Ain't no sunshine

The sun never came out today, it was great because it didn't rain either.

I started out with a bang, hitting 3-18 hole courses by noon.

I planned ahead because I had so much time last time, getting better directions, course maps.

Oklahoma City (Edmond), OK- Arcadia Lake Blue:It's 6$ weekdays to enter this park, if not for having 2 courses now it'd hardly be worth that high an entry fee, due to the courses being so short and odd, but it was a lot of fun, more so than most poorly designed, overgrown old courses. Small cement tees (except for like 2 holes that just had dirt for some reason), holes marked with heavy metal #'ed signs, no lengths or navigational help so a MAP is very helpful. One of the most peculiar layouts ever, with all holes under 300' it seems, most near 200', so tight and such sharp doglegs it can be tough. The rough is ROUGH do not throw off the fairway, poison ivy, oak AND sumac, thorns, bugs are very common. Annoyingly tough for a big-arm sometimes, forcing me to actually throw grenades and thumbers off the tee to avoid going long. Many blind shots, walking ahead and using spotters is crucial. The land is very similar to Hudson Mills, with high grass lining fairways when not in the woods, edges of woods so thick you can bounce back into fairways off it. Cedar/velcro trees like Keriakes in play on many holes too. All holes are within putter range, driver only needed for overhand and sidearm. Minor elevation changes and many different types of plants, terrain.

Oklahoma City (Edmond), OK- Arcadia Lake Red:Much of the same as the Blue course, very lefty friendly and more sharp doglegs. Distances are listed for this course. It begins 300' from Blue and follows a similar path throughout the park, with 7 being near Blue's 8 and 12 being near Blue's 13, etc. Bring your bag of trick shots, have patience, WEAR LONG PANTS if you can. I am glad I wore Gore-Tex socks. I got covered in those sharp thorn balls that even stick to your skin when you try to pick them off. Grass at both courses was not too well marked, maybe 2 weeks since last mowing.

Edmond, OK- Tye F. Cunningham:A more realistic, typical golf shot course about 8 miles from Arcadia Lake. Cement tees, only 1 tee sign (heavy vandalism?) and no map, so can be hard to navigate without one but I had one from online...well maintained, with a mix of open fairways throwing around trees and some tight woods holes. It has enough long holes to stretch the arm, but nothing very long. Blind, you must walk up most of the fairway on most holes to get a clue where to throw. Mostly solid design testing all shots, well balanced and decently fair with the rough and punishment.

Oklahoma City, OK- Dolese Youth:Too many blind shots over obstructions to get a decent rating, seems very old and overgrown, neglected yet well-used. Example of how most courses don't really improve with age after a certain amount of time. Begins and ends in a flat park like area with spaced out trees, with most of the course being in and out of the thick woods, with ivy/tall grass/thorns. Reviews warned heavily of ivy, but not as bad as most courses back home, I only landed in it once but sadly it was with my main putter on #11 practically under the basket...One hole in particular is just a joke, add to that a few that are beyond excusable, it kills the course overall in terms of design and play. It is less than 150', throwing over cut back saplings to the woods on the right, but there's like NO shot into it, only through a walking path to the pin thinner than I am, or up above and crash down in and rely on luck. A few too many blocked fairways by tall overgrown crap in the way from the original design. Makes it tough to navigate (almost no signs, some holes are a long aimless walk). Maps available online.

[Kyle Jacob Smalling]

Sounds like they need some mowers.

And its not good to be allergic to poison ivy.

I'm glad I'm not

[Aaronv]

Did you go to Woodson Park or Will Rogers yet? You will need a guide through Woodson. Or the map on okc.gov parks is current. Let me know if you need help.