Oskaloosa Golf

The front nine is completely different than the back, and the holes within them are all very different. You can post a low number, but if it's really windy or you're not hitting the ball well, you can post a rough score. To give you an idea of the highs and lows, I played in a college tournament here a number of years ago, and I shot a 75 on one of my rounds with six birdies, an eagle, four double bogeys, three bogeys and four pars. I've never played a best shot here, but it would be the perfect place for it.

Greens fees are pretty cheap. You can walk the course, but the back nine takes a lot more out of you than the front. If you're in the area and looking for a new course with some holes with crazy designs, play here.

Since there are some holes where you need local course knowledge, here's a walk through. Back nine is more useful than the front.

#1 - Simple par 3
#2 - Short par 4. Take driver over the bunker for longer hitters and go at the green. Just don't go left OB.
#3 - Just don't go left OB. Green slopes back to front.
#4 - One of the tougher holes as a longer par 4. This is a windy spot on the course, which often makes it tougher. Again, don't go OB left. Green slopes back to front and left to right.
#5 - Definitely an eagle possibility on this par 5. It's a really small green though so be accurate on your second shot.
#6 - Another par 5 and this is where some knowledge will help.There are two ways to play this hole. Hit the fairway, and then hit your long iron or utility club over the trees at the green. The second route is to go over the big trees on the right and onto the #7 fairway. If you do this, the hole plays shorter, and you'll likely have a good look at the green anyways, but it is a tougher shot and dangerous if not executed. Make sure you're second shot from either spot doesn't go left.
#7 - A short, but sharp dogleg left. You most likely will hit a fairway wood or utility club. If you go over the cart path on the left, that's a good line, and you'll likely be just right of the green. Going right of that is safer from the woods and water, but the trees come into play and you'll have a longer approach. If you go over the trees on the left or hit a draw around them, you can hit the green, but if you go too far left, you'll be in the woods or in the water. Direct distance from the White tees to the middle of the green is only 220 yards, but it's the 239 the scorecard says to follow the fairway.
#8 - Par 3. No real surprises.
#9 - Par 4 with somewhat of a blind tee shot. Right side of the fairway is best. If you go right, it's okay, but if you bomb one right, the parking lot is possible. Left is bad because of the water.
#10 - The back nine is more out on the open and more hilly. For this par 5, OB right and woods/lateral hazard left. The fairway slopes right to left, so just follow the dogleg on the right side.
#11 - Hit utility club or a long iron. You want to hit this about 215 yards to the section of fairway. If you want to go for the green, it's very high risk. It's 285 yards to the front edge, a bit uphill and most of it is all carry. You can go a little right of the green and hit the next section of the fairway, but there isn't much room there either. Only do this for fun or if it's significantly downwind.
#12 - Green slopes severely back to front. Obviously OB right. All the room in the world to bail out left and no trees to worry about.
#13 - By far the most corky hole. Hitting the fairway is required with OB right and the creek with the tall trees left. You want the right side of the fairway if you want any chance of hitting over the trees to go for the green in two. If you're in the left side of the fairway, you have to hit farther down the fairway to the elbow so you can hit your wedge across the creek in the gap of the trees. If you go for the green, left is a better miss than right since a miss right will likely go in the trees. If you go way left, you could be OB, so you need to be accurate but slightly left is better. Lastly, I've never done this before, but you could also hit driver toward the #14 green over the trees, and you can essentially play you second shot to the #13 green playing #14 backwards. However, obviously only do that for fun and if you're positive no one is on #14.
#14 - Simple par 3.
#15 - Blind tee shot par 4. This plays more downhill and more to the right than you think. Play a fade from the tee box. From the white tee box and if you go on a direct line along the right tree line, it's only 210 yards to go through the fairway. There's nothing wrong with going through the fairway, but you won't be closer to the green.
#16 - Two ways to play this. The first and definitely the way you should play it, take a fairway wood and play a slight fade down the fairway. There's a small gap in the trees if you want to hit driver with a small draw, but it's a very high risk shot. Only do it for fun.
#17 - Add one club for this par 3.
#18 - Very tough hole and it's as weird as it looks. This hole is also usually really windy. Ideally, take a utility club (something around 225 yards) and hit a little left of the fairway. The rough isn't thick if you miss the fairway on either side, and the slope will take the ball down the hill. If done properly, you'll have a wedge or short iron in. You don't need to follow the fairway off the tee since it's the same distance and you'll be farther from the hole. For your second, over the cart path over the green is OB. For this downhill shot with the water in front of the green, this is a really tough shot from farther back. It's actually reasonable laying up if you're 200 yards out and it's windy. I've seen some really good players make 10+ on this hole in a tournament with significant winds. If you want a fun way to play the hole, you're a long hitter and the green is clear, bomb a drive at the green over the trees. It's about 310 yards, but it's significantly downhill.