Another Way to Vacation Golf in Orlando

     Recently I posted a top of the line Orlando golf package and courses to play include Disney, Hawk's Landing and other courses. Most golfers want to have their golf packages lined up before they go and it is not a bad idea.

But there is another idea to consider and you can save some money by doing so.

Consider lining up your golf when you get to Orlando and
Line up a

Taylor Made is On Sale at Carl's

     I love hitting golf clubs and trying out the various brands. I rarely hit a bad club but do hit some clubs better than others. Carl's is having a sale as they will be going into demo days in the next several weeks and I notice they are having a sale on the Taylor Made rescue clubs among other items. I truly enjoy hitting the Taylor Made line of clubs and own three of the clubs below that are on sale. While I am not paid a dime to shill for Carl's or Taylor Made, the price of the clubs is the cheapest rate I have seen and this includes the price I paid for my clubs last year.

Buy Gift Cards Go Shopping Online Specials Just Arrived!

Win a Free Golf Vacation to Orlando

     The winter this year in southeastern Michigan has been pretty mild compared to last year when we shoveled the driveway several times and salted even more. In Orlando they are not shoveling or salting and are playing some golf with the warm sunshine of Florida as a backdrop . After living in Orlando for two years I can testify that playing this time of year is awesome. Why do you think so many snow birds from our state retire there? In my mind the golf down there for all 12 months is excellent although in the summer you want to be on the course no later than 10am.

Forget all that.

      Below is a contest with the details on how you can play some outstanding courses for free or double down by booking to play some incredible golf this winter or in the spring. I have played Hawks Landing for $18 for 18 and a cart. Yes you can do that in the summer. Forget about the winter. It is a resort course and it is one fun track to play. The entry and details are below. Check out all you get by reading on.

Disney's Palm Golf Course

You can golf 'til you drop when you win this fabulous three-night, six-round golf vacation for four to Orlando, FL. You'll stay at the Lake Buena Vista Resort Village & Spa, and you'll be golfing 'til you drop with a round at Hawk's Landing on your day of arrival, followed by two 36-hole days at the championship Disney courses and a final round at Falcon's Fire on your day of departure.

• Three nights of accommodations for four at Lake Buena Vista Resort Village & Spa.
• Six rounds of golf with cart at Hawk's Landing, two 36-hole days at the four Disney courses, and Falcon's Fire.
• $200 gift card for dinner and drinks at Frankie Farrell's Irish Pub & Grille.
• Luxury Rental Car from Budget Rent-A-Car

http://www.golforlando.com/golforlando/index.cfm/action/gocontest/adref/gcemail/

Tiger's Reaction to Hank Haney's Tell-All Book

Tiger and Hank in happier times

     First off, Hank Haney can write about whatever he wants and who he wants. The problem is the man he wrote the book about has a memory that makes an elephant look like a drunken belligerent.
    
     You see, Tiger Woods is none too happy that his former swing gury decided to write a book about his former pupil and 14-time major winner.
"I think it's unprofessional and very disappointing, especially because it's someone I worked with and trusted as a friend,” Woods said in an interview with ESPN.com.

     Hank Haney disputes that this book is a tell-all book and really talks about how he was a first hand witness to Tiger's greatness during most of the 2000's. Haney’s “The Big Miss” will be released on March 27. In a recent interview, Haney said he didn’t write the book to be a tell-all or to enhance his own reputation. “I felt like I had a front-row seat to greatness. And I think that anyone that observes greatness wants to talk about it. It's not a tell-all book, or a takedown book, or whatever they might say,” Haney said.

But that is not how Tiger sees it.

"There have been other one-sided books about me, and I think people understand that this book is about money. I'm not going to waste my time reading it." Haney and Woods are going tit for tat and Haney had this salvo in reaction to Woods in a recent tweet. "The Big Miss is golf history. I observed (greatness) and am asked about it all the time. I wanted to share it in a fair and honest way."
Haney did not acknowledge, in last week's interview, if Woods knew the book would be written some day, but believes Woods is portrayed accurately.
“Other people have written books about him, but most people who have were just speculating to a great extent. None have been written where someone can say, ‘I was there and made these observations,’” he said. “I think if (Tiger) reads the book, he’ll feel it’s very fair and honest.”

