Royal Oak Golf Club is a great little track just outside Victoria,
British Columbia. Although it is quite a short course, predominantly made up of
par threes, it’s well maintained with phenomenal greens and makes for a great,
quick round of golf. Integrated with houses, the course has a relaxing
atmosphere that makes you feel simply relieved to be on the golf course for the
day.
The first hole starts you
off with a 290 yard par four. Sounds like an easy par, yet the water hazard on
your right, and narrow tree line approaching the green makes for an interesting
hole. Your best bet is to go with a long iron off the tee, to set up a 100-150
yard approach shot. Try to make sure you land on the pin side of the two tiered
green, there can be some nasty breaks.
Teeing off on the second hole, feel free to bring out the big stick
and go for the green. Try to avoid the tree line along the left. Keeping the
ball right will take advantage of a conveniently placed slope that will give
your ball an extra kick towards the green if played properly.
This is where the course takes you through a series of short,
relatively straight-forward par threes. Although there are not many hazards on
these holes, you really do have to hit some consistent shots in order to keep
your score in the competitive range heading into the scoring holes. Numbers
three and four are only about 100 yards each, and are reachable with a 56 or 52
degree wedge. The greens are quite small, so it’s best to be aggressive and go pin
hunting.
Numbers five and six are downhill par threes, a little bit longer
than three and four with slightly bigger greens. As always, when playing
downhill, adjust your club selection so you don’t fly the green and end up in a
hazard, or in someone’s backyard.
Seven, eight and nine are back into driver territory, you can
definitely let the big dog eat. Watch the water on the left hand side of number
seven off the tee. The green is tucked away to the left, neatly between the
water hazard and a cluster of pine trees. If you don’t have a nice looking
approach shot, it might be best to aim a little to the right of the green and
try to get up and down to make your par.
The eighth hole is another par four slightly uphill with a gradual
dog leg to the left. It gets pretty narrow closer to the green, so you might be
better off taking a long iron off the tee in order to set up your approach
shot. This green is the biggest green on the course, so make sure you check
where the pin is to avoid an incredibly long putt.
The ninth is a scenic and challenging closing hole. A 250 yard
downhill par four over water is a great way to finish the round. The safe bet
is to stick with an iron off the tee, landing short of the water to the left,
leaving you with a 60 degree wedge into a medium sized, relatively flat green. Or
for the big hitters out there, capable of carrying 250 yards, can try to reach
the green in one, setting up a rare eagle putt on a par four.
We played this course numerous
times this season. We found it convenient to be able to get in a quick nine
holes in less than two hours on a course that will challenge every aspect of
your game. It’s well maintained and was always in good shape this season. The
tee decks are cared for, even though they can take a beating on the short par
threes due to wedge shots. The fairways are in good shape although a little
rough in areas. What makes the course
challenging and well worth the price, is the greens. They’re fast, tricky to
read and in near flawless condition. They will definitely make you focus on
your putting, humbling those who rely on the flat-stick for success. Royal Oak
is a good track for just about anyone.
It’s short enough to be enjoyed by beginners, with enough challenging
holes to keep experienced players entertained. Like most short, nine hole
facilities, Royal Oak can play slowly, however with good playing partners and
cold refreshments, you almost don’t even notice.
Royal Oak is an exceedingly
well-priced golf course, never charging more than $22.00 prime time. During the
off months, the golf course offers a $15.00 fee to play all day long, a deal we
cashed in on several times already. The pro shop sells equipment and apparel,
as well as tees and balls at an affordable price. The staff are always friendly
and outgoing and never hesitate to talk golf with you.
The venue is for more people than just golfers. Royal Oak has a
licensed restaurant with very well priced food and beverage options. People
often rent out the restaurant for weddings and parties. The snow capped
mountains that can be seen from several different holes make this a truly
picturesque golf course, well worth the price of admission. For a
short-yardage, nine hole course, Royal Oak has quickly become one of our
favourites to play in the Victoria area.
