Holein1
France |
Posted: Thursday, July 17, 2025 @ 3:51:30 AM at |
IP Logged |
|
16 years after Hyno Designs’ and Ronbrug’s versions, MSR Golf is offering us a new opportunity to play at Oakmont, with this nicely-designed rendition, mixing blind tee shots with small elevation changes, and well-placed bunkers to watch for, especially around the greens. If I must admit that this course is not one of my favorites, with too many straight holes to my taste, it is, nevertheless, challenging with its undulating and/or sloping fairways, and its tricky approaches, such as on the straight par-4 1st hole, with a blind tee shot landing down along trees (on the right) and its slightly-elevated green, and the short and straight par-4 2nd, uphill all the way and, again, along trees (on the right). But the most scenic hole on the front 9 is the straight par-4 3rd, uphill all the way, with its blind tee shot landing between the famous (and well-designed !) “Church Pews” bunker (on the left) and five small bunkers (on the opposite side) and its blind approach to the green. Then, after the dogleg right par-5 4th hole, with another blind tee shot landing onto an undulating fairway and a very long second shot if you want to reach the sloping green, I enjoyed the two par-3 holes, the 6th, slightly-downhill, with its green surrounded by a big elongated bunker (in front and to the right) and four small ones (left and behind), and the very long 8th (almost 290 yards), slightly uphill and with a big elongated bunker on the left of the green to watch for. However, I was a little bit puzzled as I reached the par-5 9th hole, with its blind and uphill tee shot and elevated green (slightly to the right), as it is listed as a par-4 on the official website... Coming back, more undulating and sloping fairways are awaiting you, with my favorite holes being the par-4 11th, with a small ditch, filled with high rough, running diagonally across the fairway, midway, and its elevated green, and the very long (almost 630 yards) dogleg right par-5 12th, with a sloping and undulating fairway and a slightly-elevated green, impossible to reach on your second shot. The short par-4 14th hole is also challenging with its blind tee shot landing downward a slanted fairway, getting narrower as you get close to its elevated green, just like the par-4 15th, with an uphill tee shot landing onto a fairway, sloping from left to right, and a green, slightly to the right... Last, but not least, after the par-3 16th hole, and its tee shot over high rough landing between a small bunker in front of the green and an elongated one (on the left), you will complete your round, after the dogleg left par-4 17th, uphill all the way, with the par-4 18th, with another blind and uphill tee shot and an elevated green, set next to the clubhouse. As I mentioned earlier, this Oakmont CC 2025 (par 70 or par 71 ?) might not be the most exciting golf course you will ever play, but it is well done and is quite challenging, at times, with long holes (par-3 8th, par-5 12th) to keep you on your toes and bunkers to watch for, thanks to MSR’s nice work.
|
golfingod
United States of America |
Posted: Wednesday, July 16, 2025 @ 2:18:49 PM at |
IP Logged |
|
I've been playing Ronburg's Oakmont Country Club for a long time, so as a comparison: This one is longer, by 300 yard or so, I expect because Oakmont has been extended. I wasn't able to play this one on very dry, but I'll give it a go again one day! This one is more picturesque, although I miss the electric board with my name on it... Overall this is the better depiction of Oakmont as it is today I'm sure, and Will be my Oakmont CC course going forward. Thanks again to MSR, another work of golf course artistry. And to Ronburg, I expect a lot of folks have enjoyed his version for years.
|