Oakridge

Players Tip Sheet by Mr. 24 Cups (formerly Mr. 23 Cups and aspires to be Mr. 25 Cups)

This ‘tip sheet’ is intended for the first time golfer playing at Oakridge; for the average golfer who usually plays from the gold (white) tees. It’s worth a preview. After all it’s free and golf balls cost money!

Hole #1 - Check with marshal for an accurate distance from the tee to the pond. Lots of trouble down the right hand side of the fairway. Take an extra club when hitting over the pond. Green slopes from right to left. The greens at Oakridge tend to run fast.

Hole #2 - Do not align your tee shot with the tee blocks but rather with the flag. Tee shots will not run up the apron onto the green - take an extra club.

Hole #3 - Very difficult hole, bogey is a reasonable score here. If your drive doesn’t get close to the 150 marker then consider taking 3 shots to get on the green. Aim left with second shot. Then wedge on. Green goes from left to right and is a real roller coaster ride. Putt like a surgeon.

Hole #4 - Regardless of yardage, always take an extra club. Favour the left side with tee shot - green goes from left to right. Stay below the hole on a red flag at all costs.

Hole #5 - Tee shot down the left side may lead to a penalty. There’s more room on the right and you’re in great shape if you can get past the large maple on the right side of the fairway. Take enough club to carry the front bunker on your second shot. Green is shallow, very wide with severe slope on the left side.

Hole #6 - Double ponds on left and right off the tee. Slope of fairways is cut short - some shots may land on fairway and still roll down into the water. Green is heavily bunkered - safe second shot is slightly out to the right side.

Hole #7 - Pond on the right side of fairway off the tee. Also, some fades and slices may roll off the fairway into the water. A drive down the left side will hit the hill and spring forward. Green is very deep - take an extra club on a black flag.

Hole #8 - Avoid the right side as second shot may be blocked out from the green. Align yourself with the 150 marker, not the tee blocks. Last 100 yards is straight up hill - take an extra club. Same goes for chipping uphill. Never go past a red flag with your approach or you will be sorry!

Hole #9 - Swing easy from this elevated tee shot. Stay right of center on fairway as the hidden bunkers on the left are large and long. Huge green - focus on flag colour for yardage on second shot. (Full service washrooms are located just behind the snack bar to the right of the 9^th green.)

Hole #10 - Try to hit your drive slightly right of center. Watch your alignment depending on where the tee blocks are located. Any drive that clears the large maple on the right will hit the hill and spring forward. Tee shots too far down the left quickly run out of fairway. Green is heavily bunkered…and they’re deep!

Hole #11 - Drives off the tee have more room on the right than the left, although the right side is heavily mounded. Bring second shot in from the right. Shots on the side of the (right) hill usually bounce onto the green. Beware the bunker and maple tree on the left. Green runs deep - take an extra club for a black flag.

Hole#12 - Blind tee shot - aim for the white birdhouse off on the horizon. Tee shots that go too far left may be blocked from green on 2^nd shot. Cart up to the 100 yard marker before you hit your approach shot to the green. Take at least one less club for drop in elevation and beware the bunker in front of the green. Shots off the mounds to the right of the green will bounce on.

Hole#13 - Take at least one club less for elevation. Tee shot has lots of room out on the right (which you can’t see). Draws and hooks will lead to a penalty or a very difficult 2^nd shot. This hole has 3 sets of gold tees - double check yardage before hitting.

Hole #14 - Difficult tee shot as forest runs down both sides of fairway. Aim for the in-play edge of the tree line on the left. If you land up in trouble try not to be a hero with your 2^nd shot. Play to the 100 marker and get on in three. Green has a ‘mottled’ look due to the two types of grasses that grow on it. Watch out as the green can run very fast when you’re putting. The rough is always thick and long and the green is deceptively subtle.

Hole #15 - Our longest drive hole. Watch out for the left side of fairway which is forested all the way down to the green. Basically a 3 shot play to the green. Stay clear of the bunker in front of the green (on the left). There is a private residence (with young children) on the right side of the hole from the 150 marker up to the green. Please aim away from the property and realize that it is strictly out of bounds. Please do not enter site to look for a wayward shot. Take a drop at point of entry (with a penalty) and play onto the green. Thanks!

Hole #16 - Par 3. Multiple tee decks and flag colours will change your yardage dramatically. On windy days many shots will get pushed into the gigantic greenside bunker. Not a good place to be! Green is huge so take dead aim at the flag because many tee shots that land on the putting surface may still lead to a 3 putt green

Hole #17 - Two distinct sets of gold tee blocks. Check your alignment with the fairway. Stay out of the fairway bunker on the right side at all costs. Second shot (depending on the angle) usually isn’t as far as the yardage would indicate. Green is deep; try to stay below the hole if possible.

Hole#18 - Unique par 5 which provides two options. Aim down the left side and try and blast one down the tree line onto the fairway past the corner. Or hit straight down the fairway, iron down to near the pond and a wedge over on your 3^rd shot. If flag is on the right side, take more club. On the left, take less. If it’s behind ‘Old Whitey’ take your chances and test Trevino’s theory = trees are 90% air. This green is wide and shallow. The view from behind the green looking back is golforious! Unless you’re hitting from the high flashing bunker!

About the author: Mr. 24 Cups is a traditionalist who plays golf at Oakridge enough to know that aspects of our set up on certain holes may make trouble for ourselves. He is honest and accurate about the common perils that face us as golfers on each hole. I hope, and I know Steve does as well, that you enjoy your round with us.

Webmaster note: Mr. 24 Cups is a Habs fan. Please don't hold it against him,.