Oakley Country Club

Detailed description of Oakley Country Club

Oakley Country Club is a Private, 18 hole golf course located in Watertown, Massachusetts.

Oakley Country Club first opened for play in 1898. Shortly after the club was founded, a young golfer arrived from Scotland to redesign Oakley's golf course and to compete professionally in America. Donald Ross would grow from his initial employment at Oakley to become one of the legendary golf course architects of the twentieth century. While any "Donald Ross" course is distinctive and distinguished, the uniqueness of Oakley Country Club's Golf Course is that it represents the very first Ross commission in America. Donald Ross not only totally redesigned Oakley, Ross worked at Oakley for 11 years (1898-1909) as the course designer, course superintendent, and course pro.

Oakley will forever hold a special place in American golf history as it is the course at which Donald Ross began his American journey that ultimately led to the design of hundreds of courses; including clubs which have hosted nearly 100 U.S. Amateur or Open Championships. Oakley also boasts a historically recognized original clubhouse which was the only suburban residence ever designed by Charles Bulfinch, the first great American architect. With a foundation of Ross and Bulfinch, Oakley is sometimes thought of as the "Home of American Golf Architecture." Unfortunately, in 1963, a fire destroyed the magnificent original clubhouse.

Oakley Country Club's Golf Course is lined with trees and overlooks the city of Boston. The greens on this course are small and fast, and the fairways are average-sized. Sand bunkers are spread throughout the entire course and water hazards come into play on many holes. The terrain on this course is hilly, and there are many spectacular views available.

The course's signature hole is #15, a 158-yard, par 3, requiring a tee shot over a pond to a small green.  

Par for Oakley Country Club's Golf Course is 71. From the back tees, the course plays to 6,025 yards. From the forward tees, the course plays to 5,317 yards. The longest hole on the course is # 6, a par-5 that plays to 529 yards. The shortest hole on the course is # 12, a par-3 that plays to 140 yards from the back tees.

Watch out for # 6, the 529-yard par-5 challenge and the #1 handicap hole on the course. The easiest hole at Oakley is # 12, the 140 yard par-3. The course's signature hole is #15, a 163-yard, par 3, requiring a tee shot over a pond to a small green.