57
ROYAL OAKS
Country Club
PAR 4 392 YARDS
Vancouver, WA
360.256.1250
www.royaloaks.net
The current back nine at Royal Oaks Country Club was the first to be built in 1945; the
front nine followed seven years later. Burnt Bridge Creek, which borders the third hole
along the left edge of the fairway before crossing it 100 yards out from the green, was
rerouted to accommodate the layout of this par 4 hole. The club's founders originally
pledged 50 hours or $50 to remove the rocks, by hand, from the holes near the creek.
Even with this effort, many members still kept two sets of clubs.
Native ash, oak, and fir trees frame the hole, intensifying the distinctive Pacific
Northwest aura. The fairway doglegs slightly to the left and slopes from right to left
off the tee to approximately 175 yards from the green, where it levels off. Targeting
the stone bridge that crosses the creek on the right side of the hole is smart. A slight
draw off the tee is the ideal shot to play the dogleg, using the natural slope of the hole
and avoiding the creek on the left. Trees will block any second shot to the green for
those who go long-right off the tee.
The green slopes steeply from back to front-right. Experienced players will sometimes
even intentionally hit their approach shot short of the green rather than risk being
above the hole. There are three green-side bunkers: a larger bunker on the left and
two smaller ones on the right. Hitting out of the left bunker, it is especially difficult to
stop the ball near the pin or just keep it on the green. Two large oak trees short-right
of the green also make any shot in this area very challenging. Keep it below the hole,
and you'll enjoy the outcome.
3
Photograph by Jeff Miller
