Beautiful well taken care of park with views of the Little Arkansas River and several old growth trees. Some tunnel holes (mostly from the long tees) and some teeboxes with trouble right off the pad which require precise accuracy to stay out of jail or OB. Cool over water shots on Holes 6 and 18. Challenging, yet not so extreme that it overwhelms you. Flows relatively easily although there are some trouble spots. Next hole indicator on the baskets rims (red and blue paint spots) showing the direction of the next tee box. Shady in many places, allowing DG'ers to get a little break from the heat. Hitting your lines can be key here and the jail situation inside the woods can vary considerably. Has alternating color tee pads, so you technically have four different layouts (short, red, blue, & long).

Unlike its sister course Herman Hill across town, the pins are fixed so the only way to get variety is play different tees. No tee signs as the neighborhood park group won't allow them to be installed for fear that they'll detract from the beauty of the park. Layouts are shown with paint right on the teepads, but the elements are causing these to fade. Often crowded in the afternoon hours. 18's long pad and the retaining wall along side it (over the water hole) constricts your shot selection particularly if you don't have much arm. Parking area is small and there are no bathrooms (other than the woods).

Originally a nine hole single tee course, Oak Park was expanded to 18 holes and given dual tee pads in 2005. Holes 8-14 are actually in neighboring North Riverside Park. The course is very popular with rec players and this can get burdensome on a busy afternoon. Best hit before noon if you can. There is also a busy sidewalk (on or over is OB) along the North Riverside holes so you need to watch for pedestrians.

Great use of the water and woods. You'll really REALLY like #18, or really, REALLY hate it.

Some long walks between holes but neccessary. Low areas could be a problem after a heavy rain.

Wish i'd remembered my camera....... i played on a beautiful day and the course has many photo friendly holes.

+ Trees provide a great challenge
+ River and ponds provide challenging but manageable water hazards
+ Varying distances calls for a strong game to do well
+ Usually well kept, never too bad to play
+ The forest creates natural dog-legs and tunnel-shots
+ Concrete tees with hole maps spray-painted on
+ Multiple tees
+ Maps made available

- Tough to get the hang of at first
- The 18th hole is brutal on many newcomers
- A few holes on the back 9 can get flooded after a heavy rain

This course is very fun to play. It has a bit of everything, and it keeps things interesting. There are two tees which provide varying challenges. The course is built into a forest for the main part of the front 9 which provides unique challenges. Dog-legs and tunnel-shots are very common requiring good precision and accuracy. The course runs along the river, which has its ups and downs.

There are only two major water hazards, but the last one (Hole 18) is a very difficult shot for the inexperienced. The back 9 is far less complicated than the front 9 and becomes a distance contest, though a few of the holes provide unique challenges that test accuracy as well as power. The only terrain Oak is lacking in is hills. No uphill or downhill shots provide for a flat experience.

Overall Oak is a very well put together course that is very unique in its hole setups. You'll see a bit of everything except hills.

Long, pretty and semi-challenging. Often have to contend with low ceilings or unconventional long power drives. A river comes into play, as well as a few ponds with a signature pond shot and rock cliff on the last hole (see picture). Well maintained, plays easy and clean. Locals have put work into marking it to make it easy to follow.

Needs tee signs, or re-painted tee pads showing lengths. The river will swallow your disc, and you if you try to go get it. Semi long walks between some holes, and since it's long it is tiring.