Course Tour

Hole 1 - A beautifully routed par 5 opener that demands accuracy off the tee. Long hitters can set up a second shot at the green by favoring the left side of the fairway, but run the risk of becoming ensnared in the trees lining both sides of the fairway. Many players opt for a fairway wood or hybrid off the tee, and play it as a three shot hole. Bunkers and difficult rough around the green demand accuracy with the approach shot.

Hole 2 - A short par 4, deceptive in its difficulty. Most players will attempt to leave a wedge into this well-bunkered green. The green is pitched steeply back to front, which makes any putt from behind the hole extremely difficult. Excessive spin on the approach will result in a long chip up the green.

Hole 3 - The third hole is another par 4 where distance control on the approach is of critical importance. Too short will spin off the green or land in one of the bunkers. Too long and you end up in the collection area behind the steeply pitched green, leaving an extremely difficult up and down. This hole is typical of Glen Oak in that an inappropriately aggressive play can turn a straightforward hole into a double bogey in an eyeblink.

Hole 4 - The green on this uphill par 3 is fairly spacious, but difficult if the player gets behind the hole. Bunkers left, right, and short of the green ensure that the errant approach is penalized.

Hole 5 - The downhill tee shot on #5 provides one of the attractive views that lend the course its beauty. This gently curving dogleg left par 4 invites and aggressive swing with the driver, but trees right and out of bounds left will penalize an egregiously offline play. The green is framed by two bunkers, and an approach over the green runs the risk of going out of bounds as well.

Hole 6 - This par 4 earns its rating as the #2 handicap hole on the course. An uphill tee shot through a tree-lined chute sets up a long approach to a severely pitched, well bunkered green. The long hitter’s tee shot must favor the right side of the fairway or he risks his approach being blocked by the massive oak guarding the fairway’s left side. Any approach shot that gets behind the hole invites a three putt, or worse.

Hole 7 - A sharp, dogleg left par 5, this hole beckons the big hitter to bite off as much as he can chew by bombing it over the trees, setting up a mid-iron approach. The traditional play is a drive of moderate length down the middle, setting up the classic risk-reward calculation of going for the green in two with a fairway wood, or laying up with an iron. The newly rebuilt green demands extreme accuracy and distance control, and out of bounds looms up the entire right side of the hole.

Hole 8 - Another gorgeous view from the tee of this downhill par 4. A big drive sets up a wedge into the difficult, two-tiered green. Trees line both sides of the fairway, and a creek fronting the green complicates any recovery shot from the margins of the hole, so many choose a fairway wood or hybrid off the tee. Out of bounds runs the length of the right side of the hole.

Hole 9 - The green of this short par 3 sits adjacent to the clubhouse patio, providing entertainment for restaurant patrons. Deep bunkers frame the hole, demanding care on the tee shot. Players can expect that an accurate approach will bring applause on a summer afternoon. The response to a poor shot depends on the quality of the player’s friends watching from above.

Hole 10 - Wind and gradient complicate club selection on this challenging, downhill par 3. Bunkers left and right and a steep hill behind the green demand judicious club selection and conservative play. The pine trees lining both sides of the hole penalize wayward shots, but also usually allow a punch toward the green.

Hole 11 - Two streams wind beside and across this complex par 5, forcing players to make strategic decisions on every shot. Most players will opt to lay up short of the creek bisecting the fairway at 225 yards, but some aggressive players will attempt to set up a shot at the green in two. A creek crosses the fairway again at 315 yards, then runs along the right side of the landing area, approach and green. The typical strategy is to leave a short iron or wedge for the approach into the tricky, three-tiered green. Out of bounds extends up the right side of the entire hole, so conservative play is the norm.

Hole 12 - A blind tee shot complicates this otherwise straightforward par 4. A drive up the right side of the tree-lined fairway sets up a short iron or wedge into the green. Out of bounds lurks in the woods on the right hand side of the hole.

Hole 13 - The tee of this short, tree-lined par 4 provides perhaps the finest view on the Glen Oak grounds. Players normally opt for a long iron or hybrid from the tee, setting up a wedge or short iron into the narrow but deep green. Some long hitters go for the green from the tee, but run the risk of losing a ball in the trees or in the deep fescue left of the green.

Hole 14 - Featuring one of the more demanding tee shots at Glen Oak, this dogleg left can get you into trouble fast. Trees and a stream left and trees right require that the drive be long and accurate. A stream crossing 80 yards in front of the green complicates recovery shots, and the green and surrounds can get extremely difficult if the player is short-sided.

Hole 15 - The start of the difficult four hole closing stretch, #15 plays 380 yards from the regular men’s tees, but is another 75 yards from the tips. The drive must negotiate a creek bisecting the fairway 160 yards from the green. The large green slopes steeply left-to-right and back-to-front, and is well bunkered.

Hole 16 - The most difficult hole on the course, #16 is the #1 handicap, and is both long and tight. Playing almost 420 yards straight uphill, it is guarded by out of bounds up the left side and trees on the right. Large trees on both sides of the fairway complicate an already difficult approach to a steeply pitched, lightning fast green.

Hole 17 - A long, challenging par three complicated by an undulating green and bunkers both left and right. The tee shot demands an accurate long iron or hybrid. Any up and down attempt from left, right, or behind the green is extremely challenging, and a stand of pine trees right of the green makes a big number an ever-present threat.

Hole 18 - The closing hole at Glen Oak is a challenging par 5 that demands a strategic approach to every shot. Pine trees both left and right of the fairway penalize an errant drive. Long hitters can set up a second shot at the green, which is protected by bunkers, an enormous oak, and out of bounds up the left side. The typical strategy is to leave a short iron or wedge into the large, complex green. The approach is steeply uphill to this well protected green, making distance control at once critical and extremely difficult.