Karsten Creek: Stillwater's Hidden Gem

Imagine a piece of golf paradise located in Payne County, Oklahoma that is equally beautiful as it is challenging. This is Karsten Creek Golf Club located 10 miles west of Stillwater, Oklahoma. Karsten is the home course for Oklahoma State University's men's and women's golf programs.

The club opened on May 9, 1994, and was named after the late Karsten Solheim, founder of PING. Golf Digest named Karsten the country's "Best New Course." However, the beauty extends beyond the course. Karsten has a breathtaking clubhouse along with three guest lodges and state-of-the-art training facilities.

Many big names and familiar faces have spent time at Karsten Creek. For example, Rickie Fowler, an Oklahoma State alumni with 5 PGA Tour victories, has been known to visit his old stomping ground. Another famous Cowboy that might be spotted at Karsten Creek between tournaments is Viktor Hovland. Karsten Creek hosts many events that draw people in from all over. Chip and Joanna Gains, hosts of HGTV hit show "Fixer Upper" and founders of Magnolia, have paid a visit to Karsten Creek.

The NCAA championship has been held at Karsten three times. In 2018, Karsten Creek hosted both the men's and women's national championships. Golfers from a variety of colleges have attested that Karsten is a challenging course that is not only physically demanding but also mentally demanding. The mixture of beauty, difficulty, and remoteness makes Karsten the perfect storm for hosting national championships.

The future of Karsten Creek seems to be extremely bright. The course has earned the respect of many and is considered to be quite prestigious. It is very private and exclusive but I would love to see Karsten Creek show itself off to the public more. Perhaps Karsten will use media in the future to give the public an inside look without having to bring the public in. The public can see the beauty and be intrigued while Karsten remains prestigious and is revealed like a diamond in the 'rough'. In conclusion, Karsten Creek is a priceless jewel to the golf and Stillwater community with a rich history and a bright future.