Royal Oaks Country Club
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Royal Oaks Country Club โ Vancouverโs Historic Tree-Lined Championship Course
Founded in 1945, Royal Oaks Country Club, nestled at 8917 NE Fourth Plain Blvd in Vancouver, WA, is one of the regionโs most revered private golf courses. Frequently ranked among Washingtonโs top five courses, it offers an 18-hole championship layout distinguished by towering trees, fast greens, and a storied tournament historyโincluding Tiger Woodsโs victory in the 1994 PNGA Amateurย .
Club & Course Highlights
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18-hole Championship Layout with five tee options per hole, extending to over 7,000 yards from the back tees.
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Course Rating & Slope: Approximately 74+ rating and 138 slope from Black teesย .
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Design & Conditions: Tree-lined fairways and rapid, intricately contoured greens maintained to elite standards with all-season drainageย .
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Historical Prestige: Host of the prestigious Royal Oaks Invitational (since 1957) and winner of top rankings in Golf Digestโs 2020โ21 listingsย .
Royal Oaks Country Club โ Hole-by-Hole Guide (Black Tees, Par 72, 7,017 yards)
|
Hole |
Par |
Yards |
Hcp |
Breakdown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 โ โEarly Warningโ |
4 |
368 |
11 |
Tee shot must favor left sideโright misses bring trouble. The green slopes right-to-left.ย |
|
2 โ โSlicers Follyโ |
5 |
513 |
13 |
Long hitters can reach green in two. Trees right and a smallbunโkered green punish miscalculations. |
|
3 โ โBurnt Bridgeโ |
4 |
418 |
5 |
Creek guards left fairway. Avoid back half of greenโitโs severely sloped. |
|
4 โ โStraight Arrowโ |
4 |
445 |
1 |
Demands distance and straightness from tee. Creek left, bunker rightโprecision into a small green. |
|
5 โ โWaterlooโ |
3 |
160 |
15 |
Short parโ3 with tiered greenโchoose landing level wisely for birdie. |
|
6 โ โLongworthโ |
5 |
535 |
9 |
Favor the right side off tee and second shot. Reachable for long hitters; roll-up approach possible. |
|
7 โ โLooks Easyโ |
4 |
318 |
17 |
Short tee shot using iron. Must hit fairwayโgreen is wellโbunkered. |
|
8 โ โThe Chuteโ |
3 |
197 |
7 |
Uphill par-3 playing longer than yardage suggests. Greens are two-tieredโstay below the pin. |
|
9 โ โLonely Appleโ |
4 |
427 |
3 |
Tough dogleg left with OB left. Sloping green makes par a strong score. |
|
10 โ โAcorn Alleyโ |
4 |
315 |
18 |
Iron off the tee, then precise mid-shot to a green sloping back-to-front. Birdies possible. |
|
11 โ โThe Grandyโ |
4 |
431 |
8 |
Long straight hole; plateau fairway rewards distanceโbut trees right test accuracy. |
|
12 โ โThe Pondโ |
3 |
188 |
14 |
Tee shot over new pond. Wind swirling around greenโclub choice and execution matter. |
|
13 โ โThe Monsterโ |
5 |
555 |
16 |
Demanding three-shot par-5. Second shot must stay left; fairway bunker is ideal target. |
|
14 โ โGullyโ |
4 |
451 |
2 |
Long par-4 with tight landing zone. Right-side trees and deep front-left bunker guard green. |
|
15 โ โForty Firsโ |
5 |
527 |
10 |
Favors a left-tee drive to set up easier second shot. Straight play gives mid-iron to flat green. |
|
16 โ โSweet Sixteenโ |
3 |
217 |
12 |
Long parโ3 protected by front-left/right bunkers. Hitting green is a strong score. |
|
17 โ โGopher Brokeโ |
4 |
420 |
6 |
Favor left-to-right line to avoid left fairway trap. Green is flanked by bunkers. |
|
18 โ โHeadinโ Homeโ |
4 |
415 |
4 |
Narrow tree tunnel off tee. Bunkers protect green front-left and front-right; green slopes back-to-front. |
Strategic Summary
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Opening Holes (1โ4): Engage precision earlyโfairway position dictates success.
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Mid-Round Par-Threes (5, 8, 12, 16): Varying lengths and tiers demand exact iron shots.
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Signature Challenges (3, 4, 13, 14): Creek, bunkers, water hazards, and strategic bail zones define risk-reward play.
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Closing Stretch (15โ18): Mix of length and tight accuracy to end roundโplacement off tee is crucial.
Practice, Pro Support & Amenities
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Practice Facilities: Robust setup includes a full driving range, short-game area, and putting greensย .
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Player Development: Professional instruction through GolfForever-certified trainers and the ScholarโAthlete youth mentorship programย .
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Clubhouse & Events: Elegant spaces cater to dining, weddings, corporate meetings, and social events for members and guestsย .
Why Royal Oaks Stands Apart
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Championship Challenge: Tight tree-lined corridors and complex green design demand accuracy, strategy, and deft short-game executionโearning praise from a scratch player who rated it โa great test of golfโย .
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Elite Yet Inclusive: With five tee boxes, the course challenges low handicaps and makes golf approachable for all skill levelsย .
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Tournament-Level Heritage: Far more than local competitions, the ROIT ranks among the top amateur tournaments in the Pacific Northwest, awarding World Amateur ranking pointsย .
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Scholarship & Youth Development: The school-linked caddie and scholar programs foster academic and athletic growth, mentoring future players through structured instruction ().
Community & Club Culture
Royal Oak Country Club in Vancouver fosters a strong culture of community and excellence. From hosting junior scholarship programs to sustaining a high-caliber caddie corpsโseveral of whom earned Evans Scholarshipsโthe club prioritizes character, education, and opportunity alongside its golf pedigreeย . Members regularly engage with the club through leagues, memberโguest events, and social mixers throughout the season.
Final Swing
Whether youโre competing at the Royal Oaks Invitational, sharpening your short game on fast greens, or enjoying banquet evenings in the clubhouse, Royal Oaks Country Club embodies the Pacific Northwestโs love for premier golfโbalanced with community, tradition, and youth engagement. Itโs a top-tier private club, but its impact and presence ripple through the broader Northwest golf fabric.
This course is part of the Washington Golf Directoryโs collection of Washington State private golf courses and member-only clubs. Alongside public courses, disc golf spots, and driving ranges, weโre highlighting the places where golfers across the state play, practice, and build communityโall year long.
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