Hole Description
To see the professional tips and course layout, click on any hole number
one | two | three | four | five | six | seven | eight | nine
Hole #1
Par 4 White Tee – 324 Red Tee – 296
- A straight away par 4 with a generous landing area
- Water hazard comes into play on the tee shot
- Fairway narrows to approximately 25 yards wide, and is heavily guarded by 80 foot fir trees on either side.
- Approach shot is played to a 2 tier green
Tips
- Keep the tee shot back in the fairway as the percentages drop off finding the fairway as you approach the green
- A shot of 180 yards from the white tee leaves approximately a 150-130 yard approach shot
- The premium is on accuracy, not length
- Try to keep the ball below the pin as the green slopes from back to front
Hole #2
Par 4 Slight Dog Leg Right White Tee – 324 Red Tee – 258
- Royal Oak Golf Club’s signature hole
- Beautiful par 4, tree-lined down the entire left side (red stake)
- Two tier fairway with a water hazard on the right lower tier
- Very quick, subtle green
Tips
Option A
- If you are hitting it well, “let the big dog eat!”
- A drive of approximately 250 yards will leave a short iron into the hole
- Be careful as to which side of the hole you leave your approach shot as the green slopes from right to left and can leave a ticklish put if you are above the hole
Option B
- A mid iron will leave you on the top tier of the fairway and gives you a good look at the green
- The approach shot is approximately 150-130 yards in
Hole #3
Par 3 White Tee – 124 Red Tee – 104
- The first of the par 3s
- Playing up to 140 yards this uphill over water hole is Royal Oak’s most challenging par 3
- The green is narrow, but deep with a swale running through the center of it
- Out of bounds down the left side, and a steep bank on the right of the green makes club selection of paramount importance
Tip
- It is better to be short of the pin rather than long as it can lead to a ticklish chip
Hole #4
Par 3 White Tee – 87 Red Tee – 75
- Short par 3 to a sloped green with many tricky pin placements
- a definite birdie opportunity
Tip
- try to keep the ball below the hole as the green slopes from back to front
Hole #5
Par 3 White Tee -101 Red Tee – 74
- Downhill par 3 to a very small green
- It is very difficult to keep the ball on the green as it slopes away from you
Tips
- Keep the ball short of the green as there is an out of bounds over the back
- Try to land the shot as softly as possible, i.e. high with lots of back spin
- Although quite short, 3 is a good score on this tricky hole
Hole #6
Par 3 White Tee – 106 Red Tee – 91
- downhill shot that is deceptive to the eye in length
- be careful not to overshoot as there is an out of bounds over the back of the green
- Two large bunkers and a water hazard guard this green
Tip
- The middle of the green is the best shot as this will set up the best birdie opportunity
Hole #7
Par 4 Dog Leg Left White Tee – 287 Red Tee – 231
- A beautiful par 4 which can be played in two different ways
Option A
- Safe route to a generous landing area- High percentage play
- A mid iron leaves wedge, 9 iron into the green
Option B
- Heroic option – Low percentage play
- hit driver over two water hazards and 50-60 foot oak trees by cutting the corner
- Try to hit the green in one shot
- You need to carry the ball 240-250 yards in the air and very high to clear the trees and hazards
- The green is narrow in depth, but wide from side to side, making club selection very important
Hole #8
Par 4 Slight Dog Leg Left White Tee – 312 Red Tee – 234
- A very difficult par 4 as the drive must be played perfectly
- There is an elevated, narrow landing area guarded by red stake on the left and an out of bounds on the right
- Green is heavily guarded by red stakes on the left, out of bounds on the right and over the back, as well as a pot bunker on the front right.
Tips
- Aim the tee shot to go directly over the knoll situated in the center of the fairway
- A drive of no longer than 210 yards is perfect
- This leaves a short iron into the heavily defended green
- This is an easy hole to make a big number on as stray shots often end in penalty strokes.
- 5 is a good score on this tricky par 4
Hole #9
Par 4 Straight Away White Tee – 250 Red Tee – 192
- This is another two option par 4
- Out of bounds down the left side with a water hazard directly in front of the green and a bunker behind the green to catch over shots
Option A
- High Percentage Play
- Short to mid iron to landing area, wedge, 9 iron onto green.
Option B
- Heroic Play
- A drive of approximately 230 yards to carry the water hazard
- This hole has a small green which is hard to hold with your driver
- If you take the risk and execute this shot the reward is great with a possible eagle or at least a birdie