Great day of golf with GK group! Thank you JohnnyGK for invite. Enjoyed playing with Nick, Greg and Larry. The match between Nick and Greg was super competitive and ruthless as even 9 inch putts were ... Continue »

Great day of golf with GK group! Thank you JohnnyGK for invite. Enjoyed playing with Nick, Greg and Larry. The match between Nick and Greg was super competitive and ruthless as even 9 inch putts were not conceded! :)

Oak Creek was in great summer shape. Aprons around greens were closely mowned. Sand traps tatoo’d the golf course. Some traps were super fluffy while others, the greenskeeper just forgot or gave up. Large sand traps but more rakes are needed here. I know because i found a bunker almost every hole.

Layout was spectacular. Mostly just loooong ass holes framed with mountain vistas. Hard to imagine you are in the city of Irvine. Greens were running around 9.5/10. Fairways had excellent coverage. Back nine featured green-side fans that made putting more daunting. Some pin positions were tucked in large undulating green.

Customer service was excellent as all employees were polite and helpful. Nice to feel appreciated. Food and drink service was fast and efficient. They keep the restaurant open just for our group and split the bill up by table after I asked them to.

Will return with GK coupons!!

Played in the GK Cup Final yesterday and had a great time. I was super excited to play Oak Creek since I hadn't done so in about a decade and I"m so glad I did because I was really impressed.

First... Continue »

Played in the GK Cup Final yesterday and had a great time. I was super excited to play Oak Creek since I hadn't done so in about a decade and I"m so glad I did because I was really impressed.

First off, everyone on the staff I came across was great. From the dudes in the shop to the guy at the range, the beverage cart attendant and the guys in the grill, I thought everyone was super nice and did a great job. It was really cool being able to hang out there for the day.

I really, really liked the practice area. The range seems huge with good turf and a killer chipping area. Those are the kinds of practice areas I can spend all day at so definitely worth it to make a day of good practice there. It was nice having the putting green down by the starter as well.

Another area that I don't remember but was really impressed with was the overall grounds and facilities. The shop, restaurant and other buildings create a really cool vibe and I could see people having some awesome events there. Really good space.

As for the course itself, I think Oak Creek is classic Fazio. Landing areas off the tees are pretty generous (once you get up there) but from the tee the sight lines, bunkers, trees give a visual of being a bit tighter. Most slopes help funnel the ball into play and if you take the time to either play the course a lot or use the GPS you can really be aggressive off the tee and in position to attack pins.

I found the green complexes to be the highlight of the course. They required being on the right side of the fairway for good approaches, offered different shots to be played into them and had just enough trouble to put up a good defense. Really fun to play.

As for the course conditions, I thought they were really, really good. I didn't have a bad lie all day and the greens rolled great but weren't getaway fast which helped with scoring. I wasn't in any bunkers but the practice area bunker was great.

I think one really cool feature of Oak Creek is that even though you're basically right near a freeway and major streets, you feel pretty secluded. The water features on the course really add to that feel and it was cool to spend the day out there.

I'd definitely recommend Oak Creek as I thought the thoughtful design, really good conditions and awesome staff made for a fantastic day.

Played in the gk cup team match play outing 7/28 with Johnny, Mattias, and Evan. Was a great group to play with.

Overall, I was very impressed with the conditions and layout. The conditions were a... Continue »

Played in the gk cup team match play outing 7/28 with Johnny, Mattias, and Evan. Was a great group to play with.

Overall, I was very impressed with the conditions and layout. The conditions were above to well above average in most facets, it’s clear the management is putting their resources into improving the course.

The greens and surrounds were the highlight of the course. The greens were quick and rolled well. Evan did a great job of fixing as many pitch marks as he could since there were quite a few out there. The surrounds were well maintained and provided good lies which meant you had options for trying to get the ball close to the hole.

The fairways and rough were also good to very good. Sure, there was a little browning in spots, but the grass was just brown, not dead, so they were fine to hit off of. There were a few wet spots.

Many of the bunkers had very new sand which will be nice in a few months once it settles, but was a brute to get out of since it was so fluffy ( I was not in any but this was the consensus of the group).

