Golf Course Review by: Billy Satterfield
Rankings:
The Takeaway: Lincoln Park is a gem and the best municipal golf course in Oklahoma City. The collection of par 3s is excellent and the natural movement in the terrain lends to several memorable hole designs. The South has plenty of prestigious private clubs, but for a true muni Lincoln Park is tough to beat. Grade B-
Quick Facts
Designer: Art Jackson in 1921
Cost: $30 ($17 for a cart) Click for current rates
Phone Number: (405) 424-1421
Course Website: Official Website - Visit Lincoln Park Golf Course (West)'s official website by clicking on the link provided.
Directions: Get here! - 4001 NE Grand Blvd, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73111 – UNITED STATES
Photos: See additional photos of Lincoln Park Golf Course (West)
What to Expect: Lincoln Park is the flagship course among those owned and operated by Oklahoma City. Located in the northeast portion of the city boundaries, Lincoln Park boasts 36 holes with the West course trumping the East as the best track on the property due to the extra length and stature of shots required. The course demands that you be on your game from the start with a 600 yard opening hole that carves through the trees. From there a lengthy par three awaits and then the best par four on the property greets you at the 3rd. Lincoln Park wastes no time introducing you to some of its finest holes and the shotmaking that accompanies it. The course features beautiful natural movement with a mix of uphill and downhill shots with trees framing most holes and creating an enjoyable walk. A few driveable par fours exist, including the closing hole, and give players an opportunity to atone for mistakes made and keep their score at a number they’ll be happy to report to their buddies. The front nine ends with a par three and the back nine begins with one to create a unique back-to-back one-shotter situation with patrons watching from the impressive young clubhouse. You’ll find a mix of walkers and cart riders at Lincoln Park as the course accommodates both nicely, but more impressively you’ll often find people with a smile on their face. Bottom line, I was impressed by Lincoln Park far more than I expected to be. It is the type of course I’d love to have as my home course because the design variety is great, conditioning is commendable, and every age and skill level can truly enjoy themselves each time around.
By the Numbers
| Tees | Par | Yardage | Rating | Slope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tournament (Black) | 71 | 6576 | 72.2 | 131 |
| Championship (Blue) | 71 | 6137 | 69.8 | 124 |
| Middle (White) | 71 | 5792 | 67.9 | 119 |
| Forward (Red) | 71 | 5343 | 65.8 | 113 |
| Forward (Women) | 72 | 5343 | 70.1 | 126 |
Individual Hole Analysis
Signature Hole: 2nd Hole – 210 Yard Par 3 – Lincoln Park features a great grouping of par threes with the first one paying homage to the course’s roots. The downhill tee shot plays over a creek to a green that features a large bunker in front while in the back is a hill that the ruins of the former clubhouse rests on. It is a demanding but inspiring start to the course and a worthy precursor of the impressive variety of shots Lincoln Park will call for.
Best Par 3: 15th Hole – 170 Yards – The 15th features a clear and present danger with a water hazard fronting the green as well as a bunker deep left for those trying to bail out from the hazard, however its the steady left-to-right slope in the green that creates a subtle defense that can throw an extra stroke on your card if you aren't careful. The downhill descent to the green takes a good ½ club off of the distance but erring long is certainly better than short, so if you don’t make the proper adjustment you can still pick up your par. The last of the par threes at Lincoln Park, it is also your best chance at birdie so take dead aim at the flag and try to take advantage of it.
Best Par 4: 3rd Hole – 380 Yards – This was my favorite hole on the entire property. This top shelf par four plays from a slightly elevated tee box to a fairway that bends left and eventually out of sight with the trees lining the fairway blocking the player’s view. Because accuracy is key, driver doesn’t have to be the play off the tee so long as you carry the creek just beyond the front tee box and manage to find a flat spot before the fairway ascends uphill. The approach shot is where your merit really gets tested as the rise to the green is severe enough to require 1-2 extra clubs and a limited view of the putting surface you are hoping to land on. Shots that come up wanting will quickly be repelled by the steep face fronting the green and send balls tumbling back to a chipping area below. The hole isn’t overbearing from a length standpoint, but it will take two quality shots to find this green in regulation.
Best Par 5: 16th Hole – 522 Yards – If you play enough golf courses you will often appreciate seeing something unique and that is exactly what you get on the 16th at Lincoln Park. This par five plays straight towards a cell phone tower to a fairway that slopes substantially from left to right. Where things get increasingly interesting is with the second shot where players now see what lies ahead of them. The hole turns 90 degrees left at the end of the fairway and ascends to the green where the third shot must kick a field goal between the framing trees in order to find the green. However the bold player has the option to take a shortcut and hit a semi-blind shot over the trees flanking the left side enroute to the green perched on the opposite side. It is an exciting shot to attempt with the reward being great for the player that can execute.
Birdie Time: 18th Hole – 332 Yard Par 4 – While the opening hole at Lincoln Park may be the hardest, it compensates for it by offering the easiest hole to finish on. At just 332 yards from the back tees, this green is driveable if you are able to get your ball to the crest of the hill and skip it forward towards the green. A small grove of trees rests short and left of the green but nothing guards the open front to the putting surface, so whether you try to drive the green or stay short of it and chip it on, this is an easy green in regulation and a chance to take a stroke back from Old Man Par in order to get the last laugh on your way to the parking lot.
Bogey Beware: 1st Hole – 600 Yard Par 5 – So much for a friendly handshake to start the round! In the same vein as Spyglass Hill, Lincoln Park throws the longest hole on the course at you right off the bat. Unlike Spyglass Hill, this lengthy par five doesn’t play downhill so you are going to experience all of the yardage. After the tee shot, the fairway bends to the left as it carves its way through the alley of trees that shape each side of the hole before terminating at the bunkerless green. Going long on your approach shot will result in a dicey lie or lost ball as a grove of trees and underbrush create the background. Reaching this green in two is not a likely scenario, especially if you didn’t warm up first, so if you can simply do enough to avoid bogey it is a worthy accomplishment.