If Haney is speaking as a historian and tells about his first hand witness account of Woods, he stands on some firm ground but does he uses quotes or knowledge that Woods would not have authorized him to use? That will come out in March. In all, Haney spent six years working with Woods before that  relationship came to an end in May 2010.
“There's no doubt the time I was with Tiger had the most drama to it, whether it was the scandal, or the U.S. Open, or the knee surgeries. I'm sure people are going to have a little different view of what I dealt with."

     The elephant in the room is Woods. For whatever the reason, whether it be Haney or his ex' wife or his ex' caddie Steve Williams, Woods brings out strong reactions from those who know him best.

Second Chance at Regripping Your Clubs at Great Prices

     Remember last summer when you said there is no way I'm going to go through another golf season with clubs that slip out of your hands? Carl's Golfland is giving golfers a second chance to get your clubs regripped at under a $1 a club. I did it before Christmas and hopefully you will as well.

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USGA's Symposium on American Champions and Race Barrier Breakers

     When it comes to race, the USGA is trying to bridge racial barriers where the PGA Tour has not been able to do and one way is to celebrate diversity. The Tiger Woods Foundation and First Tee among different programs for juniors is trying to produce golf champions and there are golfers in the pipeline that may produce future male and female golf stars but this has largely not been accomplished. The USGA has recognized this and in anticipation of Black History Month superstars from other sports that have a golfing background are being hilighted for their contributions to the links.

   On February 18th, a special symposium will feature presentations by several presenters including Bill Wright, the first African American to win a USGA Championship and Renee Powell, a former member of the LPGA Tour. This is in conjunction of tcalled American Champions and Barrier Breakers that the museum will host the exhibitfrom February 17th through July 30th, 2012. Complete details are in the press release released below. Joe Louis and Althea Gibson are some athletes that will be featured at the museum.

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USGA Museum Honors "American Champions and Barrier Breakers" Some of the world's greatest athletic achievements have been accomplished in the face of untold adversity. Jackie Robinson, Joe Louis and Althea Gibson all excelled in their respective sports, not only performing competitively at an exceptionally high level, but shattering racial barriers in the process. In conjunction with the opening of its temporary exhibit "American Champions and Barrier Breakers," the USGA Museum will host a one-day symposium on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2012, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The exhibit will be on display from Feb. 17, 2012, to July 30, 2012, and celebrates the lives of Robinson, Louis and Gibson, their sports achievements and their important legacies. The exhibit will feature artifacts, documents and photographs of these three American icons while calling attention to the numerous contributions that African Americans have made to golf for more than a century. The one-day symposium on Feb. 18 will feature presentations by Bill Wright, the first African-American to win a USGA championship; Dr. Calvin Sinnette, author of Forbidden Fairways; Renee Powell, the second African-American woman to play on the LPGA Tour; Joe Louis Barrow Jr., chief executive officer of The First Tee; and Dr. Yohuru Williams, chief historian and vice president for public education & research for the Jackie Robinson Foundation. The symposium is free and open to the public, though space is limited and on a first-come, first-served basis. To register, contact the Museum receptionist at 908-234-2300 ext. 1057 between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday, or email museum@usga.org. In attendance at the Feb. 18 symposium will be Eric Velasquez, the award-winning artist of the book Twice as Good: The Story of William Powell and Clearview, the Only Golf Course Designed, Built, and Owned by an African American. Eric will be on-site with Renee Powell and both are willing to sign copies of the book purchased that day. All book sales will be donated to the Clearview Foundation. "American Champions and Barrier Breakers: Jackie Robinson, Joe Louis and Althea Gibson" has been developed through the African-American Golf Archive, which was created in 2010 by the United States Golf Association and The PGA of America and is housed in the USGA Museum. For more information about the USGA Museum, go to www.usgamuseum.com.