The biggest area in need of improvement were the tee boxes. Especially on the par 3’s they were pretty chewed up, were put in funky spots to avoid previously used spots but that lead to uneven and sometimes downhill lies on the box.

Service was excellent from check in, club cleaning taking me to my car and taking the cart back, and in the restaurant.

I joined in the GK Cup Final outing and had a super fun time playing with Matt, Blake, and Greg. I've played Oak Creek a few times before and I was really happy for another opportunity. They have very... Continue »

I joined in the GK Cup Final outing and had a super fun time playing with Matt, Blake, and Greg. I've played Oak Creek a few times before and I was really happy for another opportunity. They have very friendly and helpful staff members so check in always fast and efficient. The practice facility has grass stalls, a large chipping and bunker area and putting green. There is another green behind the starter's desk.

I like how this course feels very secluded. There are no houses to be seen from anywhere on the course. Other than a little bit of street sound, it's easy to forget you're in the middle of suburbia.

The course was in really good shape. The fairways were a mix of green and brown but coverage was complete and very well cushioned. There were a couple of areas that had signs of recent punching but the holes didn't affect play.
By some miracle. I was not in any bunkers. There seemed to be more than an ample amount of sand in them.

The greens are fun and frustrating. There are breaks that you don't expect and putts don't break when you think they will. Among our group we had a dozen putts miss seemingly by just a single blade of grass.

Thank you, Johnny and Oak Creek Golf Club for a great day.

Played in the outing yesterday with Matt, Greg and Wendy. Thanks very much to Oak Creek and Johnny for putting this together! Echoing Matt's sentiments, we enjoyed a great round. Personally I am a ... Continue »

Played in the outing yesterday with Matt, Greg and Wendy. Thanks very much to Oak Creek and Johnny for putting this together! Echoing Matt's sentiments, we enjoyed a great round. Personally I am a big fan of Oak Creek, with the exception of their range (prices and conditions). 12$ for a small bucket of beat up balls? And the range balls are old beat up top-flights? Hmm.

Tees: A bit chewed up but mostly nice. I'd rate them 6/10
Fairways: Really great. Perfect cushion, no bare spots. 9/10
Rough: Thick in places, had some bare spots, but overall playable. 7/10
Bunkers: Greensides were great, the fairways were awful. Its my personal preference though, I cannot stand deep sand in fairway bunkers. 7/10
Greens: Were a little slow for my taste, but rolled true and held lines. I wasn't as in love as some people. 8/10

I can't say I'd play Oak Creek for the rack (180$ on weekends) but would highly recommend to those that can. They are definitely putting money back into the course as its as green as I have seen in a long time. Would definitely return at around 100$ tho if I can find it.

Played in the first group in the Sunday outing. It's been a long time since I've played Oak Creek (last time I played the nines were reversed) and yesterday the course was as good as I've seen it. A... Continue »

Played in the first group in the Sunday outing. It's been a long time since I've played Oak Creek (last time I played the nines were reversed) and yesterday the course was as good as I've seen it. And I saw a lot of it LOL. My terrible play not withstanding, I had a great time with our group - super fun and easy going guys.
Greens were fantastic - liked that every green was about the same speed. Was in one bunker, sand very soft and fluffy. Fairways were great. It's not an overly long course, but you really do have to think your way around some holes. Lots of options off the tee on some of the shorter par 4s. Approach shots to the correct level of the green/pin is key here.
Staff was very friendly and helpful.
With the changes being made and the deals Johnny has been able to provide, I expect this course to be on my short list of options on the limited occasions I get to play these days.
Want to thank my partners for a fun day, and Johnny - I really appreciate the invite and all the work you do to make this great game even better.

Others have well documented the state of Oak Creek - which is in great shape but allow me to spackle in some other details to help you understand the course. My third time here was just as likable as... Continue »

Others have well documented the state of Oak Creek - which is in great shape but allow me to spackle in some other details to help you understand the course. My third time here was just as likable as the previous two - it's a course I really enjoy playing.

It's a great design that encourages confident swings and rewards smart decisions. It's in the middle of Irvine but manages to transport the player out of the city to a golf Oasis.

It's got a wonderful practice area that includes generous chipping and sand practice.

