Course 117: Four Oaks CC
Dracut, Mass.
Played: Nov. 10, 2023
Yardage: 6,268/4,348
Tier: Regional Chain
Rating: 3
Four Oaks sits atop the hills in Dracut, offering lovely views of the Merrimack Valley and even downtown Boston.
As a set of 18 holes, Four Oaks is a good option in the area, with a big caveat that I'll address at the end.
The layout requires accuracy off the tee, as woods, hazards, and out-of-bounds come into play on many holes. The course plays longer than the 6,200 yards on the scorecard, mainly because driver is taken out of the player's hand on the back.
The greens on the front are rather standard. The par fives allow for balls to roll up onto the green, providing a good scoring opportunity. However, the greens get dialed up on the back nine, as they have more size and slope. A player could easily hit a bunch of greens in regulation and walk away with a collection of three putts.
Standout holes:
The third hole feels like a dogleg from the tee due to a massive tree and a diagonal cross hazard. It offers options off the tee and a good uphill approach. One of my favorites on the course.
The seventh is another good hole; it almost feels like it should be the 18th given the green's proximity to the clubhouse. An uphill tee shot and approach to a raised green will engage any player tee to green.
The 10th is a beast. Cut down a few trees along the left, and it would be an even better hole.
11 is a picturesque hole that plays over a forced carry and then uphill to the green.
17 has the most extreme green on the course, with a severe dropoff. A good tee shot is required to have a birdie look.
If you're someone who loves to walk a golf course, Four Oaks is not going to scratch that itch. The distance between greens and tees is huge, especially on the back nine. Holes are set around unbuildable wetlands and among dense housing. It's distracting and eliminates the round's flow. It's tough to remember the order of holes because the rides are so long. Nothing feels truly connected.
The holes, as a set of 18, are pretty good. I just wish they were built a little closer together.
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