Oakhurst Country Club- Course Review- Reprint from 2011

As the season is about 2 1/2 months away, I am reprinting some of the course reviews from the 2011 golf season.

Oakhurst is one of several 21^st Century Country Clubs built in the decade before the real estate bust in the US and this modern club has a golf course that is worthy of private membership. I would like to thank George Bowman and his staff for allowing me to survey this outstanding course. In the past, playing Arthur Hills courses have been a treat as he uses many advanced golf strategy techniques to make players play to the edge of their abilities. Some of Hills major planning features are holes with very undulated greens, fairways where accurate tee shots on some strategic holes are just as important than crushing the ball down the middle. His use of runoff or collection areas behind greens or to the sides of them are important as many holes have long carries and balls can run just about anywhere. Those features are just for starters and I'm probably missing a few.

I really enjoyed playing the 7054 yard layout from the tips and six sets of tees await golfers and you can play from as little as 5,110. I decided to test my game and played from the maximum distance and coming off of a lesson, I expected this golfing experience to be up and down and it proved to be true.

Hole number one is an elevated 421 yard par four and with the awesome practice facilities to the left (rivaled by only Katke Cousins for me this year) you get a super glimpse of the course and like many elevated holes you feel like you can really turn on the golf ball. While hitting the ball down the middle is always the best policy for golfers, the fairway is wide and a large bunker wait golfers who miss left of their target. To the right is a small area of woods that looks formidable from the tee right side but unless you hit a shank you can expect to find an open area to hit your second shot. There is a catch to that as a hill will give you a blind shot to the green from mid to high iron range. This is important as the green is surrounded by a couple of bunkers and the back slopes off to an area that quickly goes into the woods. This is one of the few holes without a collection area for longer shots but otherwise will let you know right away what you are to expect. The greens at Oakhurst roll fast. This is a huge local knowledge course and those used to putting on slower surfaces will realize that your best putts will leak one way or another and the subtle changes are not always noticeable from a golfers eyesight. I did earn a four here after putting my iron shot on the green from just over 150 yards out. My putt leaked and I felt fortunate to walk off even after one.

One of Arthur Hills best design strategies is to have a hole shaped nearly like the letter T. What is meant is you have your tee box, then a long carry over fescues and wetlands. I mention the T as an accurate drive could knock off 100 or more yards off the yardage of the hole. A drive that fades, hooks or is blocked right will make for a much different golfing experience. If you see the pin left side, you know that an accurate drive will give you most likely a short iron to the green and a drive that is missed right will be anywhere from a mid-iron to perhaps a five wood depending on where you hit it. If you hit it into the fescues, you are three off the tee. The third hole (is such an experience and is what I like to call Double Jeopardy. This (389 yard) hole is as described above and assuming you make it to the fairway (I did and not by much from the tips) you have a second set of fescues that guard the green. They are very deep and if you hit it over them, hitting the green is not a sure thing and there is room on both sides of the green and a sand bunker awaits you left side and that is where I hit it. The sand is deep and the lips of the bunkers are high at Oakhurst and blasting it out is only half of the battle. The recommendation is to hit it short of the pin if possible and take your chances on the ball rolling toward the hole and being within ten feet or less to the hole. Due to the slopes of the greens, you may think you have hit a superb shot but find out that the ball rolls into an undesirable place.

The fifth hole is really quite a dandy and this par five (569 yards) lives up to its billing as the number three handicapped hole at Oakhurst. This hole is one of several with a long carry of nearly 200 yards over the fescues and wetlands and has a wide fairway but trouble to the right side if you fade it into the trees. If you drive it down the left side of the fairway it is possible to be blocked out from shortening up the hole as a small cluster of trees does jut out and will give you a nasty little surprize. The trees spoke about on the right side run the length of the hole but even two nutted shots could put you in front of the green but there is plenty of fun as a large bunker sits about 100 yards in front of the green and a series of bunkers is placed to thwart the longer hitters from attempting to get on in two or chipping for eagle in three. Once again, if the sand doesn’t get you then perhaps the green will. It is very easy to put it past this hole on this slippery green. The hole is outstanding and once again local knowledge is important for golfers to escape the various gauntlet devices set up by Mr. Hills.

