Okay, so I finally got around to checking out the Mercer Oaks Golf Course. I’d heard some good things, and honestly, I was itching for a new course to try. I’ve been stuck in a rut with the same old places.
First thing I did was hop online to check out the course layout and see if I could snag a tee time. Their website was…okay. Nothing fancy, but I found what I needed. Booking was straightforward, I picked a morning slot, hoping to beat the heat.
Getting There and First Impressions
The drive was easy enough. Plenty of parking, which is always a plus. The clubhouse looked pretty standard, nothing to write home about, but it was clean and the staff were friendly. I checked in, grabbed a scorecard, and headed out to the range to warm up.
The range itself was decent. Mats were in good shape, and they had plenty of targets at different distances. I spent about 30 minutes hitting some balls, trying to get a feel for my swing.
Onto the Course!
The course, that’s where things got interesting. Mercer Oaks has two 18-hole courses: the East Course and the West Course. I played the West Course.
- The Good: The greens were in fantastic shape. Seriously, they were rolling fast and true. My putting felt great (which is rare for me!). Some of the holes had some really interesting layouts, with a few blind shots and some water hazards that made you think.
- The Not-So-Good: The fairways were a little patchy in places. Not terrible, but definitely noticeable. A few of the tee boxes were a bit beat up, too. And, this is just a personal thing, but the course felt a little…cramped? Some of the holes were really close together, so you had to be mindful of other players.
I started off a little rough, bogeying the first couple of holes. Nerves, maybe? But I settled in and started playing some decent golf. I managed to birdie the par-5 5th, which always feels good. The back nine was a bit tougher, with some longer par-4s. Finished the round and the score is not important, the process is what matters.
I finished up at the 19th, and grab some drink with my mate, talked about the interesting holes and the general opinions to the golf course. Overall, a solid experience for me.
Would I Go Back?
Yeah, I think so. It’s not going to become my new “home” course, but it’s a good option for a change of pace. I’d like to try the East Course next time and see how it compares. If they put a little more work into the fairways and tee boxes, it would definitely bump up my rating. It’s worth checking out if you’re in the area and looking for a reasonably priced round of golf.
