River Oaks Golf Club

$21 (cart included), played on Wednesday, August 1982 at 3:30 PM

Found this 1982 scorecard in my old travel bag and remembered it being a LPGA 1972/1973 Tournament stop. Staying at the Holiday Inn (now Ramada) across the street, got an $25 weekday deal to play here. With three (3) tees playing Blues at 7,389/75.0 White at 6,588/71.0 and Red at 5,747/72.0 we started Blues and really should have been Reds. The #1 a 371yd Par 4 that’s open and straight away, builds confidence that soon ends. Number 2 a 434yd Par 4 tightens up with RH trees and well placed fairway traps. The 529yd #3 Par 5 tightens up with narrow fairway and traps for those hooked shots. Starting on #4 a Hcp 1 482yd Par 4 we moved to the 432yd Whites, too embarrassed to have played Reds at 384yds. The #5 Par 3 has choices of 224, 176, 130yds and a huge RH Front trap so right side is a good target. Number 6 a straight away 421/371yd Par 4 has a RH trap for those fade tee shots and LH greenside trap. The #7 Par 5 is a Long narrow 612/569/490yd swingers nightmare, if you stray into rough. The Par 3 at #8 is beautiful looking 226/192/160yd hole that has water on complete LH middle side all the way to the gumdrop green. (Reds look good here). Why not finish with another straight 443/406yd Par 4 on #9 to work again on those long 2nd shots. The Back 9 good news is, no 400+ Par 4’s to contend with, but they’re close. The #10 from Whites is a straight away 396yd Par 4 that opens to a smaller raised green. The #11 / 361yd Par 4 starts into the trees with a narrow cut fairway to a three (3) trapped protected green. Number 12 a Par 5 Hcp 4 at 629/587/512yds, introduces you to LH pond from tee to green. Check the larger landing area yardages to play accordingly or uncover that ball retriever, you’re hiding. The #13 Par 4 is a 431/385yds slight dogleg right that has a inside corner trap to catch 200-240yd drives cutting the corner. The #14 174/137yd Par 3 has a large front RH trap so missing LH short is much better. The #15 Par 4 at 404/342yds finds pond complete LH side to green so those that fade can just...hit away. This Par 3 at #16 plays 199/164yds with going long better than short and hitting the two (2) large traps. This #17 Par 5 a 528/481yd dogleg right, plays easy to its Hcp 18 if you stay middle right side fairway to the green. Finishing Par 4 #18 an Hcp 2 hole and being 435/386yds, narrow mowed, tree lined fairway will make Par a memorable finish. Playing here 38 years ago I could see when matured it would be a great course. Ended up shooting 42/39 w/30 putts and Rick 51/52 w/42 putts having flat stick problems. Looking forward to playing here again someday soon.

Guest (cart included), played on Tuesday, October 2009 at 2pm