Nestled in a bend between Wichita’s historic Riverside neighborhood and the Arkansas River, Arthur B. Sim Park Golf Course has been a staple of Wichita golf for over a century. In 1917, Mr. and Mrs. Coler L. Sim donated the land now known as Sim Park and Cowtown to the City to build a municipal golf course in memory of their late son, Arthur. Sim Park opened for municipal play in 1921 and has been a fan favorite for generations.
The Sim family moved to Wichita during the real estate boom in the late 1880s. Coler Sim was a representative for an east coast investment company, Keene Syndicate, that had extensive real estate holdings in Wichita. Sim was appointed receiver of an undeveloped 157-acre plot located near downtown between the Arkansas River and the Riverside Club when Keene Syndicate took deed through bankruptcy proceedings in 1897. It was leased as pasture ground until tragedy struck the Sim family in December of 1916 when their 32-year-old son, Arthur, was killed in a suspected gang incident in Kansas City. In the spring of 1917, Sim requested to donate the land to the City as a memorial to Arthur. The land was highly desirable because of its sandy soil, higher elevation than one would normally expect next to the river, and location adjacent to the popular Riverside neighborhood. The City agreed to Sim’s wishes and started construction in 1918. Nine holes opened for play in 1921 and it was expanded to an 18-hole course in 1923.
Sim Park’s original 18-hole design stretched just over 5,400 yards and featured rolling fairways and undulated greens. At the time, locals were excited about the additional holes to relieve congestion from the highly occupied golf course. Aside from lengthening holes, the layout remains largely the same today. Sim feels like a true park course with mature trees, cobblestone benches, and the Arkansas River surrounding the north and west sides of the golf course. The par 71 design ranges from 5,000 to 6,300 yards and offers a fun test for all skill levels. Beginners have an affinity for Sim’s lack of penalty areas and experienced players look forward to a chance to go low. The front nine defines most of the edges of the property with views of Riverside, the Arkansas River, and Wichita’s Museum District while the back nine weaves through the interior of the golf course. The par 4s and par 5s feature straightaway fairways with bunkered greens and the par 3s offer large green complexes with a nice variety of pin locations. From the highest points, the downtown Epic Center is visible through the trees above the historic homes along Amidon Avenue.
By nature of its location and playability, Sim Park has played a major role in the growth of Wichita golf over the years, but it accelerated through grassroots junior golf programs in the 1960s and 1970s. Folks like Auggie Navarro, Marilyn Linn, and Marge Page laid the groundwork for generations of junior golfers and junior golf supporters, teaching everything from golf skills and competition to the life values ever-present in golf. Sim Park has been a gracious host to local championships over the years. Decades of budding college, professional, and lifelong golfers have battled up and down the fairways at Sim Park for the title of Wichita City Junior Boys or Girls Champion and Sim has been home to the Wichita Women’s Senior Championship since its inception. Today, Sim Park is a host to the Wichita Junior Golf Foundation, First Tee of Greater Wichita, Wichita Junior Golf Marathon, US Kids Golf, high school tournaments, and local junior, men’s, and women’s events.
Whether visiting for the first or thousandth round, grab your foursome and check out Arthur B. Sim Park Golf Course for a fun layout and a great place to enjoy the game of golf!