Mike’s Review of River Oaks Golf Club on 11/1/26

River Oaks Golf Club

Date: 11/1/26 Sun Afternoon
Overall Rating:

"Great course"
Conditions: Good - normal wear/tear
Pace: 4 1/2 Hours
Cost: $69
Username: Mike
Profile: Avid Golfer (about once a week)
Handicap: Not specified
Today's Score: Not entered
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Okay, so I finally played this one today. They reportedly have done some work in recent years, and this year the greens are new Mach 1 Bermuda. That means fast. Very fast. I can’t speak to how they will be as they are maintained going forward, nor does it necessarily reflect on summer or upcoming winter conditions (especially as rain starts falling more regularly), but they were 13.5 Stimp today, and 14 Stimp just the other day.

That’s second hand info, but it comes from a guy that knows the owner so I trust it.

I expect over time that this will settle into less “Peak Tour Pro Required™” down into the more “It Helps to Be Good at Putting” levels. I struggled with putting today, but otherwise I had a good time.

The course itself is in great shape heading deeper into the fall. It’s very challenging and the most recent updates with White Tees are at 134 for the Whites, and 139 for the Blues. Personally, the white tees felt harder than that. Elevation changes aren’t constant, but there are several notable ones.

#7 Par 3 is down hill and I just found it deceivingly easy, which is why I made it as hard as possible with a double bogey. It’s easy to overshoot, and even easier to under-shoot by picking the right club whilst subconsciously letting up on it.

#8 Par 4 puts the Hero in “Hero Shot™” because it tempts a longer hitter to carry the hazard. At ~260yds+ depending on where the tees are, getting any less than great contact is not gonna make it. A Long Iron or Hybrid is the smartest play. There’s a hill on the left that’ll punish a pulled shot as one in our group hit it. They even have a rock right at edge just in case.

#9 gives you a wider than you realize drop zone (I know because I pulled this one badly and still found my ball. Going right is a good way to miss on the hill in the thicker grass. Straight through will not generally be in danger. The approach shot is a bear, though. The green is well elevated and on the front it’s basically a cliff. Miss on the front and it’s gonna play “Plincko” on the way down. Ya… Did that, too. The yellow stakes meant I could play it and well… Stroke one didn’t make it, stroke two did…. Carried the green but at least hit the timber retaining wall…. Ugghhh…. LOL

The back 9 was better for me, but I was mostly intimidated by the place on the front. Though, the first hole is all rolling in #10. I believe it’s #16 that is drivable and I almost drove it. It’s down hill so you have a little help. #18 was a nice touch. I laid up for 3 shots into the green mostly because the group in front of us – part of ours – was on the green and I figured I didn’t quite want to chance the hybrid. Definitely heavy risk-reward there.

By the way, if the pin is in the back left, and you miss slightly long, it may roll back toward the hole. :) Then again, plenty of other spots will force it back off the green or further away.

Anyway….. I normally don’t go on and on quite this much, but I really liked this place. Great shape in the fall, and plenty challenging.

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