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Hernando Today

Oak Hills: Favors Better Golfer

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By JIM REDMILE

Hernando Today correspondent

Published: June 12, 2008

SPRING HILL - Oak Hills Golf Club is a public, daily fee golf course located at 10059 Northcliffe Blvd. in Spring Hill, south of State Road 50. It first opened in 1981 and was designed by course architect Chuck Anthony Sr.

Once owned by PGA golfer Raymond Floyd, who amongst other accomplishments has won three majors and over 60 tournaments throughout his career, the course underwent an ownership change approximately two years ago.

The new owner, JRZ Suspension Systems, purchased the course for $2.5 million in October 2006, and has steadily maintained and attempted to improve the golf course ever since.

"They put it into very good shape very quickly and they have lost it back a little bit here recently," said Joe DiCristofalo, photographer, course companion, and 15-year student of Jim Neely, one of the course instructors.

"When they planted the winter grass, it has since died out and the new grass has not come in yet. Some of the greens were very nice, the rest will become very nice, but some were a little sparse. But there's definitely potential for the condition."

Golfers must take into consideration that Florida golf courses peak in the fall and winter months, allowing greenskeepers and course managers to take time to re-seed, aerate and work on their course in the summer months.

Also, take into consideration watering times are typically in the late afternoon or early evening. Course workers have no control over the spontaneity of the course sprinklers, making duffers time the streams and often playing shots from very wet lies.

The course facilities currently include a driving range, putting and chipping green and minimal use pro-shop/snack bar with a friendly and professional staff.

In the works are plans for a new clubhouse and further residential development of the approximate 215-acre tract of land.

The best value for regular golfers is the purchase of the frequency card. For an up-front $30 annual fee, they receive one free round of golf and discounted prices for greens and cart fees.

Prices range from $15 to $25 with a frequent golfer card depending on the time of day. Tee time starts as early as 7 a.m. with cart return at dark.

Harder for bogey golfer

The course is rated at 70.7 on the white tees and it has a slope of 125. The 70.7 rating applies to scratch golfers, giving an expectation of how the course may play for someone who shoots par.

"Better golfers are not going to get into as much trouble, with larger fairways and greens," said DiCristofalo. "The slope gives a bogey golfer an idea how the course will play for him, with 113 as average in a range of 55 to 155.

"For someone who sprays it a bit, they can get into a lot of trouble, so it's going to play harder for a bogey golfer," he added.

"Oak Hills forces a player to play a lot of good iron shots into the greens, even from the white tees," said DiCristofalo. "It doesn't allow you just to belt a drive down the middle of the fairway and play sand wedge and pitching wedge all day. You actually have to go to your bag and pick the appropriate club and ply good medium range iron shots into most of the greens."

Joe's favorite hole is the par-5 number 13.

"It's my all-time favorite golf hole in the whole world," said Joe of the hole that produced the only double eagle of his entire golf career.

"I've always liked the way number 17 looked from the tee box," Joe continued. "I've always enjoyed the challenge of trying to hit that green in two. I like the way it plays out. It's hard to imagine that you are still in Spring Hill when you stand on that tee box with its elevations."

Being the high the handicap golfer that I am, the holes that I do well on are the holes that I like, especially when it's a course I haven't played that often.

I parred number one with a decent drive and a six-iron pin high. Then there's a par-3 on the back that I put my first shot on the back of the green. And like Joe, I hit my second shot on number 17 to just in front of the green.

I putted from off the green because I was brainwashed by my friend Dave who told me that my worst putt is always better than a bad chip. Needless to say, an eagle attempt very quickly became "I hope I make this par putt." I did.

We had a great outing that day at Oak Hills. I highly recommend it for the price (especially with a frequent player card), and that you can just show up and play with no forewarning. Although it's not super long, it's a challenging track that is in decent shape and only getting better.

The overall rating is three out of five Tees leaning to four, but the thing that's going to hold it back is the clubhouse that a four-Tee golf course may need.

Looking for lessons?

Jim Neely is an independent golf professional with over 20 years experience teaching. He also creates persimmon clubs for the pros. Check out his website, www.modernclassicwoods.com.

Buzz Walker has over 15 years experience, gives group lessons and conducts mini-camps. He can be reached at buzzgolf@yahoo.com.

Jim & Joe's rating: T T T

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