It doesn’t matter if you golf in the heart of Kansas City or out in the hinterlands. Odds are pretty good you won’t be far from one of the best holes in the KC Metro.

With a little help from Kansas City golf legend Tom Watson, PGA Tour professional and Blue Valley North grad Harry Higgs, Central Links Golf executive director Doug Habel and other top pro and amateur players with deep knowledge of the region, we’ve selected these 18 holes as our “KC Dream 18”: the best holes of golf to be found in and around KC.

Some highlight local public courses; others are tucked into private tracks. They vary in length from short par-3s to epic par-5s, but together they’re a collection of holes that we (and the aforementioned real experts) believe would constitute a pretty fantastic, if hypothetical, getaway for a few hours of golf.

Check them out and see if you agree, or disagree, and let us know what you think.

This much is certain: These 18 holes attest to the fact that there’s an awful lot of good golf to be had in Kansas City and its surrounding territories.

1. Shadow Glen No. 13

Par 4, 477 yards from back tees

We begin with a hole once chosen as one of America’s best 18 by Golf Digest. Golfers here contend with trees to the right and a creek to the left. The green is open on the right, but it slopes toward that creek. “It’s just one tough par-4,” Watson said. “I love it.”

2. Wolf Creek No. 18

Par 4, 462 yards

This great finishing hole (yes, we realize we planted a finishing hole as our No. 2) plays straight uphill, often into the wind. A forced carry over a creek will test your nerves here and trees run along on both sides. Oh — and the elevated green is guarded by bunkers both left and right.

3. The National Golf Club No. 17

Par 4, 457 yards

This very narrow hole forces golfers to deal with water down the right side and trees to the left. And that’s just off off the tee. A creek cuts across the fairway and runs down to the left of the hole. The green is very long, so it is possible to bounce the ball onto it with the right touch.

4. Wolf Creek No. 5

Par 3, 166 yards

This picturesque hole is set along Wolf Creek and is guarded by three bunkers. Anyone missing the green will likely find either the water or one of those pesky bunkers.

5. Shadow Glen No. 18

Par 5, 506 yards

Higgs calls this one a risk-reward hole: If you play it well, you can card a 3. If you don’t, you might end up cursing with a 7.

6. Creekmoor No. 17

Par 3, 214 yards

The first shot from an elevated tee requires a carry over water. Bunkers lie behind the green.

7. Swope Memorial No. 17

Par 5, 566 yards

This one’s a challenge because of its length ... but it’s also many duffers’ favorite because of its awesome view of Kansas City’s downtown skyline.

8. Kansas City Country Club No. 14

Par 3, 219 yards

KCCC No. 14 gets a coveted vote from Watson as among the best in town. An out-of-bounds to the left and deep bunker front-right protect the very narrow, pear-shaped green. It’s so difficult to nail that some choose to lay up on their tee shot.

9. Hallbrook No. 6

Par 3, 155 yards

This aesthetically pleasing hole has two sets of tees: higher and to the right or lower and to the left. Players must deal with a creek and bunkers guard the narrow green. Distance control is critical in hitting it right at Hallbrook’s No. 6.

10. Nicklaus Golf Club at LionsGate No. 14

Par 3, 158 yards

Members play this one at 120-130 yards, but even then it has their full attention. Water covers the left side and back of the narrow green, with a bunker in play on the right-hand side. Most of the time, winds here are blowing into your face or right to left.

11. Blue Hills No. 16

Par 4, 456 yards

Higgs is a fan of holes with challenging tee shots and fun approaches, and this one qualifies. His advice: Stay to the right for an easier approach with a mid- or long-iron into a green that measures about 44 yards from front to back but only 20 or so wide.

12. Staley Farms No. 11

Par 4, 435 yards

A demanding tee shot is played into a ravine, and the approach is into a green that slopes right to left.

13. Paradise Pointe Outlaw No. 10

Par 3, 208 yards

This gorgeous hole offers a scenic view of the boats on Smithville Lake. Befitting its lakeside layout, there is water behind the green and to both sides.

14. Loch Lloyd No. 2

Par 3, 171 yards

Get ready for an elevation change of 50-60 feet. Your tee shot over water leads to a penalty area in front of the green. Bunkers behind the green and to the right don’t leave much room for bailing out.

15. Stone Canyon No. 3

Par 4, 381 yards

The drive here is over a ravine, and there’s a pond on the right. There’s also a horseshoe-shaped trap behind the green ... and an unforgiving rock wall perches beyond that.

16. Canyon Farms No. 14

Par 5, 571 yards

The tee is on top of a quarry wall and drives goes into a canyon between rock faces of 60 feet on the left and 15 on the right. The rock eventually gives way to trees on the right, but the rock face on the left continues all the way to the green. A difficult chip punishes those who miss the green left or right.

17. Shoal Creek No. 17

Par 3, 198 yards

This hole has six sets of tees, making it as short as 104 yards, and plays downwind in summer. Most will try to hit an elevated tee shot onto the green, which is protected by a creek in the front.

18. Mission Hills No. 17

Par 4, 463 yards

An out-of-bounds area with a creek runs along the right side — and in front of — the green. Bunkers guard the left of the fairway and left and right of the green.

Also consider these honorable mentions ...

Adams Pointe No. 8

Blue Hills Nos. 13, 15

Blue Springs C.C. No. 11

Canyon Farms Nos. 2, 8

Country Club of Leawood No. 16

Creekmoor Nos. 2, 7, 9, 11, 18

Deer Creek Nos. 3, 10, 12

Drumm Farm No. 8

Dub’s Dread Nos. 10, 17

The Deuce at the National No. 7

Falcon Ridge Nos. 4, 6, 15, 16

Hallbrook Nos. 7, 15

Heritage Park No. 13

Hillcrest Nos. 1, 6

Indian Hills No. 10, 12

Ironhorse Nos. 2, 4, 18

Kansas City C.C. Nos. 2, 11, 12

Lakewood Oaks No. 13

Lawrence C.C. No. 1

Loch Lloyd Nos. 14, 18

Milburn Nos. 4, 6, 8

Minor Park No. 13

Mules National No. 1

The National Golf Club No. 18

Nicklaus Golf Club at LionsGate No. 8, 15

Oak Country No. 10

Oakwood Nos. 3, 8, 15

Overland Park South No. 1

Painted Hills No. 14

Paradise Pointe Posse No. 4

Prairie Highland No. 15

St. Andrews No. 1

Shadow Glen No. 9

Shawnee Country Club Nos. 7, 17

Shirkey Nos. 9, 13

Shoal Creek Nos. 15, 18

Staley Farms No. 8, 15

Stone Canyon No. 15

Sunflower Hills No. 7

Swope Memorial Nos. 5, 10, 14

Sycamore Ridge Nos. 2, 3, 7, 8, 11, 18

Tiffany Greens No. 1

Tomahawk Hills Nos. 9, 18

Trails West No. 6

Winterstone No. 8