Southern Hills Golf Course Hot Springs Sd

Some golf courses greet you with a bagpiper and a $19 iced tea. Southern Hills Golf Course in Hot Springs, South Dakota, greets you with a deer, a pine-scented breeze, and a green fee that won't make your credit card weep.

It's the kind of place where you can actually relax, unless you're tied for the lead in your buddy's annual "Loser Buys Steak" tournament. Then all bets are off.

Located in the southern Black Hills, this public 18-hole course is not trying to be Augusta National. It's trying to be a really good day outside. And it succeeds.

A Golf Course That Doesn't Pretend to Be Fancy

Southern Hills sits just outside Hot Springs, a town known for warm mineral springs, the Mammoth Site, and a pace of life that makes a sloth look frantic. The course fits right in.

You won't find valet parking or a concierge who irons your golf towel. You will find friendly staff, rolling terrain, and views that make you forget you just triple-bogeyed the previous hole.

The layout winds through ponderosa pines and open meadows. It's par 72 and plays around 6,600 yards from the back tees, though exact numbers depend on which scorecard you grab and how honest you're feeling.

Elevation: Your New Excuse for Everything

Hot Springs sits at roughly 3,400 feet above sea level. That thin air means your golf ball flies a little farther, which is great for your drive and terrible for your ego when you still miss the green.

You can blame the altitude, the wind, or the fact that a deer was making eye contact during your backswing. All three are valid.

Speaking of wildlife, Southern Hills is known for sharing its fairways with local critters. Deer wander through like they own the place, because technically, they were here first.

Course Photos - Southern Hills Golf Course

The Layout: Trees, Hills, and Occasional Humility

The front nine gives you a gentle warm-up, if by "gentle" you mean "a few holes that quietly rearrange your confidence." The back nine turns up the scenery and the challenge.

Pine trees line several fairways, so a wild slice doesn't just disappear. It goes on a little adventure, usually without you. You might find your ball, or you might find a squirrel judging you.

The greens are generally well-kept and quick enough to make you respect your putter. They're also subtle, so a putt that looks straight will sometimes break like a politician's promise.

Weather and Wind: The Black Hills Wild Card

Hot Springs sits in a sheltered valley, so it's often a few degrees warmer than Rapid City. That's good news in spring and fall, when other courses are still thawing out.

Summer afternoons can bring a breeze that turns a smooth 7-iron into a 4-iron and a prayer. The wind doesn't just affect your ball; it affects your soul.

Hot Springs: A Town That Deserves a Post-Round Stroll

After golf, don't just drive away. Hot Springs is worth a look, especially if you enjoy history, warm water, and not sitting in traffic.

The Mammoth Site is nearby and features the largest known concentration of mammoth remains found in one spot. It's basically a paleontologist's dream and a golf cart's nightmare.

Home | Visit Hot Springs SD | Discover Attractions

The town's mineral springs gave it the name, and yes, you can soak in warm water that locals swear has healing powers. It won't fix your slice, but it might fix your attitude.

Practical Stuff: Green Fees and the 19th Hole

Southern Hills is a public course, so you don't need a country club membership or a trust fund. Green fees are reasonable, especially compared to resort courses that charge by the tear.

The 19th hole is casual and friendly. You can grab a burger, a cold drink, and relive the one perfect shot you hit on hole seven, ignoring the other 17 holes entirely.

Why You Should Play Southern Hills

It's not the fanciest course you'll ever play. It's not the hardest, either, unless the wind decides to make it personal. But it might be one of the most enjoyable rounds you'll have in South Dakota.

The combination of scenery, wildlife, small-town charm, and affordable golf is hard to beat. You come for the golf and leave with a story about the deer, the altitude, and that putt you'll never forget.

So pack your clubs, leave your pretensions at home, and head to Hot Springs. Southern Hills won't promise you a career-low score. It will promise you a good time, which is honestly the better deal.

And if you do shoot a career low, congratulations. The deer will still not care.