Far Oaks Golf Club

The course is in very good condition. I would highly recommend playing this course, if the pace of play improved. There was one group that seemed to hold up the rest of the players behind them. They did not let any groups play thru. In fact on the back nine my playing partner and I both skipped 2 holes to get in front of the slow group. I did inform the pro shop that there was one group of 4 golfers that was slowing everyone behind them.

The greens were a little chewed up, a couple of putts ran off line . Fixing divots is apparently too difficult for some golfers !! Teed off at 3:45 (twosome) with little fear of running out of daylight. . We finished 18 around 7:40, not a whole lot of light left . Fairways were in good shape, ran fast , leaving shorter approach shots. Bunkers not maintained , seems to be a trend . Overall not bad for $35 a piece , but regular rates a little high .

This course is now tied for the 2nd most expensive weekend morning rate in the St. Louis Metro area. When I played this course on July 4th, the price was $69. On August 13, the price was $84. An increase of 22%. The bad news, the course conditions have slipped dramatically.

You have so many better upscale course options in the St. Louis metro area – at a better price. Spencer T. Olin ($58), Annbriar ($70) – the best course in the St. Lous metro area and Gateway National at the same price. Gateway National just went through extensive flooding and is in much, much better shape than Far Oaks.

I’m about to give you a rundown of the course conditions – which is not pretty. However, the course wants to charge you $84 for this.

Slow play. We had two groups on each tee for most of the round. We didn’t tee off until 15 minutes after our scheduled tee time. This should have given the course a clue there was a problem. I saw numerous course rangers but the ranger we met on hole 11 could care less about the problem. The group in front of us called the course about the issue – nothing was done about it.

Most of the tees are a brownish color and have large clumps of crabgrass all over them. The ones that stand out as the worst tees were holes 2, 3, 8, 10, 11, 12.

Almost every green had some stress around the fringes and the rough nearby. Holes 2, 3, 6, 11, 13 & 17 the worst.

The greens on 8, 11 & 17 were really stressed and starting to turn brown. The front left of hole 13 had a section that was nothing but dirt and sand.

The fairways were not the best either. Holes 3, 5 and 10 really had some bad sections.

Some greens looked like they had been recently aerated. Hole 10 with some very small aeration holes. Hole 17 you could easily see the recovered aeration holes on this green in August.

The fairway bunker on the left side of hole 3. Littered with weeds in the bunker. Totally unacceptable.

The bridge getting to hole 6 green, covered with overgrown weeds.

No yardage markers on the par 3, 6th hole.

Hole 12 – brush and weeds starting to block the view of the hole from the tee.

Hole 6 & 14 – the ditch in front of the greens have high brush and weeds blocking the view of the green.

About the only positive things to say about Far Oaks is they have great new carts and the individuals behind the counter and the snack bar were very pleasant.

Far Oaks was my #2 favorite course in the St. louis metro area. How things have really slipped for this course. You should avoid this course. So many better options than Far Oaks which I outlined in the beginning of my review.

The course seemed to be a little extra challenging with the heat and the tee boxes moved back. I didn't play he best but the course was in great shape! Even after the downpour rain we had come through a day prior, we were still off the paths with the carts. The greens were rolling at a good pace. All around, even though I played like crap, it was a good time on the course.

Teed off on time at 950 am and caught up to the group ahead of us on #3, not a great start. Ended up playing through them and finishing the front 9 with the group ahead of us. The back 9 is where everything came to a standstill. Sat around on EVERY tee box for at least 7-10 minutes and then another 5 minutes on every shot after that. No Marshall to be seen at any point during the round. I wouldn’t play here unless you enjoy paying $85 a round for an average course and waiting around in your cart.

Some repairs ongoing on course, otherwise in nice shape. Greens rolled nicely. Pace of play came to a screeching halt on the back 9. No course Marshall to be seen after #4.

Excellent pace of play, in general course was in good condition.

Even better this time around. Greens were excellent. Bunkers were great. Love the course layout. Every hole has a unique feel so you don’t get bored with the same thing.

I always love playing here. A few challenging holes, but for the most part very playable for anyone. Everything was in great shape.