My charge for drinks from the friendly cart girl seemed more than reasonable. My glazed salmon at the restaurant was very good and at $16, felt like a misprint on the menu. If I lived nearby - I would consider eating there just for the food and views.

It was a great place to host our GKCup final and hopefully future events.

First time playing Oak Creek and absolutely loved it. Played along with Nick, Larry and Kong and I want to thank the guys for a really fun round. Also, thanks to Oak Creek for having us and to Johnny ... Continue »

First time playing Oak Creek and absolutely loved it. Played along with Nick, Larry and Kong and I want to thank the guys for a really fun round. Also, thanks to Oak Creek for having us and to Johnny for setting this up. Not much I can add to the previous reviews on conditions. Layout - FANTASTIC. So much fun and it makes you think. My favorite part of the course. Greens - the best I have putted on in a long time. Did have to repair a few ball marks from morning rounds, but not too bad. Fairways - The ball sat us nicely, and was a pleasure to play from. Rough - Could be very thick and penal, or could be a little thin. Even had a hard time finding a florescent orange ball in the thick stuff. We don't get that thick rough very often in So Cal so hitting out of it took some good guess work. Bunkers - Nice fluffy sand, just ask Nick about his plugged shot in the face a fairway bunker. The greenside bunker on 16 is perplexing, it looks like it's part of the waste area that runs down the left side of the fairway, BUT it had a rake in it and like I said, it was right next to the green. Was it a bunker or waste area. Tee boxes - Mostly really nice, but towards the end of the day a few were seeing some wear and tear. Customer Service - Very good friendly staff, from the guys in the golf shop, to the cart attendants to the beverage cart girl. I would play here a lot more often for the right price. Normal rack rate is a little steep for this cheap dutchman, but If I can find a deal I will be back. One more thing, the Reuben sandwich in the bar/grill is fantastic. One of the best I have ever had.

Our GK Cup final result notwithstanding, it was a fabulous day to play at Oak Creek and the club went above and beyond in terms of customer service, hospitality and course conditions overall. It was a... Continue »

Our GK Cup final result notwithstanding, it was a fabulous day to play at Oak Creek and the club went above and beyond in terms of customer service, hospitality and course conditions overall. It was a really great experience in Irvine from soup to nuts. First off, wanted to thank Oak Creek for taking such good care of us for the event, and Johnny for working with them to get it all organized. From the bag drop to starters to the wait staff in the restaurant - all top notch performances and the type of service that makes one want to come back again and again. Course was as intriguing and fun as I remember it from my first and only time last year playing it, but this time the green conditions and overall playability increased to maximum effect. The Fazio design is one of his best and really allows for some experimentation and expression on the course, which is fun. Penal, but also generous with sort of 'bowling alley bumpers' fairways that help funnel you back into play. But all within reason of course to still challenge the good players! Super fun layout. Greens were really nice to play from. Fair and accessible, not overly-gimmicky or sloped just for the sake of making your day miserable, the putting surface played medium fast and rolled like a dream. You could definitely land decent approach shots with little trouble of rolling off, yet it was still imperative to rein in the speed of your putts. But overall, a joy to play on now. Fairways were in good shape overall with mostly great lies and some sections even very lush. Not too many thin or browned out areas to contend with, even with the high temps of late. The rough was varied in length but some of it was quite deep, like on the left side of 18 where one of Gary00's shots was magically discovered by Kassper7 because it could not be seen whatsoever from two feet away, yet was not plugged in the least. Good times. Bunkers that I experienced only on the front nine had nice coverage to them, and I heard no complaints from the others in our final group on the back nine. At minimum they were getting the job done just fine. And the tee boxes were mostly in good shape as well, with just one having some 'firm footing' hard to find and a few others a bit shaggy, but nothing too terrible. Cart service came around early and often on a super hot day, so that was great. Food and drink in the restaurant pre and post round was very nice as well. Carts have a fantastic GPS system with a huge screen ala Tesla cars and it seemed to be quite accurate in terms of distances, while also providing flyovers with actual voiceover tips. Great! All in all, a top experience and Oak Creek definitely went above and beyond the call of duty to make this GK Cup final an incredible experience. The only thing missing at the end was that darn trophy! But congrats to Andrew and Gary who played absolutely LIGHTS OUT for the win!