Murphy Creek Golf Course

Murphy Creek opened in 1999 as the crown jewel of Aurora's municipal golf portfolio, a public course designed by architect Ken Kavanaugh. Set on gently rolling eastern-plains terrain, it embraces a prairie- and links-inspired style, with wide corridors, native fescue, and ponds and creeks framing the challenge rather than crowding it. From the back tees it stretches past 7,500 yards to a par of 72, with several muscular holes climbing beyond 600 yards, yet the generous fairways keep it playable for everyday golfers. Its quality earned a national spotlight when it hosted the 2008 U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship, one of the USGA's premier events for public-course players. The address itself nods to the game's roots: the clubhouse sits on Old Tom Morris Road.