A 525-Acre Fazio Vision
Tom Fazio carved the course through dense Oklahoma woods and rolling hills, making Lake Kadashan both a strategic hazard and dramatic highlight. The result: pure, tranquil isolation just south of Broken Arrow.
The verdict
Wooded, Water-Swept Fazio Classic
The Golf Club of Oklahoma is Tom Fazio’s rolling, championship-caliber tribute to wooded Oklahoma hills and lakeside drama. A perennial state standout, it rewards precision and patience—especially in a memorable closing stretch beside the water.
Course DNA
Difficulty
85
Scenery82
Conditioning80
Shot Variety74
Walkability65
Green Complexity76
Wow Factor78
Design Quality76
At a glance
Quick facts
Lake in Play
Lake Kadashan features across multiple holes
Championship Pedigree
Hosted Ben Hogan Tour, 1991–1992
Estate-Scale Grounds
525 acres of hardwood forest and hills
Longest Hole
Par-5 13th at 587 yards
Most Memorable Stretch
Holes 16–18 play beside the lake
Notable Designer
Tom Fazio, acclaimed modern architect
State Ranking
#8 in Oklahoma per Golf Digest (2025–26)
The design
The architecture
The Golf Club of Oklahoma is archetypal Tom Fazio—spacious yet framed, deftly weaving through mature hardwoods, dramatic ridges, and the glinting presence of Lake Kadashan. Fazio’s routing leverages elevation changes and water carries to demand tactical decisions, punctuated by generous fairways that still penalize wayward shots. The balance of challenge and playability is anchored by sculpted green complexes and some of the most picturesque finishing holes in the state.
Fazio’s hand is evident in the bold use of Oklahoma’s natural topography—he lets the hills and hardwoods frame each hole with an eye for both challenge and aesthetic drama.
Defining features
- Routing through forested hills and around a centerpiece lake
- Multiple water hazards emphasize risk-reward shotmaking
- Long par 4s and par 5s balance with shorter, tactical holes
- Fazio’s signature, varied green contours test approach accuracy
- Closing stretch (16–18) lauded for excitement and drama
Hole by hole
Signature holes
Hole 16
Lakeside Gauntlet
PAR
4
YARDAGE
421
A mid-length par 4 framed by mature trees and the shimmering edge of Lake Kadashan, this opener to the closing trio demands both precision and courage. The tee shot is visually intimidating, with the lake lurking along the right and a narrow green awaiting an exacting approach.
Play it smart
Shape your tee ball left to right, keeping it safely away from the encroaching water, then hold your nerve for a mid-iron into a green flanked by bunkers and the lake.
Where it bites
Stray right off the tee or with your approach and you’ll flirt with Lake Kadashan—the big number lurks if you get greedy or too aggressive.
Course management
Shots to think about
Approach over water to a lake-side green (16th, 17th, 18th)
Favor a safe margin—even a small miss can become a big number near the lake.
Downhill tee shots amid trees
Prioritize positioning over power to set up manageable approaches.
Strong prevailing winds
Club up and keep shots low—wind skips can save or ruin a hole on the exposed finishing stretch.
Par-5 second shots with water lurking
Lay up to your best wedge distance unless the reward justifies the risk.
Approach play from uneven lies in fairway
Adjust stance and club, as ball-above/below-feet shots are common due to the rolling terrain.
Fazio-tiered green complexes
Stay below the hole—downhill putts here are quick and nerve-wracking.
On the day
What to expect
Conditions
Consistent, championship-level conditioning with manicured fairways and true greens.
Vibe
Exclusive, understated private club with a pure golf focus.
Dress code
Traditional private club attire—collared shirt, golf slacks or shorts, soft spikes.
Before you tee off
Your game plan
01
Sharpen Your Mid-Iron Play
Several demanding par 3s and approach shots to water-guarded greens require consistent trajectory and distance control.
02
Practice Recovery Shots
Missed fairways mean creative escape routes through trees or from pine straw—Fazio tempts you to attack, but discipline saves strokes.
03
Manage Your Aggression
The final stretch rewards patience and smart decision-making far more than heroics; play to your strengths as tension rises.
04
Hydrate for the Walk
The course's hills and distances are walkable but taxing—be ready for a true tournament test.
The lore
How it came to be
- 1983
Course opens, designed by Tom Fazio
- 1985
Debuts as a top-5 Oklahoma Golf Digest listing
- 1991
Hosts Ben Hogan Tulsa Open, developmental tour
- 1992
Hosts Ben Hogan Tulsa Open, second year running
- 2003
Returns to Oklahoma's top-5 in Golf Digest rankings
- 2023
Celebrates 40th anniversary as one of state’s elite privates
- 2025
#8 Best in State in Golf Digest rankings
Stories & legends
What makes it special
Ben Hogan Tour Years
For two years in the early ‘90s, the course became a site where up-and-coming tour pros battled on its championship layout. Local lore still circles around who thrived—and survived—the lakeside finish.
The Lake-Side Homeward Stretch
Players and reviewers consistently rave about 16–18, where bold shotmaking runs headlong into watery risk and nerves. Whether in a club championship or friendly match, these holes define the round.
For the group chat
Fun facts
1
Routed through 525 acres of mature Oklahoma hardwoods and rolling hills
2
Lake Kadashan was designed into the routing for strategy and beauty
3
Known for the pressure-packed 16–18 finish along the water
4
Hosted Ben Hogan Tour (now Korn Ferry) event in the early 90s
5
No major renovation since opening—preserves Fazio’s original vision
Build the trip
If you’re making an elite Tulsa golf trip
CourseAccessWhy it's on the listTrip
Forest Ridge Golf Club
Public
Best public play nearby, praised for conditions
Battle Creek Golf Club
Public
Solid, affordable local option for visitors
Southern Hills Country Club
Private
Oklahoma’s championship jewel; major-championship pedigree
Cedar Ridge Country Club
Private
Respected, challenging, used for competitions
Page Belcher Golf Course
Municipal
Value play; practical and accessible
South Tulsa or Broken Arrow corridor for central access
Course DNA
If You Like The Golf Club of Oklahoma
Courses with the most similar DNA profile — matched by deviation shape across all eight playing characteristics.
Strong DNA Match8.7
Sutton Bay
Agar, South DakotaWhy it matches: If The Golf Club of Oklahoma is your kind of course, Sutton Bay is worth a look because it a comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character.
Strong DNA Match8.0
LochenHeath Golf Club
Williamsburg, MichiganDifficulty
Why it matches: If The Golf Club of Oklahoma is your kind of course, LochenHeath Golf Club is worth a look because it brings a comparable level of challenge.
Strong DNA Match7.5
Vermont National Golf Club
South Burlington, VermontWhy it matches: What links these two? A comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character — a familiar feeling, expressed in Vermont National Golf Club's own setting.
Community Sentiment
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