Finally played Oak Creek: walked on as a single on a Thursday 7am morning, payed senior rate ($76 ) which I thought wasn't too bad. They put me right out, it looked like the two nice guys I was paire... Continue »

Finally played Oak Creek: walked on as a single on a Thursday 7am morning, payed senior rate ($76 ) which I thought wasn't too bad. They put me right out, it looked like the two nice guys I was paired with and I would go around in 3.5 hours (1.75 hr front), until we hit the back end of a 'modified' shotgun on no. 14 ... it took us 4:45. Brutal!
To me, the conditions were a bit better than GadgetGirl's previous post: fairways were actually quite nice w/o a lot of divots ... my guess it's because the course doesn't get that much play due to the high rates. Some dry patchs in fringe areas which wasn't a bad thing but I, too, expected better conditions for a high end daily fee. Greens held well and rolled nice and predictedly (?), I liked the speed, grainy texture, and layout ... good putting challenges on many of the semi large greens ... really made you think and concentrate. Sand bunkers were tight, gotta be precise or you'll bounce a club and hit a flyer. Nice thing was that many times you forgot you were in the middle of Irvine, they hide the street view with hugh berms and trees.
Would I play here again? Never, ever, for the rack rate ... even the senior rate was a bit pricey for what is a nice high end public course with very little 'wow' factor. I played great and scored well, so I left satisfied ... sorry, probably will not return unless the price is right.

Oak Creek Golf Club Course Review
Irvine California Golf Course Reviews

Played 5/15/2012 as part of a fun play day with the Executive Womens Golf of Orange County. It was there annual kickoff event with breakfast and prizes. Very fun! The food and service is great here... Continue »

Played 5/15/2012 as part of a fun play day with the Executive Womens Golf of Orange County. It was there annual kickoff event with breakfast and prizes. Very fun! The food and service is great here.

This is the second time I have played this course. I had heard many good things about this course and then was very disappointed the first time I played it. I paid over $100 and had high expectations. It was in bad condition. This time same price, but in better condition. So I see they are working on it.

Fairways: Hard, thin and some bare spots, but getting better.

Greens: In good condition. Fast and tricky.

Bunkers: Mostly dirt. Some very deep bunkers. I hope they repair/replace the sand. On one of the holes the fairway bunker was completely tore up. I think they were working on it.

Layout: A very challenging course designed by Tom Fazio. Men have 3 tee boxes to choose from and at the very back tees it plays 6,850 yards. Women have a choice of copper 5,621 yards 72.2/125 or silver tees 4,989 yards. We played on the silver tees and found it challenging enough. The scorecard shows silver 69.1/119, but that is not correct. The correct rating is 69.1/120. Bring balls if you tend to go left or right. There's plenty of brush on the right and left of most holes to lose your balls.

Rough: Sometimes it was OK. But in a lot of places it is a combination of grasses, long (12 inches), short, and weeds. No fun if you get your ball in the long stuff (provided you can find it!).

Would I play here again? Yes, definitely. Would I pay premium rates? No.

Oak Creek Golf Club Course Review
Irvine California Golf Course Reviews

Played Saturday and the course was in decent shape. That said you're a fool to pay the kind of money to play this course for the weekend rate of $165. This course is not that great in my opinion. P... Continue »

Played Saturday and the course was in decent shape. That said you're a fool to pay the kind of money to play this course for the weekend rate of $165. This course is not that great in my opinion. Plenty of brown patches at various locations around the course. Number seven's greenside bunker has absolutely no sand in it whatsoever. Slow play galore, we waited on every hole on every shot; a marshall was no where to be found to help speed up play with the groups ahead. Greens were good with a couple of pitch marks on every green not being repaired (that's to be expected though no matter where you go).

The product delivered for what I paid instantly reminded me why I haven't played the course in close to 7 years.

The driving range was the busiest I've ever seen though.

Oak Creek Golf Club Course Review
Irvine California Golf Course Reviews

First time at Oak Creek. $94 dollar twilight rate, so I had certain expections - even though this is Orange County...First off, I expected to finish based on our 1:10 tee time (actually teed off 5 mi... Continue »

First time at Oak Creek. $94 dollar twilight rate, so I had certain expections - even though this is Orange County...First off, I expected to finish based on our 1:10 tee time (actually teed off 5 min or so early). Sunset is at 5:15 or so, I felt we should be able to finish by 5:45 when it got too dark. Of course, they stacked us right on top of each other, and by the time we hit the 5th or 6th hole, we were waiting on every shot. We almost made it, played 17 in almost complete darkness. No marshalls in sight, ever.

The course itself is questionable whether it is worth the rate as well. The do a good job of making the course seem like it is secluded, even though you are smack dab in the middle of Irvine. The fairways are indeed dormant...but they are consistent and in good condition, not that big a deal, but again, this is a $94 twilight course, so, again, expectations. The rough is OK, it appears they've used crabgrass killer in many areas. I thought the greens were kind of slow (especially since there was a Santa Ana wind the night before), but they weren't bumpy. Small greenside bunkers seemed to be soft and in good shape. The large waste bunkers were definitely more hard pan, but that is kind of typical of any course.

Service from staff was friendly and cordial. The cart girl greeted us a couple times early, so that was good sign. But, at around the 6th hole, she said she was done for the day! This was at 2:30 pm or so? I don't get it. They charge us these green fees but they can afford to pay the cart girl her $8/hr for a couple more hours? Ridiculous. Food was expensive, but it was actually pretty good and prepared on time. You can order from the GPS screen on your cart.

