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RDecker

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Oakley C.C.
« on: January 03, 2012, 12:38:48 PM »
A fellow Super I know from time he spent in the Berkshires was recently hired on at Oakley near Boston.  I don't have much
background on this club and was wondering what guys thought of Donald Ross' original home in the U.S.?

Brad Tufts

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Oakley C.C.
« Reply #1 on: January 03, 2012, 12:50:09 PM »
Oakley is a decent little track, topping out at about 6000 (give or take 100), par 70.

It is located on a hill in Watertown in the middle of near-Boston suburbia (think Southie, Somerville triple-decker jungle), and there is no surprise that it is hemmed in by OB on four property lines.

The course remains routed as it was back in Ross's time, but no doubt the bunkering schemes and green edges have changed drastically over the yearsr.  A course that packed a punch and played longer than its actual yardage has generally been negated by modern technology.  There are still several challenging par threes and fours, but the par fives are all in the 450-520 range.  There is an awkward interior OB on the last par five that is necessitated by the cramped nature of the property.

The course does contain a few gems, but the majority is not worthy making a special trip.  For those enjoying the quirky, historical courses like most GCAers, OCC is not bad at all.  Just don't go looking for Ross bunkers or anything ball-busting save the two long par threes at #3 and #16.

So I jump ship in Hong Kong....

Anthony Butler

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Oakley C.C.
« Reply #2 on: January 03, 2012, 02:10:24 PM »
Oakley is a decent little track, topping out at about 6000 (give or take 100), par 70.

It is located on a hill in Watertown in the middle of near-Boston suburbia (think Southie, Somerville triple-decker jungle), and there is no surprise that it is hemmed in by OB on four property lines.

The course remains routed as it was back in Ross's time, but no doubt the bunkering schemes and green edges have changed drastically over the yearsr.  A course that packed a punch and played longer than its actual yardage has generally been negated by modern technology.  There are still several challenging par threes and fours, but the par fives are all in the 450-520 range.  There is an awkward interior OB on the last par five that is necessitated by the cramped nature of the property.

The course does contain a few gems, but the majority is not worthy making a special trip.  For those enjoying the quirky, historical courses like most GCAers, OCC is not bad at all.  Just don't go looking for Ross bunkers or anything ball-busting save the two long par threes at #3 and #16.

If you're looking for a Ross inside of 128, Belmont and Charles River are far better options.
Next!

RDecker

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Oakley C.C.
« Reply #3 on: January 03, 2012, 04:29:07 PM »
Have played Charles River and enjoyed it a great deal.  Just hoping Oakley is a good situation for a comrade.
Have been meaning to check out Winchester C.C. sometime and of course the obvious Ross jems at Salem
and Essex.