Stillwater Oaks Golf Course, Stillwater

Between 1956 and 1980, WWII veteran Robert W. Nicholson, Jr.—or, as he liked to be called, Bob—and his family owned a total of 72 horses. The horses kept the grass on the Nicholson property short—so short, in fact, that a visiting colleague of Bob's once quipped it would make an incredible golf course. And that's when the light bulb went off. Soon, the Nicholsons were transforming their horse farm into a nine-hole golf course, which officially opened in 1972 to the delight of local players and the most dexterous of the horses. Seven years later, the final nine holes were added. Today, the Nicholson family still owns the 18-hole, par 70 course, where players enjoy rounds surrounded by rippling hills, open fairways, and mature trees. The Nicholsons aren't finished yet, though. Recently, they hired Northco Golf & Hospitality to unlock the hidden beauty of this horse-farm-turned-golf course. Guests can look forward to upgrades that are scheduled to take place over the next season of play.