Lebanon's Royal Oaks Golf Club falls short in 'country club' promise, reader says

Unfortunately, I've played Royal Oaks Golf Club in Lebanon, Pa., several times, each time believing the conditions would have to be better than the last.

The practice putting green is the first giveaway, furry and bumpy. Any putt over four feet will begin to bounce within a foot after contact. Although the golf course greens are not as bad, they too are slow, bumpy and inconsistent.

For a course that touts itself as a "country club" experience, they have come up way short. Although the course layout is quite interesting and offers a nice variety of holes, the conditioning that will keep me away until it is vastly improved.

Royal Oaks also must contend with the ever-present Canadian-geese population. A difficult proposition but a necessity. Putting through a morass of goose droppings or on a green with umpteen holes resulting from geese digging for grubs is unacceptable.

There are plenty of other great public tracks in the Hershey/Lebanon area to choose from, (see Wren Dale, Iron Valley, Dauphin Highlands). Be sure you see a new, good review posted for Royal Oaks before teeing it up there.

Ratings
Overall: 2
Design: 4
Service: 3
Play it again? No

Steve Wilson

February 14, 2007

Any opinions expressed above are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of the management.