People & the land Architect
Architect
Perry Maxwell
Prairie Dunes began as a nine-hole course in the Kansas sand hills. The Carey family commissioned Perry Maxwell in 1935, and the first nine opened on September 13, 1937. The Club describes construction with horses and mules pulling plows and earth-moving scoops, with roots removed by hand.1
In the archive 6 Courses at 6 ClubsDated work 1936–1938
Course work
Published course connections in the archive.
- Co-design
- Original design
- Original designOriginal Old Town course
- Co-design
- Original designDesign of the first nine holes
- Original design
- Redesign
The nine holes that began Prairie Dunes
The present eighteen developed in a second phase. Twenty years after the first opening, another nine designed by his son, Press Maxwell, opened in 1957.1
Sources and record notes7 references
Sources for this history
- History: Prairie Dunes Country Club
Prairie Dunes Country Club
Carey commission in 1935, manual/animal-powered construction, first nine September 13, 1937 and Press Maxwell’s second nine in 1957; tournament-results list excluded.
Consulted 2026-11-07
Architect record sources
- Twin Hills G. & C. C. (opens in a new tab)Architect identity · Course design
- PGA Tour Colonial broadcaster packet (opens in a new tab)Course design
- Crystal Downs official irrigation history (opens in a new tab)Course design
- Old Town Club golf page (opens in a new tab)Course design
- Prairie Dunes Country Club history (opens in a new tab)Course design
- Southern Hills official history (opens in a new tab)Course design