Hole 5

Oak Harbor Golf Club:

A Louisiana Coastal Treat.

The Gulf Coast of Louisiana is filled with backwater bays, tide marshes and lagoons. The largest of these is Lake Pontchartrain which separates New Orleans from the city of Slidell to the north. Oak Harbor Golf Club is located in the suburb of the Crescent City at the Oak Harbor Boulevard exit off I10. The layout is designed by Lee Schmidt, current President of the American Society of Golf Course Architects. Although many may be unfamiliar with his portfolio, Schmidt’s work as design associate with both Pete Dye and Jack Nicklaus is evident throughout this creative and challenging routing.

Opened in 1992 the coastal residential community of Oak Harbor has this local favorite at its heart. Built steps from the shoreline of the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain the layout is surrounded by canals and lagoons, with 13 holes presenting watery graves for errant shots. As would be expected from a disciple of Pete Dye, Schmidt uses mounding, buttress fronted green sites and sharp contours to stand in your way of par. The card stretches out to a stern 6900 yards from the back tees and our shot maker’s selections highlight some of the most unique holes at Oak Harbor.  

Course Stats:

Access: Public Play.

Location:

Slidell, Louisiana

Editor's Shot Maker's Picks: Oak Harbor

Feature Holes Descriptions:

The third is a deceptive shorter par 4 that usually plays into a stiff gulf breeze. The play is to favor the left side of the fairway with the drive, but be weary of the bunkers. One is a raised aiming bunker inside the 100 yard marker that hides the nasty steep faced bunker tucked into the front left of the green. The fifth is Schmidt’s rendering of the final short hole at the Ocean Course at Kiawah. A frightening tee shot with a long iron or hybrid must take the water down the left side out of play. Those bailing out right will find the massive green side bunker and face a daunting task of getting up and down for par.

Hole 16

The par 5 12th doesn’t strike fear with length, the challenge is from 50 yards in. Taking a rip at this raised green in 2 brings a tree and brush covered hump into play with anything hit a little too far left. The green falls away on all sides and the sheer drop at the back makes an up and down one of the most difficult shots on the routing. The par 3 15th is another heroic short hole that is all carry from tee to green. A mid to long iron must carry the buttress front and avoid the vast bunker complex short and left of the green. Be careful, anything long has a chance to run through the green and finding the water that wraps around the green.

Oak Harbor is a great place to get a feel of a terrific windswept collection of holes. A short drive from New Orleans the routing will test your game and leave you with a taste of creative design and deceptive challenge.

Contact:

Oak Harbor Golf Club
201 Oak Harbor Blvd.,
Slidell, Louisiana,
70458

985.646.0110

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