Gary Lawson/Courtesy of the club
Mike Klemme Photography/courtesy of Karsten Creek
Gary Lawson/Courtesy of the club
Gary Lawson/Courtesy of the club
Gary Lawson/Courtesy of the club
Karsten Golf Club
Karsten Golf Club
1800 S Memorial Dr
Stillwater, OK 74074-1072
United States
Overview
A former winner of Golf Digest's Best New Public Course title in 1994, Karsten Creek was developed by Oklahoma State University and thus often appears toward the top of rankings of the best collegiate courses in America, and for years was a fixture on America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses. The Tom Fazio design even broke into America’s Second 100 Greatest ranking in 2023-2024 at No. 186. In 2023, the university made the course membership-only and closed it for major renovation by Andrew Green. It might be more accurate to say that Green built an entirely new golf course on top of the old property, utilizing the footprint of about half the previous hole corridors and branching out into new direction through the surrounding hardwoods for the others. The only resemblance to the former course are the six finishing holes including 17 and 18 that run in opposite directions along the shoreline of a lake and the extreme shot demands that will continue to sharpen the skills of the collegiate athletes who practice here.
About
Awards
ranking history:
Second 100 Greatest: Ranked 186th in 2023-'24.
100 Greatest Public: Ranked since 2003.
Highest ranking: 12th, 2011-'12.
2023-'24 ranking: 31st.
Previous ranking: 24th.
Best in State: Top 5 in state since 1995, ranked 3rd in state 2019-'26.
Current ranking (and previous): 3rd.
Panelists
Ratings from our panel of 1,900 course-ranking panelists
100 GREATEST/BEST IN STATE SCORES
Shot Options
Character
Challenge
Layout Variety
Fun
Aesthetics
Conditioning
Reviews
Review
“An unusual course with no tee markers or yardages. The holes have many potential teeing grounds that can make the hole play more than 150 yards differently in yardage. Trees are often "in the way" and would require a skilled player to curve various shots around the trees or go over them. This can be off the tee or from the fairway. The course is much less enjoyable for members after the transformation, according to the member that hosted me. Greens can have significant slopes that can be used to assist high level players to get balls closer to the hole or make the holes more difficult for average players."
Read More2025
Review
“This is an extremely difficult course to evaluate because it has no tee markers and no yardages. Many holes have virtually unlimited options for teeing grounds that can make the holes change from typical distances for par threes, fours, and fives. That is intentional as the designers don't want the golf team to be limited in their thinking by "par." The course, prior to the extensive transformation, was a challenging and very well maintained course that members enjoyed playing. The new course has been designed solely to assist the training process of the OSU men's and women's golf programs. It is very difficult and has trees in the way of direct routes to many holes from various tees or fairways. I was told that this was because a good player could curve the ball correctly to play the shot. In addition, the goal of the course is to have the firmest greens in the country. Once they accomplish that, the course will be even more difficult for member play. I asked the management what members thought of the changes, and was told, "I don't know, we never asked them." I think that best sums up the member experience at Karsten Creek. The greens have significant slopes and can sometimes be used to guide the ball closer to the hole, especially if a shot into the green has the correct curvature. There are instances where balls cannot be stopped next to holes because of these slopes. Once the native area matures, the course will be even more difficult. For now, sometimes shots can be played from the native area into greens."
Read More2025
Review
“Karsten Creek is one of the most strategic courses off the tee that I've played. Every hole on the course gives the player ample landing room in the fairway, but becomes super challenging the more aggressive you get in terms of length off the tee. The greens are firm and super fast and no two holes on the course are alike. It has a different feel than most and while on property you can tell it's all about golf and that's it. The course is lined with trees and you almost never see another group while you're out. There's a lot of history at this place and you definitely have to take time to walk through the clubhouse and take in all of the OSU Golf Team accomplishments."
Read More2022
Review
“Great course, challenging. Back 9 has some great holes. Par 3s are memorable. Excellent facilities and OSU hall of champions"
Read More2022
Review
“I was pleasantly surprised with the elevation changes that Karsten Creek had as it was far more scenic than I assumed Stillwater Oklahoma would be. The one thing that did not surprise me was how much Karsten Creek oozed a rich golfing tradition/atmosphere. The Oklahoma State locker room and champion’s hallway were filled with championship trophies, and tour memorabilia adding character to this Tom Fazio design, it was clear that golf was the sole focus of this golf club."
Read More2022
Review
“Very challenging test with the length of the course, the wooded areas that are on both sides of most holes, and the deep Bermuda rough. Surprising elevation changes for the surrounding area. Well manicured zoysia fairways & tees as well as bent greens. Dramatic finishing holes w/ a long uphill challenge of the par four 17th and the risk/reward par 5 18th that bends around Stillwater Creek Reservoir. Impressive displays in the clubhouse of the OSU team accomplishments over the years"
Read More2022
Review
“Difficulty but fun and fair course. Always in great shape. Sometimes it is cart path only for riders."
Read More2021
Review
“Very good Fazio design built for the Oklahoma State golf team. Challenging layout and a cool clubhouse that honors past OSU golf stars."
Read More2018
Review
“Great course with pristine conditioning. Firm and fast, a must play."
Read More2018
