Arkansas is full of engaging and beautiful golf courses, but it also has several challenging courses. These are the four hardest golf courses in Arkansas according to their course rating and slope.
The slope rating “measures the relative difficulty of a golf course for players who are not scratch players compared to those who are scratch players.”
1. Blessings Golf Club- Johnson
Yardage from the back tees: 7949
Course rating: 80.90
Slope: 155
Blessings Golf Club is the home of the Arkansas Razorbacks men’s and women’s golf teams. It was built by Tyson Foods chairman, Jon Tyson, and opened in 2004. Robert Trent Jones, Jr. designed the out and in routing reminiscent of the Old Course in St. Andrews. The course has some dramatic elevation changes through the rolling hills of the Ozark Mountains. The greens are brutally difficult with severe undulation and quick pace.
2. Mystic Creek Golf Club- El Dorado
Yardage from back tees: 7492
Course rating: 77.6
Slope: 145
Mystic Creek is one of the newest courses in Arkansas and has already hosted some important golf tournaments, including a Symetra tour event and the Sun Belt championships. The course provides a stern challenge requiring accurate ball striking and skillful navigation of difficult greens. Mystic Creek quickly rose to the top of most public course rankings in Arkansas not long after it opened in 2013.
3. Diamante Country Club- Hot Springs Village
Yardage from back tees: 7560
Course rating: 76.5
Slope: 140
Diamante is the only private club in HSV and certainly beats the other Village golf courses in terms of amenities in conditioning. While in better condition than Granada, Diamante falls to the number two slot because Granada just has too many holes that feel the same and are not easily distinguishable from one another. The course has hosted a Korn Ferry tour (then the Buy.com tour) event from 2001-2004. The short par 4 17th is one of the best par 4s in HSV, with water up the right side of the entire while and a large, multi-tier green.
4. Ridges at Village Creek (West/East)- Wynne
Yardage from back tees: 7449
Course rating: 76.4
Slope: 141
The Ridges at Village Creek is a 27-hole facility located in the Arkansas State Park, Village Creek State Park. The Andy Dye design opened atop Crowley’s Ridge in 2012. The tree-lined fairways navigate around the subtle ridges of the state park. Water comes into play on 12 holes. The greens are MiniVerde Bermuda and the fairways are Tiff 419 Bermuda grass, which helps them stand up to the heat of an Arkansas summer.