Boiling Springs Golf Course

Just about 2 hours outside of Oklahoma City sits a hidden gem of a golf course that is a must play. This course has been talked about and has been on my radar for some time. It did not disappoint! It receives 4 stars simply because the course alone and greens and tee boxes are the finest you'll play in Oklahoma. Bar none! The western panhandle wouldn't seem to offer much in golf course layout as far as grass, trees and just a general city type feel, but during your round you would never guess you were in an area that might offer up a stagecoach passing through at any moment. It feels much like you have entered into the Wild West when you are about 50 miles out of Woodward on the way there. The course: From tee to green- this course is 5 stars. The layout offers up many doglegs and plenty of bunkers. So, upon arrival in the clubhouse- take the free yardage book. The green fee at $40.00 is just about right, simply because the course conditions are above normal. The fairways were in phenomenal shape, each tee box was plush, and the greens were very nice. There is very little room for an errant shot on a couple of holes, so if you hit it off the fairways into the waste areas on any hole, probably just drop. Never saw any snakes, but it looked like a few could be in those areas. There are plenty of holes to score on, but the course is still challenging. You will be pleasantly surprised with how great the fairways are. (Take your shoes off on number one and walk to your ball and you'll see why! Very plush) If you are used to the hardpan of a municipal no matter where you play, you do not have that here. The fairways were 4-5 star and very green, so much you will be asking yourself "Why can't our local muni's get in this shape?" The greens were in great shape, and we didn't see any rough areas or dead spots. The putting is very optimal with about medium speed greens, some with some undulation to deal with but very friendly overall. And yes, there are tons of trees. Plenty of areas to get shade relief on a warm day. Overall, by comparison to other courses as far as condition: Better than the city courses in OKC or Tulsa- Comparable to Sand Creek Station-Wichita- Comparable to Battle Creek- Tulsa Some notes: The carts are gas because of the hills, (yes- hills) that you have to navigate on some holes, but they get around great- The clubhouse has a small pro shop set-up with just a few items, and a grill that offered up a good hamburger after the round. Wish it was more inviting of an atmosphere for after the round, especially after traveling a distance to get here. The clubhouse staff (about 4 teenage girls on this day) were not on their game and were just dry, no energy, no engagement and they seemed more involved with each other than the patrons- There are no water stations on course (don't know why) so load up on a warm day- The cart paths were broken up in many areas, but that's to be expected when you consider the city is putting money into the course itself more than likely, and not the cart paths. So don't be mad when you run across a few bumps or dirt trails to navigate. Getting to a few holes is tricky so pay attention and don't feel like you'll get held at gunpoint by train robbers if it looks like you're headed to nowhere- (The yardage book has a map inside so keep it handy) This was an enjoyable getaway weekend. The course has a stay and play option so look into that. We stayed overnight at the Holiday Inn Express, which was in great shape, and not too far from the course. Woodward does not offer up much in dining that you are used to, so plan accordingly. Overall, when you take away the cart paths- this course would be one of the best courses in Tulsa or Oklahoma City for public play, it's that good especially for the price. I would rank it with Firelake in Shawnee (when it's good) and Lakeside in Stillwater for overall bang for your buck. If you are in the OKC area- it's well worth a day trip to play. If you are 2 hours away in any direction- it's well worth a day trip to play. Well done Boiling Springs!