Colbert Hills: Golf in Manhattan, Kansas

Colbert Hills is at 5200 Colbert Hills Drive, Manhattan, Kansas 66503, in Riley County. Manhattan Regional Airport (MHK) is 6.8 miles from the course by road. Kansas City International Airport (MCI), the larger hub, is 137.3 miles by road. From Topeka, the route runs 62.0 miles: I-70 west, then north on K-177 (Fort Riley Boulevard) into Manhattan, then Tuttle Creek Boulevard, Kimball Avenue, Vanesta Drive and Colbert Hills Drive.

The operator's own site states, "Designed by eight-time PGA Tour winner Jim Colbert along with architect Jeff Brauer." Wikipedia records that "the course opened with an invitational pro-am tournament on April 30, 2000," with an opening field of "Jim Colbert, Lee Trevino, Raymond Floyd, Annika Sörenstam and Manhattan native Deb Richard." Wikipedia also states Colbert Hills "was host to the Big 12 Conference women's golf championships on April 19–21, 2002." The course is home to the men's and women's golf teams of Kansas State University and is used by the university as an environmental research and turf management facility; it also houses the First Tee of Manhattan, including the Earl Woods National Youth Golf Academy. Wikipedia's infobox lists the course at par 72, 7,525 yards, rating 77.50; the operator's own homepage separately states the course spans 7,525 yards.

Colbert Hills publishes 2026 seasonal rates for April 1 through November 10: general public $115 Friday–Sunday and holidays, $105 Monday–Thursday, $80 twilight after 3 p.m. Monday–Thursday, with green fees and cart both included. Active Duty Military pays $95/$95/$80, Senior (60+) pays $90/$90/$80, and KSU Alumni Association members pay $90/$90/$80. The course's own rates page adds a qualifier that goes with every one of those figures: "All rates will change as we move through the season so check back with us. The Rates are adjusted for spring, summer, and fall and reflect the rack rate for golf or golf and cart." A ride-along fee applies at $25 per person (the operator's own page spells it "per peson"), and club rental runs $50 per set. Separately, the operator publishes a running closures calendar distinguishing "Entire Facility" closures from "Clubhouse"-only ones. Entire Facility closed all day: September 13, 14, 15, 27, 28 and 29, 2026; November 26; December 24 and 25. On November 25 the entire facility closes at 2 p.m. Clubhouse only, course unaffected: October 3, October 4, October 10, and September 25 from 5 p.m. The page gives no reason for any closure.

On-site lodging is the Samy Family Stay & Play Lodge, which the operator describes as "an elegant lodge complex located directly behind the driving range at Colbert Hills" with "two sides, each featuring 4 sleeping rooms (8 total)." The course's own restaurant, Colbert's Bar & Grill, serves on site. In Manhattan, the Bluemont Hotel calls itself "The Premier Hotel of Manhattan, KS," and Tallgrass Tap House, also in Manhattan, titles its own site "Tallgrass Tap House | Manhattan, KS."

A second round is possible, but it is a separate trip: Wabaunsee Pines Golf Course, at Lake Wabaunsee in Alma, Kansas, sits 48.6 road miles from Colbert Hills. Its own site describes it as "a nine hole public golf course featuring limestone berms and native grasses of the Flint Hills." It is cash or check only and takes no tee times — its own site states, "We are a first come first served course." Its 2025 rates, effective January 1, 2025, were $15 for nine holes and $20 for eighteen, with cart rental at $15.