Name: Royal Oaks Country Club
Address: 8917 NE Fourth Plain Blvd, Vancouver, Washington, 98662, United States
Telephone: 360-256-1250

Profile

Royal Oaks Country Club – Vancouver’s Historic Tree-Lined Championship Course

Founded in 1945, Royal Oaks Country Club, nestled at 8917 NE Fourth Plain Blvd in Vancouver, WA, is one of the region’s most revered private golf courses. Frequently ranked among Washington’s top five courses, it offers an 18-hole championship layout distinguished by towering trees, fast greens, and a storied tournament history—including Tiger Woods’s victory in the 1994 PNGA Amateur .

Club & Course Highlights

18-hole Championship Layout with five tee options per hole, extending to over 7,000 yards from the back tees.
Course Rating & Slope: Approximately 74+ rating and 138 slope from Black tees .
Design & Conditions: Tree-lined fairways and rapid, intricately contoured greens maintained to elite standards with all-season drainage .
Historical Prestige: Host of the prestigious Royal Oaks Invitational (since 1957) and winner of top rankings in Golf Digest’s 2020–21 listings .

Royal Oaks Country Club – Hole-by-Hole Guide (Black Tees, Par 72, 7,017 yards)

Hole	Par	Yards	Hcp	Breakdown
1 – “Early Warning”	4	368	11	Tee shot must favor left side—right misses bring trouble. The green slopes right-to-left.
2 – “Slicers Folly”	5	513	13	Long hitters can reach green in two. Trees right and a smallbunkered green punish miscalculations.
3 – “Burnt Bridge”	4	418	5	Creek guards left fairway. Avoid back half of green—it’s severely sloped.
4 – “Straight Arrow”	4	445	1	Demands distance and straightness from tee. Creek left, bunker right—precision into a small green.
5 – “Waterloo”	3	160	15	Short par‑3 with tiered green—choose landing level wisely for birdie.
6 – “Longworth”	5	535	9	Favor the right side off tee and second shot. Reachable for long hitters; roll-up approach possible.
7 – “Looks Easy”	4	318	17	Short tee shot using iron. Must hit fairway—green is well‑bunkered.
8 – “The Chute”	3	197	7	Uphill par-3 playing longer than yardage suggests. Greens are two-tiered—stay below the pin.
9 – “Lonely Apple”	4	427	3	Tough dogleg left with OB left. Sloping green makes par a strong score.
10 – “Acorn Alley”	4	315	18	Iron off the tee, then precise mid-shot to a green sloping back-to-front. Birdies possible.
11 – “The Grandy”	4	431	8	Long straight hole; plateau fairway rewards distance—but trees right test accuracy.
12 – “The Pond”	3	188	14	Tee shot over new pond. Wind swirling around green—club choice and execution matter.
13 – “The Monster”	5	555	16	Demanding three-shot par-5. Second shot must stay left; fairway bunker is ideal target.
14 – “Gully”	4	451	2	Long par-4 with tight landing zone. Right-side trees and deep front-left bunker guard green.
15 – “Forty Firs”	5	527	10	Favors a left-tee drive to set up easier second shot. Straight play gives mid-iron to flat green.
16 – “Sweet Sixteen”	3	217	12	Long par‑3 protected by front-left/right bunkers. Hitting green is a strong score.
17 – “Gopher Broke”	4	420	6	Favor left-to-right line to avoid left fairway trap. Green is flanked by bunkers.
18 – “Headin’ Home”	4	415	4	Narrow tree tunnel off tee. Bunkers protect green front-left and front-right; green slopes back-to-front.

Strategic Summary

Opening Holes (1–4): Engage precision early—fairway position dictates success.
Mid-Round Par-Threes (5, 8, 12, 16): Varying lengths and tiers demand exact iron shots.
Signature Challenges (3, 4, 13, 14): Creek, bunkers, water hazards, and strategic bail zones define risk-reward play.
Closing Stretch (15–18): Mix of length and tight accuracy to end round—placement off tee is crucial.

Practice, Pro Support & Amenities

Practice Facilities: Robust setup includes a full driving range, short-game area, and putting greens .
Player Development: Professional instruction through GolfForever-certified trainers and the Scholar–Athlete youth mentorship program .
Clubhouse & Events: Elegant spaces cater to dining, weddings, corporate meetings, and social events for members and guests .

Why Royal Oaks Stands Apart

Championship Challenge: Tight tree-lined corridors and complex green design demand accuracy, strategy, and deft short-game execution—earning praise from a scratch player who rated it “a great test of golf” .
Elite Yet Inclusive: With five tee boxes, the course challenges low handicaps and makes golf approachable for all skill levels .
Tournament-Level Heritage: Far more than local competitions, the ROIT ranks among the top amateur tournaments in the Pacific Northwest, awarding World Amateur ranking points .
Scholarship & Youth Development: The school-linked caddie and scholar programs foster academic and athletic growth, mentoring future players through structured instruction ().

Community & Club Culture

Royal Oak Country Club in Vancouver fosters a strong culture of community and excellence. From hosting junior scholarship programs to sustaining a high-caliber caddie corps—several of whom earned Evans Scholarships—the club prioritizes character, education, and opportunity alongside its golf pedigree . Members regularly engage with the club through leagues, member–guest events, and social mixers throughout the season.

Final Swing

Whether you’re competing at the Royal Oaks Invitational, sharpening your short game on fast greens, or enjoying banquet evenings in the clubhouse, Royal Oaks Country Club embodies the Pacific Northwest’s love for premier golf—balanced with community, tradition, and youth engagement. It’s a top-tier private club, but its impact and presence ripple through the broader Northwest golf fabric.

This course is part of the Washington Golf Directory’s collection of Washington State private golf courses and member-only clubs. Alongside public courses, disc golf spots, and driving ranges, we’re highlighting the places where golfers across the state play, practice, and build community—all year long.