The Oaks Club - Heron Course

I also wrote a review on The Heron which is the other course at the Oaks. Please see that one for comments on the overall facility, will keep this to strictly comments on The Eagle.

This is by far the harder of the two courses with far more bunkers and water in play. It is also much longer so take that into consideration about which tees you choose to play. It is also an out and back course so not great for 9 holes.

1) Probably the easiest par 4 on the course, green slopes from back to front so don't go over.

2) Short but a tree right in the middle of the landing zone adds significant difficulty. Can reach the water off the tee so driver is a risky play. Green has water on the right and bunker left, back right hole location is most difficult.

3) Medium/long par 4 but no bailout and have to carry the ball almost all the way to the green which is very deep and has 3 distinct levels, very difficult to get up and down.

4) Shorter par 4 with water off the tee and again up by the green which has a big trough right in the middle, very tough to putt from/to/across if you are on the wrong part.

5) Medium par 3, more water all the way down the left, not as severe a green

6) Par 5 with water down the left but comes into play more on the layup and approach than off the tee. OB right. Have to hit a precise layup but for once, a fairly flat green.

7) One of the longest par 4's on the course. Wide fairway but there is OB left and a big waste bunker right so can't be too wild. Takes two excellent shots to get on in regulation.

8) Short par 4, forced carry on the approach to one of the smallest greens on the course.

9) Par 5, there is a pond left that pinches in on layups so be careful as you can't really see it from the tee or even fairway sometimes. Plenty of room to bailout right by the green which is good because left is bad news.

10) Short, 90 degree dog leg left to a green that will remind you of something out of Pinehurst #2. Can hit anything from Driver (cutting corner) to 5 iron off the tee. Green is fairly flat, once you are actually on it that is.

11) Had enough yet? No? Good because next up is the longest par 3 on the course, 200+ from just about every tee box. There is water left if you really hook one.

12) Finally, an easier par 4 but still 400+ and a group of bunkers down the right off the tee.

13) Short par 4 but a green guarded by water short left

14) Long par 5 to an elevated green with water left so reaching in 2 is virtually impossible. Better to leave a full club for your approach as green is shallow and hitting it right distance is crucial. Have to earn your par on this one.

15) Maybe the toughest par 4 on the course, hazard line runs tight down the entire right side of the hole, requires a long straight tee shot and then a precision approach to a green with multiple levels that also falls off.

16) Medium/short par 3, what you see is what you get, more exposed to wind so keep that in mind.

17) Medium/long par 4, OB down the entire right side so better to stay left

18) Beautiful dog leg right that curves around a big lake. There is a creek that runs across about 250 out so driver isn't really an option. If you happen to find yourself down the right and fairly long, you can reach in two, its about a 200 yard carry over the water. Otherwise you have to lay up, trust me when I say you need to hit it farther than you think. Green is small with water tight to front and a bunker back so have to be very precise.

If you score well on this course, you've earned it.

I am fortunate to have family members that live at and belong to The Oaks so I get to play the courses there often. The Heron is the easier of the two tee to green and isn't particularly long either. The course was completely renovated about a year ago and was brought up to the outstanding playing conditions of The Eagle. The Heron was in great shape when we played over the holidays and the staff is excellent as always. They have solid practice facilities including a very large putting green that is great for working on longer putts so I always enjoy getting in some extra practice when I'm in town. Just a few tips:

1) and 2) are both shortish dog leg right par 4's, more room to hit driver than it looks like off the tee if you are aggressive and take an inside line.

3) Is an easy par 5 so long as you put your tee shot in the fairway, I've been in the bunkers/water down the right more times than I can count

6) Is my least favorite tee shot, would be a longish par 4 anyway but they stuck a bunker right in the middle of the landing zone. Be happy with 5 and move on.

9) Can definitely reach the water off the tee so lay up to 220 or so. Green has a big ridge in the middle so make sure you find the proper side or it will be a ridiculously long putt.

10) Easiest hole and yet I tend to make bogey (or worse). Super tempting to try and hit it up by the green but trust me, just lay up with an 8 iron to stay short of all the trouble and then knock a wedge on the green. Would have broken 80 when we played if I had just done that. Instead I decided to hit 3 wood "cause I'm hitting it great today"... and took double.

13) and 14) feel like the same hole back to back and are mirror images of 1) and 2), medium length dog leg left's but with more room than you think.

15) and 17) are both medium length par 5's and probably my favorite holes on the course

After 17 holes that aren't super taxing, the tee shot on 18) is like a slap in the face. It is a medium/long slightly uphill dogleg right par 4 with bunkers lining both the inside and outside of the dog leg. The green has multiple levels so pulling the right club on your approach is important. A great finishing hole but one that can run up your score if you find the bunkers off the tee.