Oakcreek Country Club |
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The original nine was designed by RTJ, Sr. back in the mid-60s, before the infusion of “desert” golf courses. So what you’ll see might surprise you, a Midwestern-style layout with the course weaving between hundreds of native tall pines and cottonwoods with lakes that look like they naturally belong here. The course has been recently restored to Jones’ original design with greenside bunkers added and reshaped. The greens were re-configured to restore the undulations that made it such a unique test of golf. Speaking of tests, the Sedona School of Golf at Oakcreek Country Club will help you pass that unique test with a unique program tailored not to a system pushed by the instructors, but tailored to YOUR needs. Their nevermore-than 4-1 student/teacher ratio, complimentary green and cart fees for students, and great accommodation packages with the Bell Rock Inn and Sedona Real Inn make the idea of summer school in Sedona all the more enticing. And once you’re feeling better about your game, and if the timing’s right, you can challenge the field in the annual Sedona Open held at Oakcreek every July. The great venue and a history of fun and exciting play has attracted players from all over the Southwest annually.
Don’t be surprised to see quail and rabbits, the occasional deer or bobcat. Oh yes, if you do sight a javelina, let him play through, they move along pretty quickly. The course itself follows the tradition of Jones’ courses, 145-acres of tree-lined doglegs featuring strategically-placed fairway bunkers in the landing areas with slightly elevated greens surrounded by large, swirling bunkers. Head Professional Jamey Lewis, who’s now in his second decade at Oakcreek, says the course isn’t as “overwhelming” as some of the newer desert/mountain style courses and should be enjoyable for all skill levels. Jones’ design mantra was to create holes that “were hard pars, but easy bogeys.” You’ll find that out right off the first tee at Oakcreek Country Club. A 565-yard par-5, #1 forces you to hit your first drive through a fairly narrow chute with water on the right-hand side. Don’t feel bad about not getting off to the greatest of starts, the first hole is the #3 handicapped hole on the card. The fourth hole begins a breathtaking string of holes along the base of the red rocks. Oakcreek’s signature hole is a 185-yard par-3 demanding an accurate tee shot from an elevated tee to a slightly elevated green nestled between two large bunkers. But you won’t even see the bunkers or the elevation of the green until you re-focus after the absolutely stunning view of the enormous red rock formation behind the green. Take a minute to soak in stark contrast of nature before you hit to what’s supposed to be the 2nd easiest hole on the course.
After making the turn, the next three holes are the toughest combination at Oakcreek. #12, #14 and #18 are considered by many to be as good a par-4s as you’ll find anywhere in Arizona. All three require you to be long AND accurate off the tee. The 14th plays slightly downhill with spectacular views toward Lee Mountain and Courthouse Butte. The gorgeous 15th, with its creek and red rock water feature, will make you stop to savor it, before taking your crack at birdie on the short par-5 that’s just 50 yards longer than the tough par-4 finishing hole. A 71.7 slope/131 rating attests to Oakcreek’s challenge from the tips. The 69.5 rating/124 slope from the 6,350-yard blue tees proves its playability. White tees playing just under 6,000 yards and red tees at under 5,600 should make a trip around Oakcreek fun for players of all skill levels. Renovated in late 2004, the clubhouse not only has a fully stocked golf shop, but features Mulligan’s Grille on the Green, a quaint indoor-outdoor restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. A great place to compare scorecards, settle wagers and just pause to enjoy the incredible views again is on the outdoor patio deck overlooking the course with the fountain in the lake between the ninth green and first tee. The clubhouse can also accommodate up to 200 for private parties or meetings, corporate functions, special luncheons, golf outings or wedding receptions.
Stunning natural beauty, a great test of golf, climate beyond compare and laidback Southwestern hospitality have made Sedona a perfect getaway for years. Oakcreek Country Club is a Sedona original. Come play the game in all of its Red Rock splendor, pilgrim! For more information on tee times and special events at Oakcreek Country Club, call (928) 284-1660, toll free (888) 703-9489, or visit their Web site at www.oakcreekcountryclub.com. |
You can almost hear the hoofbeats when you drive up to the clubhouse at Oakcreek Country Club. You look around, half-expecting to see John Wayne and Kirk Douglas riding over the incredible red-rock formations that surround this 6,824-yard par-72 layout. Instead of “the Duke” and Douglas, what you’ll meet are the Jones’, as you play a rare Arizona collaboration of Robert Trent Jones Senior and Junior. 
Located within fifteen minutes of the famed Oak Creek Canyon and less than 10 minutes south of Sedona, Oakcreek Country Club is still far enough away from the growth of the area to be visited by all sorts of native wildlife.
Lewis’ favorite hole is the long par-4 ninth, 450-yards from the tips, where the fairway slopes steeply toward the pond on the right-hand side of the hole from 150-yards in to the green. Your best tee shot of the day could set you up for a chance to make par.
While Sedona is best-known as a summer escape from the blistering heat of Phoenix or Las Vegas, the great secret is how wonderful the climate is year-round. Oakcreek Country Club is green 24/7/365, with fall and winter temperatures usually in the 60s and low-70s, with only a rare day when the mercury doesn’t climb over 50-degrees. The bent and bluegrass tees, fairways and roughs are overseeded with rye in the winter while the penncross bent and seaside bent greens are just as smooth and true in December as they are in July. And the incredible landscaping and new cart paths of red-toned concrete complement the golf experience without overwhelming it.
