When I was young, I had a book called Great Golf Courses of the World.  It had nice (for the time) photography, and each course's multi-page description included a hole-by-hole walkthrough.  I thought it was pretty cool, so I decided to write one here of my home club, Oakmont Country Club in Corinth, TX.  No, it's not the "real" Oakmont, but it's a nice and often challenging track, designed by Roger Packard and Don January, opened in 1986 (I think).  So if you're bored at work and want a diversion, have a good read!  And hey, if you ever happen to play out here, you'll have an idea of what to expect!

So you have an idea of what I'm describing, open up Google Maps or Google Earth, and here's the address for Oakmont: 2733 Oakmont Dr, Denton, TX 76210.  When you see the course, you'll notice that it is laid out in two loops.  The north loop is the front 9, and the south loop is the back 9.  Off we go!

#1 is a short par 4, just over 360 yards (Stracka lists it as 375).  This hole is an easy start to a good round.  There is one bunker on the inside bend of the fairway, about 240 yards from the gold tees.  Long hitters may attempt to carry it, but the safe play is to the left with a fairway wood.  The green is unguarded, save for a small depression in front that stops running approaches.  The green itself is flat but undulating.

#2 is another short par 4, but more tricky than the first hole.  The hole doglegs sharply right, and the tee shot is blind and uphill.  The crest of the hill is the point where the fairway turns right--those hitting driver down the middle of the visible fairway will likely run through the bend of the fairway, into the rough-covered mounds beyond.  The green is long and narrow, and a large bunker--as large as the green itself--guards the entire right side and right front.  Left of the green, as well as behind it, is a 20-foot dropoff to wiry, Bermuda rough.

#3 is the first par 5, measuring 524 yards from the tips.  This hole also doglegs to the right.  The brave player might attempt to cut the corner with a driver, but that route is protected by out-of-bounds close on the right, as well as several trees.  Only the longest, most precise drive will do.  Otherwise, the safe route is a fairway wood down the middle, which should settle before the fairway bends right.  From there, the hole narrows with trees incursing on either side.  Two large, round bunkers guard the front left of the green, and a large oak guards the right side.  Reaching this green in two is a risky proposition.  The green slopes fairly steeply from left to right, and is slightly elevated.

#4 is the first and longest par 3, measuring 195 yards from the tips.  This tough downhill par three is over water, and the ground is sloped such that short shots in almost any direction will funnel down towards the water.  Hitting the green, or close to it, is a must.  But the trouble has only begun.  This green slopes severely from back to front and has several more subtle undulations.  Shots that end up above the hole--no matter the pin placement--are almost impossible to stop close to the hole due to the severity of the slope.  So stay short of the pin...just not too short!

#5 is a longer par 4, close to 400 yards.  The tee shot is one of the toughest on the course.  It's a narrow shot, with trees close on either side until the ball reaches the fairway.  The fairway slopes left, which will easily kick draw shots into the out-of-bounds on the left side.  Further, a large hand-shaped bunker guards the right side of the fairway, about 160 yards from the green.  The green itself is not too challenging, but it is guarded by a large irregular-shaped bunker left and a large oak tree front right.

#6 is aptly titled "The Beast."  A par 5 at 567 yards from the tips, it is a long hole to begin with.  But couple that with a prevailing wind into the player's face, and the fact that the hole moves about 50 feet uphill from tee to green, make it a 3-shot hole for all but the very longest hitters.  The tee shot is wide open to a very wide fairway.  From there, the hole narrows.  The second shot's ideal landing area is guarded by three bunkers right and large trees left.  The green is guarded on the left side by three bunkers, but they are nothing compared to the green itself, which also slopes steeply from back to front and features a shelf mid-way.  Just like hole #4, if you're long on your approach, you are in serious trouble.

#7 is a nice, wide-open par 4.  The tee shot is to a wide fairway that features a valley that does not level off until 180 yards out from the green.  Long hitters can carry the valley; others will find their ball stopped by the steep slope, leaving a long approach.  The green is relatively flat but deceptively long, causing many players to end up short of the pin due to incorrect club choice.  The large bunker left catches wayward approaches.

#8 gives players a chance to get a stroke back.  At 173 yards, it is a medium-length par 3, usually into the prevailing south wind.  Two large bunkers guard the left side of the green, which is undulating but very putt-able.  Place the ball in the right spot on the green, and a birdie is a real possibility.