Talk about a counterpunch.

The very next hole is the number one handicapped hole on the course and it has a lot to do with it being a 463 yard par four. There is plenty of room to drive the ball on this hole and it does play as a slight dog leg right. Driving up the left side or left center works best. The trees that clipped errant golf shots on the fifth on the right side will do the same thing here. Dub your drive here and you are surely looking at a tough chance at par and most likely a five. My drive was solid but not great but did go up the left center of the fairway. When you only hit it about 230 you leave yourself with another metal wood and this time my five wood was hit very well but still about 15 yards short of the green. My chip was about 15 feet away and another missed putt left me with a five. In my mind the length of the hole is probably why it is the top handicap hole on the course. There are plenty of tough holes at the course and most likely one with a long carry could easily be number one but number six is a tough test of golf.

Number seven is another one of Hills long carry holes where driving it up the left side is your best bet as you will pull out a short to mid iron shot for a well placed and long tee shot. A huge tree guards the center of the fairway over the fescues and a large sand bunker guards the tree and collect what you thought was a good but not drive. This once again is where local knowledge comes in. If you drive it offline to the right, you will have to shoot over this huge tree and shooting around it to the right is almost a sure bet to find the woods. Drive it left and once again you have brought a series of sand bunkers into play. My drive went into the sand bunker and I used a five hybrid to hit it out and hit it into the woods. A drop into the woods with a penalty was my reward. I then hit what was thought to be a super chip shot but went into a right side bunker. I blasted it out and toward the pin but the ball rolled and rolled and rolled into the first cut of grass just off the green. A chip and one putt and what was a good tee shot became a nightmare as the fairway sand bunker got the best of me.

The back nine has just as many interesting holes and number 11 presents a real challenge from the gold tees as the fescues that jut out from the woods right side come into play. When I played this course earlier I played from the black tees and had no problem driving over the nasty stuff. My drive just cleared the natural hazard and I had only about 110 yards to the center of the green. Going left on this hole is not desirable as a huge bunker awaits drives that roll off the left side of the fairway. If you shank your second shot or hit it off line left or behind the green you will have to pay your scorecard a visit to the penalty box. This hole is another tricky one so watch yourself here.

To give you an idea of the difficulty of this golf course, the 197 yard par three is rated as the number 16 handicap hole on the course. Well fuey to that as this hole is all carry from the back tee boxes to about five yards short of the green. If you want to play smart on this hole, you might just club up one here if you are confident with your higher irons and the reason for this is to give you some insurance to take the nasty stuff out of play. This writer hit it into the woods in my first attempt before coming up just a few feet from landing on the green. The collar was high with a buried lie and my chip was chunked and left about 7-8’ of the pin where another two putt was a head shaker for me. In my mind, if this is the number 16 handicapped hole… well you finish the sentence.

Do You Want to Dress Like Last Years US Open Champion?

     Most of the time dressing like yesterday's fashion statement is generally a bad idea. Right now, te USGA is offering those that visit the USGA site below discounts of 50% or greater on select US Open merchandise from the Congressional course last year. Over the years I have received plenty of merchandise both from my memberships and from the Oakland Hills championship back in 1996. The merchandise is high quality and wives and girlfriends that like golf might just ok this purchase or grow a pair and buy it irregardless. Here is the link.

http://bit.ly/wvLgYY

Is the 2012 Tiger One to Be Reckoned With?

