Golf - Public Course · 18 Holes · Par 72
Baird
Website
· Locate This Course
Review of Shady Oaks Golf Course - Baird, Texas
We have played a number of what we call "country courses" (courses away from the hustle and bustle of the major cities) and we never know what we’re going to get. It could be a cow pasture where you can’t tell the greens from the fairways or you can’t even find the fairways or it might be a hidden gem, which is what we found at Shady Oaks Golf Course in Baird, which is about 17 miles east of Abilene.
Shady Oaks is home to very good conditions, interesting holes, friendly folks, and an opportunity to enjoy a relaxing, fun, and low scoring round at an excellent value – what a pleasant surprise. Plus, Shady Oaks has some nice touches like a couple holes where you can stuff your pockets with free peanuts and some holes that have two sets of ball washers and sidewalks marked with the 100, 150, and 200 yards.
West Texas is well known for its flat terrain, arid conditions, wind, and lack of water – all of which we were expecting when we set off to play Shady Oaks Golf Course. We got the wind but we also got some uphill and downhill shots (albeit not major elevation changes, but we are in West Texas) including an elevated tee box with a view for what seems like hundreds of miles, seven lakes that can come into play, very smooth Bent grass greens, and some better than average conditions.
The harsh Texas winter, drought conditions, and record breaking heat had impacted the normally lush fairways and roughs at Shady Oaks, but we were still impressed with the overall conditions. Plus the course is very well maintained and landscaped with a variety of trees and lots of bottle brush or scotch brooms. Ron Hilburn, the Shady Oaks General Manager, told us that the harsh weather coupled with some recent mechanical problems has put the course in the worst condition it has ever been in – wow, we would love to play it again when it’s back in shape! We played a lot of much more expensive courses that were in worse condition thanks to Mother Nature.
With four sets of tee boxes and yardages ranging from 2419 to 6245 yards, Shady Oaks is short for most golfers and there are holes where you might want to leave the driver in the bag or bring out the big boy and try to drive the green. The front nine is really short at 2877 yards from the tips but it’s a par 34 with 3 par 3’s and one par 5 – and it’s a little easier than the back meaning this is your opportunity for several pars and birdies!
Most of the holes are fairly traditional and straightforward with "what you see is what you get" – which in most cases is plenty of trees, water on 8 holes, some minor uphill and downhill shots, some sharp dog legs, 23 bunkers, a few challenging green complexes, and some fun holes. For example:
All of the fairways are tee lined with a variety of different types of trees but the good news is that if you get under the trees you’ll mostly likely find your ball and be able to get back to the fairway. Some of the fairways are side by side and if you really spray the ball and get through the trees you’re in another fairway with an opportunity to recover. The fairways are ample and the rough is wide and very playable. As mentioned earlier, the fairways were in surprisingly good condition, particularly on the front nine.
The Bent grass greens range in size from relatively small to huge and all different shapes from small ovals to long and skinny oblongs. Most of the greens have a huge fringe that is smooth and puttable. The Shady Oak Golf Course greens were in good condition, held the ball well, and ran true and at a good speed of between 9 and 10. But the breaks are very subtle and at times difficult to read – study them from all angles and Ron says the best way to read them is to use a plumb bob technique. The back nine greens seemed a lot tougher with more slope, a couple spines, and more contour.
The bunkers are slowly being redone over the next couple of years and will be filled with soft white fluffy sand – I found a couple that had been redone and they are great. I also found some that hadn’t been redone and they are tough with firm hard dark sand. The bunkers at Shady Oaks range in size from small to huge and treacherous and some are steep and deep with a nasty face that you don’t want to be up against.
Bottom line – Shady Oaks is a must play if you’re in the area – fair, fun, a heck of a deal, and good conditions.
Tee Box | Yardage | Rating | Slope |
---|---|---|---|
Blue | 6,245 | 70.4 | 120 |
White | 5,791 | 68.3 | 117 |
Red | 5,337 | 663.0 | 108 |
Approximate Weekend
Rates: $20.00 to $38.00
The clubhouse is dated (the course opened in the 60’s) but the carts are newer and in good shape. The Pro Shop has some of the basics only and the grill serves some good food at very affordable prices. The range and putting green are adequate. Everyone, from the chef to the head pro to the maintenance staff to the members is very friendly and helpful.
Here's How Texas Outside Determines the Scorecard RatingThe Texas Outside rating scale ranges from 1 to 10 – a perfect 10 course would be something like this: links along a cliff overlooking the Pacific ocean and bordered by tall trees; lush fairways on rolling hills with lots of natural hazards; water (which is crystal clear) on most of the holes; immaculate greens (but they are undulating and tough); lots of variety and character (each hole is completely different and includes blind shots, elevation changes, doglegs, and significant challenges); perfectly manicured traps with the whitest and prettiest sand you’ve ever seen; a nice club house with great food and a 19th hole; a GPS; plenty of beverage carts or your own cooler and ice; and it only costs $40 bucks! What this means is that you probably won’t find any 10s in Texas – try Cabo San Lucas, Pebble Beach, or some of the Hawaii courses!
All of the above determines the overall score for the golf course. In other words, we like courses that are pretty, fun, very challenging with a lot of variety, and fairways and greens in excellent condition – all for $40. We also tend to play the courses that are affordable for the masses, which means in the $30 to $80 range. We rate hard and we haven’t found a 10 in Texas yet – don’t worry we haven’t given up and we’re still looking.
|