By Brandon House, REALTOR® and golfer, The House Collective Group
You don't need a country club membership to play great golf in Oklahoma City. The metro has five city-owned courses with nearly 140 holes between them, a freshly renovated Edmond course, and a Perry Maxwell design in Norman that hosted a USGA championship. I frequent Earlywine the most, but Trosper is a treat when I can make it East of OKC for a rare round.
OKC golf is also busier than ever. The city's five municipal courses logged 370,661 rounds in the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2026, a record and up 13% from the year before. Book your tee times early.
The quick list
Course | Area | Holes | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
Lincoln Park | Northeast OKC | 36 (two courses) | The full experience, most-played course in the city |
Lake Hefner | Northwest OKC | 36 + 3-hole academy course | Water views and wind |
Earlywine | South OKC | 36 (two courses) | Practice facilities and south-side convenience |
Trosper | Southeast OKC | 18 | A quieter, tree-lined round |
James E. Stewart | East of downtown | 9 | A quick nine after work |
KickingBird | Edmond | 18 | A like-new course after a $21 million renovation |
Jimmie Austin OU | Norman | 18 | A championship test |
Westwood Park | Norman | 18 | An easygoing local round |
John Conrad | Midwest City | 18 | Golfers on the east side and near Tinker |
Lincoln Park Golf Course (Northeast OKC)
Lincoln Park has two full courses, East and West, near the OKC Zoo. It's the busiest course in the city, with nearly 98,000 rounds last year, and it's on the Oklahoma Golf Trail. The West Course plays a little longer. There's a full restaurant and pro shop in the clubhouse.
[YOUR TAKE: your favorite hole or a story from a round here]
Lake Hefner Golf Course (Northwest OKC)
Two 18-hole courses plus a three-hole academy course for beginners and kids. Expect water and, this being Oklahoma, plenty of wind off the lake. The North Course is the longer of the two.
Earlywine Golf Course (South OKC)
Earlywine has two courses, a renovated clubhouse, a newer driving range, and four practice greens. If you live in south OKC, Moore or Newcastle, this is probably your home course.
Trosper and James E. Stewart
Trosper, in southeast OKC, is an 18-hole, par-70 course with mature trees and a creek running through it. James E. Stewart, east of downtown, is a par-53 nine-holer and home to junior golf programs with the First Tee. Both are great for a relaxed round.
KickingBird Golf Club (Edmond)
The City of Edmond reopened KickingBird in July 2023 after a nearly two-year, $21 million renovation. It came back with a new clubhouse and restaurant, a redesigned range with Flite golf entertainment, four redesigned holes, and about 200 extra yards.
Jimmie Austin OU Golf Club (Norman)
This is the University of Oklahoma's course, designed by Perry Maxwell and built in 1951. It's semi-private, so call ahead for a public tee time. It hosted the 2009 U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship and stretches to about 7,400 yards from the back tees, so pick your tees honestly.
[YOUR TAKE: as a Norman-market agent, what you love about playing here]
Westwood Park Golf Course (Norman)
Norman's municipal 18-hole course, with practice facilities, a pro shop and lessons for all ages. It's a relaxed, affordable round close to campus.
John Conrad Golf Course (Midwest City)
An 18-hole public course designed by Floyd Farley and opened in 1971. It's a convenient option for anyone living on the east side or working at Tinker.
A few local tips
- Book ahead. With record rounds, weekend morning tee times go fast.
- Club up in the wind. Oklahoma wind can easily add a club or two.
- Play in fall and spring. October in OKC is about as good as golf weather gets.
- Bring extra balls. Lake Hefner and Trosper's creek will collect a few.
FAQs
Do you need a membership to play OKC's city courses? No. All five Oklahoma City municipal courses are open to the public.
What's the best public golf course in Oklahoma City? It depends on what you want. Lincoln Park is the most popular, while Jimmie Austin in Norman is the toughest championship test nearby.
Is there a good course for beginners? Try the three-hole academy course at Lake Hefner, or the nine holes at James E. Stewart.
Looking for a home close to your favorite course? Call or text The House Collective Group at (405) 626-1911, and I'll happily talk golf too.