Bottom line, I don't see myself ever justifying coming back here at these rates. I would rather pay $30 more and play Monarch Beach, or pay a few dollars less and play Tijeras Creek.

Oak Creek Golf Club Course Review
Irvine California Golf Course Reviews

When I moved from Seattle to Orange County a few months back all I heard was "nice weather, but everything looks the same and is overpriced" So far weather has been great, the strip malls are nauseati... Continue »

When I moved from Seattle to Orange County a few months back all I heard was "nice weather, but everything looks the same and is overpriced" So far weather has been great, the strip malls are nauseating and everything is overpriced. I played Oak Creek on a weekend in mid December, got a golfnow for $125 (or so). First off, nice facilities (huge range) but i feel like i was pinched as for the money course was pretty ratty. Also, when paying that kind of $$$ for a round, you should get at least a small bucket to warm up. Something about the Irvine Company yells, screw the customer we want our money (but no I'm not bitter)! Layout is nice, but nothing inspirational or jaw dropping, no holes that I'd deem spectacular. Rather many looked the same. Greens were rolling well and in good shape. Though one thing i don't understand are the dormant fairways- seems a lot of courses around here do this, and regardless of there reason, you cannot charge full price for this garbage! Perhaps someone can message me and explain the dormant fairway thing to me. I won't be playing this track again for the full rate until the fairways are lush and green or i get a killer rate.

Oak Creek Golf Club Course Review
Irvine California Golf Course Reviews

I played Oak Creek this morning. I got a GolfNow time for 10:20 as a single, but I headed over early since it's right down the street from me. I made the time online about 9:15 and got to the course a... Continue »

I played Oak Creek this morning. I got a GolfNow time for 10:20 as a single, but I headed over early since it's right down the street from me. I made the time online about 9:15 and got to the course a little after 9:30. I was surprised they were ready for me. Sometimes when you make a last-minute online reservation like that, they aren't always up to speed when you arrive. I was greeted promptly by the bag drop guy and in the pro shop. The staff was very friendly and great. The place was pretty empty with the nasty weather yesterday and the threat of more rain in the forecast today. I headed right out to the first tee and played the round in a little under three hours. Ran into a few groups out on the course, but they let me play through.

The course was in pretty rough shape. The fairways were dry and brown for overseeding and not very visually pleasing. Didn't really affect play other than a few super thin lies here and there. The rough was pretty shaggy and brutal to play out of. The greens are big, really fast and well protected by rugged bunkers and false edges. Very challenging on and around the greens here. Luckily they were pretty soft today because of the heavy rain the day before or I would worry they would be too hard to hold on some approaches. The bunkers were pretty thin and packed down because of the rain. Not very ideal conditions.

The course itself is a fun and challenging layout. I enjoyed the course and look forward to playing here again someday when it is in much better shape. I normally take a ton of pictures, but only took a few today because it was so ugly out there. Like many overpriced OC courses, it's nice but I'd never ever want to pay full rack rate here. If you can find a deal, though, it's worth a visit. I played a second 18 down the street at Strawberry Farms after this round. Of the two (being similar style courses and similar prices), Strawberry is the winner hands down.

Oak Creek Golf Club Course Review
Irvine California Golf Course Reviews

Played 11-16 in the California golf magazine outing; a real good time had by all, very well run by all involved; course in very nice shape, greens coming back after aeration, fairways and rough very p... Continue »

Played 11-16 in the California golf magazine outing; a real good time had by all, very well run by all involved; course in very nice shape, greens coming back after aeration, fairways and rough very playable; bunkers a little inconsistent, either very sandy, or rock-hard packed, course layout is terrific, lots of character, must place your ball to score well, well-defined driving areas, and greens test your stroke, will come back and play this course again, a real nice test of golf...

Oak Creek Golf Club Review
Irvine Golf Course Reviews

Lately, i've been playing a lot of courses in the IE and it has been tough to find a course that is not being aerated. I played oak creek on a Tuesday afternoon at a very discounted rate of $50.

... Continue »

Lately, i've been playing a lot of courses in the IE and it has been tough to find a course that is not being aerated. I played oak creek on a Tuesday afternoon at a very discounted rate of $50.

I must say, the greens were as pure as they can be. There were a lot of divot marks that needed to be repaired, but i think that was due to the scga tournament that was going on. for $50, i would play here all the time!

I played a twilight round on Sunday, July 31st. This was my first trip back to Oak Creek in a very longtime. The last time I played the course, the conditions were amazing. I had such fond memories... Continue »

I played a twilight round on Sunday, July 31st. This was my first trip back to Oak Creek in a very longtime. The last time I played the course, the conditions were amazing. I had such fond memories. However, I can't say the same this time around. The course is dry and as a result, brown in many areas. I really enjoy the layout of the course as it has nice rolling fairways and a good blend of elevation changes. I was disappointed that the upkeep has gone south. Although much of the course damage was due to the players....so many unfilled divots in the fairways and unrepaired marks on the green, it was clear maintenance needed improvement. It just wasn't to the standards I've experienced in the past and what I expect from a Fazio course. I'd expect to see similar conditions at a Muni. Furthermore, there was a really slow group holding up the entire course and not a marshall to be seen. We finished in about 5 hours.....I suppose that I should expect that on a weekend round in Socal but it still is frustrating. Lastly, I saw the cart girl 2x in the first 4 holes and never again....could've used a brew to cope with the slow play.