Oakdale Golf & Country Club

OGCC is an important part of the Oakdale community and has been so for quite some time. This is my family's home course, and I am there 2-3 times a week.

The course and practice facilities are well maintained, and the staff is extremely friendly. This is a family-oriented club with a laid-back vibe. There are no rules concerning the make or color of golf cart you use. If you buy one of those lifted golf carts with a brush guard and offroad tires, I'm pretty sure you can use it at OGCC (though they'll probably insist you stay on the cart path if you don't want to swap out the offroad tires).

The course itself is challenging, with well defended and tricky greens. The course is busiest in the mornings when most of the retirees play. But even then the pace of play is fine. If you want to practice pitching and chipping, there is also a practice area with tee boxes at 50, 75 and 100 yards that feels like a par-3 hole and is rarely busy. It's a bit rougher than the putting greens next to the clubhouse, but it's a nice alternative to pitching at the driving range.

A great value as a private course. Even as a private course the "rules" are not that strict. Players are allowed to wear jeans, and often five somes are allowed. The facilities are in good shape. The course itself is mostly green even with the latest water restrictions. It is of course not as lush as before due to the drought. The course can play long depending on which tees you use. The length on some holes, along with the elevation changes and tree lined fairways make the course challenging enough to play regularly. The par 5 17th with its peninsula green is just a bear to play. Overall a good course and good value for its location.