Booking a round at a municipal course shouldn't feel like a high-stakes heist, yet scoring the right Sykes Lady tee times in Overland Park can sometimes feel exactly like that. You've got the South, North, and West nines, plus that sneaky-good Par 3 course. Honestly, it's a lot. If you're showing up at 8:00 AM on a Saturday expecting to just walk on, you’re basically asking for a long wait at Club 27 with a lukewarm coffee.
The thing is, Sykes/Lady Overland Park Golf Club is arguably the busiest track in the entire Kansas City metro. It’s a local legend for a reason. Ben Sykes and Wendell Lady—two guys who basically strong-armed the city into keeping green spaces back in the 60s—knew what they were doing. But that popularity means the tee sheet fills up faster than a bunker in a thunderstorm.
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Navigating the 27-Hole Shuffle
Most people don't realize how the rotation works here. Because there are three regulation nine-hole courses (North, South, and West), your 18-hole experience is always a combination. You might play North to West or South to North.
Why does this matter for your tee time? Because the "Wave Tee Sheet" is a real thing.
From late March through October, the course operates in waves to keep the pace of play moving. The first wave usually kicks off around 7:27 AM and runs until about 9:15 AM. These are the prime 18-hole slots. If you miss that window, you're looking at the second wave, which starts around 11:42 AM.
- The First Wave: 7:27 AM – 9:15 AM (18 holes)
- The Second Wave: 11:42 AM – 1:30 PM (18 holes)
- The Third Wave: Usually 9-hole only on weekdays after 4:00 PM, though weekends sometimes allow 18 holes if you’re fast.
If you’re a "back nine" person, keep in mind that the West course is often treated as a bit of a standalone or a "swing" nine. During the off-season, the Westlinks Special is a killer deal. You book a 9-hole rate, and if the turn is open, they let you go back around for free. Kinda rare for a course this busy, but it happens.
The Secret to Scoring a Slot
You’ve basically got two ways to get in: the online portal or the old-school phone call.
The website is fine, but it’s competitive. For those looking for specific Sykes Lady tee times, the booking window opens exactly 7 days in advance for the general public. If you’re a Patron (meaning you’ve paid for the annual discount card), you get a slight leg up.
If the online system looks like a graveyard of "unavailable" blocks, call the pro shop at (913) 890-1600. Sometimes cancellations haven't hit the digital sheet yet. The staff there—led by folks like Jennifer Walker and her team—deal with hundreds of golfers a day. Be nice to them. It helps.
Don't Ignore the Par 3
Sometimes you just can't get on the big course. Or maybe your slice is so bad it’s dangerous to the public. The Par 3 course at Sykes/Lady is a different beast entirely. It’s 9 holes, it’s relatively cheap, and it’s where a lot of the Adult Par 3 League play happens on Wednesday evenings.
In 2026, the rates are still some of the best in Johnson County. If you're a Youth on Course member, you're playing the Par 3 for like $3. That’s cheaper than a sandwich. For the "big courses," those kids are playing for $5 during specific windows. It’s a massive reason why the tee times are so packed—it’s accessible.
Weather and the Dreaded "Delay"
Kansas weather is a coin toss. If there’s a frost delay or a thunderstorm, the Wave Tee Sheet can get messy.
If a delay is long enough that you can't make the turn before the next wave starts, the course will literally cancel your wave. It sounds harsh. It is. But they’ll give you a full raincheck. This is how they prevent a 2-hour delay in the morning from ruining the day for the 1:00 PM golfers. If you’re booked in a transition slot, keep your phone handy for updates.
What Really Happens at the Turn
Club 27 is the restaurant on-site. It has one of the best patios in Overland Park, overlooking the course.
A lot of golfers get caught up in the "turn" atmosphere and lose their spot. Don't be that person. The pace of play here is usually pretty solid—around 2 hours and 15 minutes per nine—but if you spend 20 minutes ordering a burger, you’re going to mess up the flow for everyone behind you. Grab a brat from the snack window and keep moving.
Pro Tips for 2026 Season
- Check the Rotation: Before you book, see which nines are paired. South/North is the classic "Championship" feel, while Westlinks has its own vibe.
- Twilight is Your Friend: Super Twilight often starts at noon in the winter and 6:00 PM in the summer. If you just want to bang out a few holes, this is the cheapest way to do it.
- The Monday-Thursday Hack: If you can swing a mid-week morning, do it. Fridays at Sykes/Lady are essentially Saturdays. Everyone "works from home" on Fridays, which translates to a packed tee sheet.
Final Practical Logistics
When you arrive, the bag drop is right there at the main entrance. Check-in is inside the pro shop. If you're playing the West course, remember it’s across 127th Street. You’ll need a cart (usually provided) to make the trek over there, and they don't allow juniors to drive those carts alone.
Booking Sykes Lady tee times requires a bit of strategy and a 7-day-out alarm on your phone. If you're flexible with which nine you play, you'll almost always find a gap. Just don't expect a private club experience; this is high-volume, high-energy municipal golf at its best.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Create an account on the Overland Park Golf website before you actually need to book.
- If you're a local resident, get your Patron Card early in the season to maximize savings and booking windows.
- Set a calendar reminder for 7:00 AM, exactly seven days before your desired play date, to snag the early morning "First Wave" slots.
- For last-minute weekend availability, call the pro shop directly on Friday afternoons between 3:00 PM and 5:00 PM when people tend to cancel their Saturday plans.