Hole No. 25? Remember, we have 27 holes here at River Oaks Golf Club. We number them 1 through 27 to make it easier to follow which holes golfers are on and which two nines they will be playing during their 18 hole round. It is kind of unique and we like it that way! We are going to give golfers a few tips on how to navigate the short, but very challenging 25th hole which is on the Bear Course.
This short par 4 is no easy hole. Do not let the yardage from the tee box fool you. It is 341 from the back tees and 275 from the front tees which is not intimidating at all when just reading the yardages. What the numbers don’t tell you is that the fairway is tree-lined on both sides and a pond bisects the fairway 3/4 of the way to the green. Now that makes the hole interesting and challenging. This is not a grip it and rip it hole for most golfers. Club selection and ball placement off the tee is key to having a shot at a par or birdie here.
From the white tees, which most golfers play here at River Oaks, the hole measures out to 294 yards and only 237 yards to the water. Golfers need to be smart about what club they choose off the tee so that they are setting themselves up with optimal yardage for their approach shot which takes a shot over the pond to reach the putting surface. Depending on where the flag is located on the green also dictates whether players want to be on the left side or right side of the fairway as to be in position to have to carry as little of the water as possible.
From the fairway, players are faced with a nerve-testing short iron or wedge shot over the pond onto a fairly large and mostly round green with a large bunker protecting the left side of the surface. There is room behind the green for errant shots, but any balls hit short and or right of the green will be wet. Aim for the center of the green is always the safest bet.
Golfers that can get to the green in two shots safely will have a chance at birdie and a good chance at making par. The putting surface is mostly flat, which makes for good putting on our smooth and quick greens. Players can take dead-aim at a run at birdie!!
To make a tee time click on the Tee Times tab at the top of the page or call the golf shop at 843.236.2222.