Classical Golf Adventures
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River Ridge Golf Club
Oxnard, California
Part 1
by Ed Stone
Playing River Ridge-East golf course is an excellent experience, as
well as a very big challenge. Otto Kanny is the general manager of this
club and never
will you meet a person with more passion for his facility
than he. I had the opportunity to play a round with this fine gentleman
recently.
River Ridge accommodates golfers of all skill levels by offering
four sets of tees ranging from 5,362 yards to 6,777 yards. The course
originally opened in 1986 however, the final development and layout came
in 1994 when the course underwent a major renovation. Five different
sets of tees were laid out to create the design of the existing River
Ridge-East golf layout in Oxnard, California, some 60 miles north of
Los Angles. Working backwards to set the tees and distances gives everyone
a chance of getting to the greens in regulation. Using the tee distances
to create this beautiful course has only enhanced this popular layout
originally designed by Billy Bell Jr.
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This beautiful 18-hole layout is built on 230 acres of gently rolling terrain with much of it over a landfill and offering some very interesting antidotes - like the whale buried under the 16 green. The signature hole is number 14, which is a 166-yard (white tees), par three with a large island green. The green pretty much occupies the island and allows for very little grass to catch shots that do not stay on the green. To the left of number 9 tee is the practice facility for the Dallas Cowboys when they call this city home during July and August of each year (the practices are open to the public too!). Lastly, the number 12 and 14 holes offer two sets of tees for the ladies…with a 50-yard difference.
Eight acres of water certainly provides any golfer with the challenge of taking the long shot or playing it safe and not risking a lost ball in the drink. I would be remiss if I did not brag on the magnificent greens. They are perfect and putt true to form.River Ridge is constructing an additional 18 holes, River Ridge-West, with the first 9 holes scheduled to open in August 2004 and the final 9 holes to open in August 2005. Nine of the new holes will provide vistas of the Topa Topa Mountains to the west. The new course will also enjoy the winds from the Pacific Ocean that is less than five miles from River Ridge.
Click on selected photos for expanded view.
Images copryrighted CGA
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