    

      For his sake, let's hope this is the case. Woods had a pretty non descript 2011 until his win at the Chevron World Challenge in December. It was painful to watch him golf at times in the calendar years of 2010 and 2011. Until his first victory on the eve of the 2012 PGA Tour season, Woods' bumpy career became a riddle wrapped inside an enigma and was very frustrating for golf fans around the world to absorb. But we might have found an answer to the mystery as Woods gives us insight into the funk that could have defined his career.

      He told The Associated Press by email that he has fully recovered from the leg injuries that ruined much of last season. He also hopes his recent victory at the Chevron World Challenge in California is the ``start of another great run.''

   It is not easy for golfers to play well for a casual round of golf when you can barely walk let alone play 18 holes at a world class level and that is what Woods was facing.

``The lowest moments (last year) came from the fact that I wasn't healthy and couldn't put in the time on and off the course that I wanted and needed to, and that was frustrating,'' Woods said. ``I was playing with pain and that isn't fun. The last couple of months have been really fun and that is mostly because I am feeling healthy again and building week on week.''

   Perhaps a smart strategy is for him to play overseas as he is doing this week in Abu Dhabi against a world class field that is largely skipping the first PGA Tour event in order to play in the Middle East.  Woods will tee off with top level players such as U.S. Open champion Rory McIlroy, top-ranked Luke Donald and defending champion Martin Kaymer. This is an excellent tune-up for the 14 time major championship winner. Woods also was a major factor at the President's Cup in Melbourne and finished third in the Australian Open in the waning weeks of 2011.



      What Woods saw during his downturn is that the game of golf waits for no one and that includes players who stumble no matter what the reason. Whether it has humbled Woods remains to be seen but he is saying the right things.

``There are so many great and talented players in the game right now - it is exciting for golf fans and I relish the challenge of going head-to-head with any number of the leading players on a Sunday afternoon,'' Woods said. ``Rory and Luke are both very talented golfers and I admire what they have achieved in the last year. I look forward to having many great battles on a Sunday afternoon with these great players in 2012.''

     But can Woods regain the No. 1 ranking he held for so long? Woods now sits 23rd in the world and no one cares if you are second let alone a pedestrian number for a player that may have more world class golf left in him.  ``The young guys coming through are practicing harder and training harder than ever before and raising the bar,'' Woods said. ``I think the level of consistency I had a few years ago would see me climb back up the rankings pretty quickly, but I do think there are some pretty phenomenal golfers out there that I really respect.''

   Now that he is no longer seen as invincible the climb he is attempting to make may be more incredible than when he burst on the scene in 1997 because he has both stood on the mountain top and has gazed at it from the valley. The courage is attempting to do it when many men would count their money and accolades and just walk away.  

Play Golf with Dustin Johnson and Win 12 Free Visits to Myrtle Beach

     While the Michigan winter has been mild so far, most golfers must desire to play golf in someplace warm and Myrtle Beach will have super weather after mid-March. A golf contest with details below will give one grand prize winner the opportunity to play golf with Dustin Johnson and win up to a dozen visits that are basically all expenses paid including airfare. There is also an opportunity to play some elite courses for $79 per day per golfer including lodging. If you have ever tried to play golf in Myrtle Beach in April it is their peak season so the deals are worth looking at.

Golf For A Year, Including a Round with Dustin Johnson in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Begin planning your Myrtle Beach golf vacation today, and find out how you can win up to 12 visits to Myrtle Beach, including: • airfare • rental car • lodging • golf • new clubs • a round of golf with PGA TOUR star Dustin Johnson

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Win a Free Golf Vacation

   There is an old adage, "If it's free its for me," is one that depends on the subject. In the case of the following, it is most likely a good thing to win free golf this winter or during the 2012 golf season. Two Guys Who Golf are giving away the kit and caboodle in the following special. Click the links below and good luck!

TWO FREE GOLF PACKAGE GIVEAWAYS - REGISTER FOR FREE FOR A CHANCE TO WIN! NO strings attached.