#9 is a long, tough par 4.  It is a dogleg left, 433 yards from the tips, but when the wind blows, it can play 40 yards longer...or more.  The obvious tee shot is right of the huge bunker that is tucked into the inside bend, but care should be taken not to go too far right, for the mounds and trees right of the fairway make an approach from there almost impossible.  A long, narrow bunker stands watch over the entire left side of the green.  The green itself features a hog-back ridge midway, which frequently stops well-meaning putts short of their intended targets.

#10 is arguably the toughest hole on the golf course.  The 418-yard par 4 has water in play from tee to green.  A tee shot to the safer, left portion of the fairway requires a short 180-yard water carry, but even that can be a tough task for shorter hitters into the prevailing south wind.  Then another lake on the right side guards the approach to the green.  Shots missing right of the green will likely roll down the slope and into the water, and shots missing left will find the two bunkers.  This is one of the largest greens on the golf course, making club selection crucial to avoiding possible 3-putts.

#11 is a fun dogleg right par 4.  At 387 yards, it is not a test of strength, but a creek runs down the left side, and tall, dense trees and high grass grab any ball tending to the right.  Accuracy pays off more than distance here, so many players use a 3 or 5 wood off the tee, leaving a mid-iron approach.  A long bunker, set end-on to the relatively flat green, guards middle pin placements.  Players usually go to one side or the other of the bunker, to avoid possibly falling into it...it is a deep bunker that is quite a task to get out of!

#12 is an uphill par 3 measuring 172 yards.  This hole has seven bunkers running up the left side--more than any other hole on the course.  Further, trees come in close on the left.  This hole does not favor players who hit left-to-right shots, as there is little room to start the ball out to the left.  The right side of the green is unguarded, so many players aim up the right side and try a right-to-left shot.  The green itself is large and two-tiered.  It is advisable to place the ball on the correct tier in order to avoid the dreaded 3-putt.

#13 is the most beautiful hole at Oakmont.  A long, but downhill par 5, it plays much shorter than its 567 yards indicate.  The tee shot is through a narrow hallway of trees opening up to a wide fairway, guarded on the right side by a long bunker, as well as trees and out-of-bounds on both sides.  But find the fairway, and you're home free.  A well-struck second shot is likely to catch a slope 80 yards from the green, which will often propel the ball all the way to the putting surface.  The green itself is small and guarded by a small, narrow bunker on the left side.

#14 is a very short par 4 at 316 yards.  A lake runs all down the right side, so slicers beware.  The smart line is directly at the fairway bunker with a fairway wood or long iron.  This should leave the golfer with a short wedge into the undulating green.  Those attempting to drive the green beware: an arm of the lake juts out in front of the green, but is invisible from the tee.

#15 is a 533 yard par 5, playing with the prevailing wind.  This hole presents a birdie opportunity.  Two large bunkers guard the right side, but there is plenty of room to go left off the tee.  The approach presents options to the golfer.  A layup must go to the right to avoid the cleverly placed bunker in the middle of the fairway, 20 yards out from the green.  A shot attempting to reach the green must carry said bunker and also avoid the enormous bunker on the left of the green, which is larger than the green itself.  Find the putting surface in regulation, however, and you will be rewarded with an easy putt.

#16 turns back around into the wind.  At 420 yards, it's no pushover, and must be played smartly.  The hole doglegs to the left, and the fairway is incursed on the left by trees and on the right by rocks and small shrubs.  The green approach is straightforward, but water and a bunker guard the right side, and catch more than their share of wayward shots.

#17 is the shortest par 3 on the course at 160 yards.  The slightly downhill tee shot must carry over water to the green, but there is actually room to land the ball short of the green.  Still, it is not advisable, as shots risk rolling back down the slope into the water.  The green is two-level: the lower level is to the left, and the upper level is to the right.  The ridge, in the middle of the green, is almost 3 feet in height.  This makes it imperative to place the ball on the same level that the hole is on, or else face a very lengthy and tricky putt.  Long shots risk finding the water that is hidden behind the green.

#18 is a strong closing hole.  It is 422 yards from the tips, but plays more like 400 with the wind.  The tee shot has a short water carry that isn't much of a problem, but shots tending right risk finding the tall oaks or even the lake on the right side, depending on the length of the shot.  The second shot must carry over an arm of the lake to find the green, and shots right or left also risk finding extensions of the same lake.  Two deep, round bunkers also front the green, making running approaches almost impossible.  This green only accepts high iron shots, so shorter hitters often find themselves laying up to wedge range.  The green slopes from back to front, and it is advisable to leave the ball below the hole for an easier first putt.

So there you go, all 18 holes!  Hope you enjoyed it.  Comments are welcome!