the Kansas Uniform Common Interest Owners Bill of Rights Act (K.S.A. 58-4601 and following), along with the community's own declaration and bylaws. I will help you ask the right questions so you know what comes with a home and what does not.
Practical considerations for homes on a course
Whichever type of club a course belongs to, a home on or beside it comes with the same practical points. Many buyers like the open views and green space. At the same time, a lot on the course can mean errant golf balls depending on the hole, early-morning mowing, easements that allow course access, and carts and players passing during the day.
When we tour a specific home, I will help you read the lot against your preferences. A home near a public course and one near a private club can both be good choices; it depends on how you want to play and what you want from the property. The checklist in what to check before buying a golf-course home covers the details.
Matching the search to your goals
Because I am licensed in both Kansas and Missouri, we can look across the whole metro and focus on the kind of golf you want. If pay-as-you-play appeals to you, we can look near the public and municipal courses. If you are drawn to a private club, we can target communities near the clubs you are considering, then confirm membership details with the club.
The areas pages show where the cities sit. From there, I will set up a focused home search and send you matches as they come on the market.
Confirm before you commit
Verify the specifics with the source. Public or private, access rules, membership terms and fees vary by club and change, and so does how a community connects to its club. I will help you gather current information so your decision rests on facts rather than assumptions.
Finding a home near your course
If you want a home that lines up with how you like to play golf, I can help you sort through the options. I'm a REALTOR® with Keller Williams Realty Partners, licensed in both Kansas and Missouri, and I'll help you confirm access and membership details with the club before you commit. Call or text me at 913-777-4461 and we'll get started.
Common questions
What is the difference between a public and a private golf club?
A public course is open for anyone to play, usually by paying a fee per round. A private club limits play to members and their guests. A private club organized as a tax-exempt social club is limited by the IRS to 35 percent of gross receipts from nonmember sources, with no more than 15 percent from the general public's use of its facilities.
Which Kansas City courses are run by a city or county?
The City of Overland Park owns Overland Park Golf Club (27 holes plus a 9-hole par 3 course) and St. Andrews Golf Club. Johnson County Park and Recreation District runs Heritage Park in Olathe and Tomahawk Hills in Shawnee. Ironhorse Golf Club in Leawood is a public course managed by Troon, and Swope Memorial in Kansas City, Missouri, opened in 1915, takes tee times online.
If I buy a home near a private club, am I automatically a member?
Usually not, because living near a course and holding a membership are separate things. Buying a home does not grant membership, and membership terms vary by club and change. Confirm how a specific club and community are set up with the club and the homes association before you assume.
Can Tom help me find a home near the type of club I want?
Yes. Whether you want to be near a public course or a private club, I can focus your search across the metro. I am licensed in both Kansas and Missouri, and I will help you confirm access and membership details with the right sources before you commit.
Related pages
- Golf Courses
- Golf Course Communities
- Search Homes
- Areas
- What to Check Before Buying a Golf-Course Home
- Overland Park Golf Club
Sources
- Internal Revenue Service: Social clubs, 501(c)(7)
- City of Overland Park: Golf Overland Park (2026)
- Johnson County Park and Recreation District: Golf courses (2026)
- Ironhorse Golf Club: Home (2026)
- Swope Memorial Golf Course: About our course (2026)
- Milburn Country Club: Membership (2026)
- Kansas Revisor of Statutes: K.S.A. 58-4601, Kansas Uniform Common Interest Owners Bill of Rights Act