• Stay & Play in beautiful Scottsdale, Arizona at the Zona Hotel & Suites! Featuring deluxe hotel rooms and fully furnished suites, Zona Hotel & Suites is the perfect getaway vacation spot for golfers. Stay for 4 days and play golf on Legend Trail - click here for the Two Guys Who Golf pictorial review, Grayhawk - click here for our review of the Raptor and here for our review of the Talon - & McDowell Mountain - click here for our review. Click here to visit the Two Guys Who Golf page for Zona Hotel & Suites. Click here to visit the Zona Hotel & Suites website. Click here to enter to win this package - no strings attached!
  
• Stay & Play at the Hawk's Eye Golf Resort in Bellaire, Michigan! The winner will enjoy the premium accommodations at the Chief Golf Cottages and play golf on the Chief and on Hawk's Eye! Click here for The Hawk's Eye Golf Resort's web page. Our review of The Chief can be found here - our review of Hawk's Eye can be found here. This is a great sampling of Northern Michigan golf - so don't miss out. Hawkseye is simply one of the best – and the Chief is beautiful and extremely challenging. Enter by clicking here.

Revisiting 2011 Course Reviews- Springfield Oaks

Weekly through the spring, I will revisit some courses reviewed during the 2011 season. Today, Springfield Oaks gets the nod.

Oakland County Golf Courses are known by golfers as short, scenic and very well manicured. When you think of wasteful government spending, OC golf layouts in no way resemble the problems of our State and Federal government. Springfield Oaks is a super layout that brings in many of the best natural features that Michigan has to offer. The course has rolling hills, woods, ponds and about every type of tree to collect your golf ball and just about every type of animal native to Michigan peeking out of the woods to tell on you if you hit a bad shot.

At a layout of 6,033 yards from the back tees to 4,911 from the forward tees, long hitting golfers can choose to blast away and overpower the golf course or pull back and hit three wood or irons from the tee.

Right side of the green of hole number 1

The first tee is a prime example of what to expect at Springfield Oaks. Being that this course is very playable from the back tees, I played from them. There is a pond that runs down the left side of the hole including the landing area and a hill marks the majority of the right side. Trees are sprinkled along the hill so driving there could give you a clear shot to the green or could make you layup from this 347 yard par four. If you go dead center 250 yards, you have a wedge and if you a shorter hitter, a mid wedge should find the green. Go left side of the green and you will pitch downhill and go right and a deep sand bunker will make your birdie try interesting. The greens at this course are outstanding and if you hit it firm you will hear that awesome golf sound when the ball hits the bottom of the cup.

A view from the 3rd tee box

The third hole is one of several at Springfield Oaks where you can just blast away from the tee and you feel as though not a bad thing in the world can happen. It is not the case as every course has a defense and this course has both woods, wetlands and many greens that slope from back to front. This hole slopes downhill and if you smoke it you will have a short pitching shot on this 398 yard hole. A long hitter will use a pitch and run to this green that is fairly defenseless with no water or sand to make you think twice but if you shank your drive right off the tee you will bring the woods and a nasty sand trap down the right side. Guess what I did? Well I went right side and went over the sand trap and went into the woods where the ball hit off of a couple of trees and landed just in bounds. Thank God I went to church last weekend or I might have gotten some ticks in the woods for my trouble. I was only a pitching wedge to the hole and hit it on the green but about thirty-five feet from the pin where I two putt and did not miss the lip for birdie by much and sank a testy eight footer for par.

This fairway bunker sits in the middle of the sixth fairway

The 6th hole is a 375 yard hole where trouble is just about everywhere and that includes the fairway. From the tee box you see a playground and some undesirable must have hit golf balls into some kids at one point as there is a sign warning you not to hit it into a day care facility. Getting back to golf, it looks very tight on the tee but it does open up. A hill and a rough cut of grass awaits you right side. Woods awaits you left and a fairway sand bunker with a crazy lie guarding the lip awaits you if you hit it short and straight. Your best decision is to where your big boy pants and hit it over the bunker where a huge Weeping Willow is a great target for longer hitters and for shorter hitters you might consider going up the right side. This is a low to mid iron hole for your second shot unless you shank your drive. The green does slope from back to front so if you can control your approach, be below the hole for your best bet. This number one handicap hole demands you respect it as a pond also sits in front of the green as do sand bunkers to the front left and right of this hole. Paring this hole will let you know that you are playing well on this day.

