Golf Course Review by: Billy Satterfield
Rankings:
The Takeaway: Cedar Ridge has a classic country club vibe and look throughout. From the tips it stands as one of the most challenging courses in Oklahoma. The creek running through the property and green complexes are the highlight. Grade B
Quick Facts
Designer: Joe Finger in 1969
Cost: Private
Phone Number: (918) 252-2501
Course Website: Official Website - Visit Cedar Ridge Country Club's official website by clicking on the link provided.
Directions: Get here! - 10302 S Garnett Rd, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma 74011 – UNITED STATES
Photos: See additional photos of Cedar Ridge Country Club
What to Expect: Cedar Ridge has a classic country club setup and feel from the clubhouse, to the facilities, and to the course that features manicured grass covering essentially every non-water and non-sand surface throughout the course. The challenge at Cedar Ridge is three-fold; the length, the green complexes, and the creek. From the tips (Tournament tees) the course stands ready to test the best players anywhere with long par fours, testing par threes, and par fives that are no gimme to reach in two. The green complexes are masterfully crafted with undulations that are testing while still being fair and bunkering that will have you thinking through each approach shot. The creek that runs north and south through the course comes into play multiple times during the routing on tee shots and approach shots, so there is no hiding from it. The front nine stands as the superior side to the course with more engaging hole designs, however the back nine is the stronger test and finishes with two of the longest par fours you’ll ever see back to back; 497 and 495 yards respectively. There is a fair amount of movement in the property but not enough to stop one from walking the course which is a nice feature. There is much that will blow you away at Cedar Ridge, but there is little to complain about either. It is a solid course from start to finish and a nice club to enjoy.
By the Numbers
| Tees | Par | Yardage | Rating | Slope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tournament | 71 | 7392 | 77.5 | 142 |
| Gold | 71 | 7018 | 75.7 | 140 |
| Green | 71 | 6693 | 73.8 | 139 |
| White | 71 | 6259 | 71.8 | 134 |
| Silver | 71 | 5728 | 69.4 | 131 |
| Red (Ladies) | 72 | 5355 | 73.0 | 128 |
Individual Hole Analysis
Signature Hole: 3rd Hole – 379 Yard Par 4 – A fantastic hole that is much more challenging than what the yardage indicates, the 3rd is a two-shotter that requires some shot making to conquer. Driver isn't the play off the tee since hitting it through the dogleg is a strong possibility which will essentially eliminate any chance of hitting the green in regulation. 130 yards from the green the fairway takes a 90 degree turn to the left and travels towards the green that is positioned behind a creek and features a full length bunker along the left side. A stone wall forms the boundary between the water and the two-tiered green that slopes from back to front and features a nasty shelf in the back left to try and get close to with an approach shot. With a tee shot where you can't just swing away and an approach shot that will play from a downhill lie to perhaps the course's most challenging green, the 3rd hole is the most satisfying par you can record at Cedar Ridge.
Best Par 3: 2nd Hole – 203 Yards – The creek that runs through Cedar Ridge is the prominent feature in the routing and Joe Finger wastes no time bringing it into play. This stout one-shotter plays over the creek to a green that is twice as deep as it is wide, plus bunkers sit on each side of the putting surface, so accuracy is paramount. The bailout is short right where the best opportunity of getting up and down for a par save is afforded, but surely you didn't come to Cedar Ridge to layup, right?
Best Par 4: 18th Hole – 495 Yards – Cedar Ridge finishes with perhaps the three most difficult holes to finish a golf course in the state of Oklahoma, and you'll certainly need your 'A' game on the closer. Tipping out just shy of 500 yards, the 18th features bunkers on each side of the landing area that must be threaded to find a safe landing. The approach shot mimics the tee shot by featuring bunkers on each side of the target which is a heart-shaped green with an undulated putting surface that is testing to navigate. Championship level courses often want a challenging hole to finish on so that players can't coast their way to the end, and that's exactly what Cedar Ridge does here.
Best Par 5: 5th Hole – 571 Yards – The double dogleg 5th takes two nearly perfect shots to reach in two and will force the majority of players into taking three shots to approach the green. If you try to get home in two then you'll need to hit a tee shot up the left side which requires flirting with the water up that side. The fairway initially bends left before turning back to the right where a quartet of bunkers come into play; two short and two greenside. The approach shot into the raised green often plays into the wind, so plan on taking an extra club to get home with.
Birdie Time: 14th Hole – 538 Yard Par 5 – The 14th doesn't play much longer than some of the par fours on the back nine so you need to take advantage of this hole so you have some insurance later. After navigating beyond the two fairway bunkers, players can decide whether to take a rip at the green that is guarded by four sand pits or whether to layup short of them and trust their wedge game. The green isn't as challenging as many at Cedar Ridge, so once you reach the putting surface you'll have a good opportunity to roll a birdie in.
Bogey Beware: 17th Hole – 497 Yard Par 4 – The second hole in a brutal three hole finishing stretch, the 17th features trouble at every turn. Out of bounds is found on the right, water on the left, trees on both sides, and finally a pair of bunkers on each side of the green. The fairway bends to the right and players will need to hit their drive far enough to get passed the dogleg and get a look at the green while taking extra caution on the approach shot where an inlet of water encroaches in from the left and can catch balls that aren't on a perfectly pure path to the center of the putting surface. With the amount of trouble around the green there will be players that elect to layup and hope to just take a bogey and move on.
