Hole #1 – Full Steam Ahead

Short: 185'   |   Long: 242'  |   Par: 3

The Story Behind the Shot

Every great course — and every great town — needs a strong start. For De Soto, that began in 1857, when settlers staked their future on the Kansas River and the promise of steamboats. At the time, the Kaw was a watery highway of opportunity — and De Soto hoped to be the next big stop.

1857 Founding Document

Each spring, high water brought scheduled steamboat service connecting De Soto to Lawrence, Topeka, and Kansas City. The Lightfoot (1857) was one of many vessels to make the trip… though not always smoothly. During one voyage, it got tangled in a ferry rope near today’s Ferry Street, lost its smokestacks, and spent three days tied to a walnut tree for repairs.

Even after railroads lobbied to end river navigation, the town kept moving forward — adjusting its course but never losing momentum. 

So take a page from history: aim true, find your line, and go Full Steam Ahead.