![This stone sign somewhat resembles the black monolith in "2001: A Space Odyssey."](http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/image_content_width/hash/8e/57/8e572775a2ef7b40679c25ea46c6692b.jpg?itok=hxUKNZ2D "This stone sign somewhat resembles the black monolith in "2001: A Space Odyssey."")
At River Oaks Golf Course the 18th hole is slightly straight to the putting green. As on most, if not all, golf courses, golfers who play the 18th holes will be heading toward the clubhouses. (River Oaks Golf Course is at 1 Park Avenue in Calumet City, Ill.)
From the rear, blue teeing ground, the distance to the putting green is 376 yards. Three hundred seventy-one yards is the distance from the middle, white teeing ground. Three hundred sixty-four yards is the distance from the front, red teeing ground. This hole has a #3, course hole handicap.
Near this hole’s teeing grounds, there is a high fence on the right side to prevent errant golf balls from flying into a condominium’s parking lot. I estimate this fence’s length along the ground to be at least 75-100 feet. I estimate this fence’s height to be at least 30 feet.
Golfers who face north toward the putting green will see the slight, right dogleg that begins approximately 25-50 yards from the putting green. Otherwise, the fairway is straight as one of Robin Hood’s arrows. This fairway is generally level.
An extensive, tree line is along the fairway’s, left side. This line extends from approximately 25 yards from the teeing grounds to 75 yards from the putting green. The tree line on the right side also extends from approximately 25 yards from the putting green, but it ends at approximately 150 yards from the putting green because at this point a lateral water hazard begins. The water hazard has a length of 75 feet-150 feet and a width of approximately 50 feet-75 feet at its widest point. In season, cattails surround its borders.
From the teeing grounds, if golfers can slam their drives down the fairway’s center for at least 240 yards, they will land their balls in an area where the fairway widens, and the trees on both sides are widely-spaced. Proceeding toward the putting green, the fairway becomes wider until golfers reach the slight, right dogleg. At that point, a medium size sand bunker is on the putting green’s, left front side.
River Oaks Golf Course’s, final putting green is medium size. It has several breaks which are deceptive. These are appropriate, final challenges for a golf course that is more difficult than most golf courses in the Chicago-land area.
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