Hole number seven plays much different from the back to the middle tees. From the back it plays as the longest hole on the course at only 523 yards. The middle tees play 70 yard shorter but they both have one thing in common as the tree lined left side will possibly be an impediment to golfers who work the ball from left to right. If you have a draw in your arsenal I would suggest that you use it here. The hole plays nearly severely uphill and those that play the course from the back tees shouldn't have to worry about the large bunker on the right side of the fairway unless you hit a postcard shot. From the 463 mark, the bunker definitely comes into play on your drive. While hitting into it is not a great thing, you probably have snap hooked it and the bunker has most likely prevented you from going out of bounds here. Your second shot will go up hill and I would club up one here. If you took geometry class in school you can figure out why. Golfers can see the flag stick on the front but is obscured to the steep slope that guards the front of the hole. Most golfers will be short of the green here as the hole plays a good 40 to 50 yards longer than the advertised yardage. Golfers should have a wedge to high iron depending on their first two shots. The green does slope from back to front. I was nearly pin high on my shot and rolled in my birdie putt. This is the first time I have birdied this hole but then again, I have not been here in years.

The ninth hole is another blastoff hole and at 348 yards, you might want to think about where you place your ball. Going left side is your best play as you take all the major trouble out of the hole. The fairway does slope from the tee box to the green so a well placed drive should roll very well. Going right side is not your best bet as the hill I spoke about on the first hole and the trees that are sprinkled to give separation from the first and ninth holes come into play as does a bunker for those golfers that drive it short and right side. This green slopes from front to back so golfers that drive it 250 can hit a wedge and can land it short and roll it to the pin depending on where it is placed. Don't go long here as there are fescues and your ball will be out of bounds. This is a hole that you should bogey at worst and if you do not at least par this hole you are losing a shot to the field.

The number ten fairway is tight if you do not hit it down the middle with a pond right side.

A view of number 10 from behind the flagstick. The pond is to the left

Number ten is one of the premium driving holes at Springfield Oaks. Woods await you left side with several large trees awaiting those who like to work the ball from left to right. A pond that juts in and out is on the right side of this 371 yard par four. I was really off on my driver today and faded my drive just a few yards from the pond on the right side and left myself with about 120 yards to the pin. The green is large and I put it on the green but left myself about 40 feet from the pin. My putt did move a little and it settled about three feet wide of the pin and I rolled in my par and this hole can make you roll a big number if you shank it on either side.

Number twelve is another hole that has plenty of trouble and this is the only par four hole that plays to over 400 yards and at 401 is one where if you hit it straight you should earn a par. For those of us who love to live dangerously, you can find trouble and the woods left side and a pond that awaits those who leak the ball right await you. I went right side and just off the fairway and had a tough lie in the long wet grass.

Going right on 12 gives you an uneven lie and these trees to shoot at in conjuncion of a blind shot to the green

Pretty tight look on 13 going up this hill. This picture doesn't do the hill justice.

Number 13 Green

I hit a crazy five hybrid out of the grass and went to the green over a low lying cluster of trees where I could not see the pin but going left would have left both woods, some deer that were watching me and a cluster of bunkers to shoot at. I said "let's live dangerously" and I went for it. While I did not hit an 'A' shot, the result was there and what thought would be a shot that dies in front of the green actually rolled just off the back of the green on the dog hair. My putt was probably 10-12' from the pin and I was putting downhill. My stroke was firm and while I thought it was the right speed, the putt rolled, then rolled some more and settled about 15' past the pin. I must missed the par putt putting uphill and settled for a bogey. Only the dog hair saved me from a three-putt.

