The Course
The recent renovation of Oak Tree National has brought Pete Dye back to design what was originally regarded as the “finest inland golf course he has ever built.” The golf course recently celebrated its 30th anniversary and has undergone numerous changes that will improve and maintain its championship quality.
The course renovation included all new fairways, irrigation, tees, bunkers and practice facilities and minor changes to a few of the greens. Pete Dye toured the course and gave his blessing on the new construction that will in most cases return the golf course back to its original design.
The fairways will consist of a new U-3 Bermuda grass, which is more cold-weather tolerant, providing green grass for approximately six more weeks a year than other common Bermuda grasses. It is the most popular turf used in Oklahoma. The new irrigation system provides greater coverage, allowing the maintenance crew to maintain the grass more efficiently. The tees have been leveled, new grass has been added and all of the bunker sand has been replaced with a more consistent grain of sand. The turf on the driving range and chipping green has been replaced with a few minor changes to the design of the practice areas.
One of the goals of the construction project was to return the golf course back to its original design. This was accomplished by the addition of native grass areas and the re-design of a few holes. Holes #8, #13, and #18 have changed in that the greens were re-shaped to match the original design. The green on the par 3, 8th hole is once again guarded by a beach bunker. The green on the par 3, 13th hole has been reduced in size in order to live up to its name “postage stamp”, which refers to the phrase of landing your ball on a postage stamp. Also the green on the par 4, 18th hole has been changed back to its original shape and size.
The par 4, 10th and 11th holes have new fairway bunkers as well as re-shaped greens. And the par 4, 14th hole now has a creek, which extends the entire length of the hole. The creek begins on the 12th hole and now runs as far as the 16th hole. The new improvements will certainly add challenges for golfers who play this championship golf course.