The very next hole is possibly the signature hole on the course. Number thirteen is a severe upslope par five and while it plays only 494 yards, the very mature trees on both sides of the fairway demand that you hit it down the middle or you will be most likely pitching out of the tree trunks with a ton of distance left to the green. I shanked my drive right side to the clearing on the right side in the only open slot on the right side of the fairway. (What luck!) My second shot was a fairway wood that was hit solid but unspectacular and left me just under 100 yards to the green. It was on the fairway and with the long wet grass that was in the rough, it certainly is the place to be. Approach shots on this hole will be wedge to a mid-iron effort and this green like most on the course will be slopped from back to front. My wedge was on the front 15' feet of this large green and my putt sloped from left to right and I thought I gave my putt plenty of room to go from left to right and it did not break an inch until the final 10 feet of my sixty foot putt and landed about a foot from the pin for a tap-in par. That par was very well earned on this number two handicapped hole on this course. 

Cut the dog leg here and you could lose your ball or be blocked out of a shot to the green..

The very next hole is a douzy. The 15th hole is only 275 yards and there is as much trouble on this hole as any on the Springfield Oaks layout. A huge fence guards the golfers on three separate holes to the right side of the tee box and a tree line makes golfers that want to cut this severe dog leg right by another bushel of yards. Smart golfers will hit a fairway wood or long iron here but a driver with a 10.5 degree loft could pretty much cut the distance of this hole pretty good.

Make a great shot and its all good. Anything less could leave you looking at this.

Most golfers are not going to be smart and that is why the fence was put up. I went over the trees and shanked my drive right side. I was very lucky to find an opening but caught my thirty yard pitch shot to the green and it landed on the dog hair and two strokes later I parred this sucker. For those that play the hole right you should go down the middle of the fairway and you will have a wedge or pitch and run to the green. Only bunker left side prevents you from a pretty easy par or birdie.

The finishing hole has changed in my memory since the last time I played it. Number 18 is only 292 from the tips and once again it is defended by woods that come into play left side and the pond I spoke about on number ten. Trees also come into play past the pond for longer hitters but the best place to go is down the middle. What has changed is the green. It used to be a saucer green where everything funneled to the hole like a game of putt-putt. The green is much more traditional now. A sand bunker

collects short second shots or for very long hitters. If you are in the rough and have not hit it into the trouble, you really need to par this hole here. The green is pretty tricky and do not go behind the flag if possible as it may roll away from you and leave you a tough effort for a four.

Here's the Skinny...

Customer Service- 10.0- They have a friendly staff and this includes the clubhouse, bar and the people on the course.
Course Markings- 7.5 Good. No suggestions on playing the course as for individual holes but the holes are for the most part self explanatory. The cart paths are marked every 50 yards with a stripe and the large golf ball markers are in the fairway but need to be repainted.
Conditions -9.5 - Course in near excellent shape. Anytime I hit an iron shot out of the rough I had plenty of mowed grass on my club and with it being wet from dew made irons play inconsistent from the higher cuts.
Playability 9.5- This is a good scoring track. The course is short. The sand bunkers are very and the rough is left long but fair. Playing on a well conditioned course makes it an enjoyable round for golfers. Greens are very sloped for the most part from back to front and this helps golfers that come up short from making big numbers. The practice green and facilities will will help you and check it out as it is outstanding to improve your game.
Course Design- 9 - Course laid out with the average to above average golfer in mind. For you to go in the woods or water here for the most part you have hit a less than average shot. The bottom line. I give it a 9.0/10.0. I like the course and it is a very good value for the money. There are a lot of leagues specials for seniors and twilight golf after leagues so call ahead for a tee time. The County does a super job managing this course and I recommend playing it.

A map to the golf course is below and so is a link to the course with all of the specials for SOGC and the other courses in the County system.http://www.destinationoakland.com/parksandtrails/golf/springfieldoaks/Pages/default.aspx