Course Review: River Road Golf Course, by Jeffrey Reed
(September 2006)

Without a doubt, River Road Golf Course is one of the toughest public tracks in all of southwestern Ontario. Measuring 6,480 yards from the tips, River Road proves yet once again that length isn’t the only factor in building a challenging golf course.

River Road’s first nine holes opened in 1992, and 18 holes were first offered in August 1993. The newest of the three City of London-operated courses, River Road was built solely from profits stemming from London’s Fanshawe (est. 1958) and Thames Valley (est. 1924) golf courses. It was co-designed by Bill Fox, formerly Fanshawe’s head pro and then the City’s director of golf, and renowned golf course architect, Rene Muylaert, a Strathroy native who died in 2005.

Muylaert designed more than 50 Ontario golf courses, including London’s Echo Valley course. River Road emulates some of Echo Valley’s holes, in particular those with elevated tees.

When you tackle River Road, you had better enjoy those elevated tee blocks. This is one tough track, boasting some of the tightest fairways this side of Redtail Golf Course, the ultra-exclusive Port Stanley club. And while River Road’s doors are wide open to the public, its fairways are sure to shut out plenty a good score. I struggled all afternoon to break par – birdies are very tough to come by at River Road.

Resting in southeast London, River Road is the toughest of all three London munis, and in my opinion is in the best shape from tee to green. A fully automated irrigation system was completed in fall 2004. Middle tees measure 6,057 yards, and it plays 5,386 from the forward tees. A par-72 track, River Road is unique in that it includes six par-5s, six par-4s and six par-3s – almost every hole requiring a deadly accurate tee shot.

On this beautiful late-summer afternoon, I was fortunate to play with a partner who was familiar with River Road’s terrain: 12-year-old Michel Kim, who incidently claimed the Fanshawe bantam boys’ title this season. Kim has the game to stripe the fairways at River Road, and off the tee he put me to shame. For me, it was an afternoon of army golf – left, right, left, right – rescued by wedges and a hot flat stick. 

The greens at River Road are surprisingly quick, and are not for the faint of heart: deceiving undulation can ruin a round in a heartbeat. The real beauty of River Road is seen on the back nine, where the fairways are extremely tight, but well-placed bunkers and a variety of natural hazards make each and every hole a challenge.

No. 1 at River Road is a 325-yard par-4, rated the second easiest hole on the course next to the 134-yard par-3 14th. This allows you to get off to a good start before the real danger begins. No. 2 is a long par-4, 478 yards from an elevated tee, with a water hazard running along the left side, and a tricky green sloping back to front. No. 3 is a very difficult hole, a par-4, 452-yarder guarded by a marsh running along the left side ready to grab errant tee shots.
River Road’s No. 4 is the first par-3 on the menu, a 171-yard challenge with a large green – a common element at River Road. Thank goodness the greens were receptive to throwing darts on this day, or else it could have been a very long afternoon. In fact, with parts of the course on flood plain owned by the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority, fairways were quite soft, too. If you’re not used to soft fairways, you had better prepare for this type of play before tackling River Road. Those who play at Caradoc Sands in Strathroy can relate to this predicament.

The fifth hole is rated River Road’s toughest. Measuring 567 yards, No. 5 boasts both beauty and brawn. Absolute pinpoint accuracy off the tees is required here. I drew my drive too far left, and was forced to hit an 8-iron from the No. 7 fairway over a tall tree line and onto No. 5 fairway. Next time, it’s a 3-wood from the tee. (I could blame my choice of club on being in the interest of research, but I won’t: it was plain stupidity). Fronting No. 5 green is a water hazard, but mere mortals are forced to lay up for a wedge on their third shot anyways, especially those morons who miss the fairway with their tee shot.

Following the 206-yard par-3 6th, and 552-yard par-5 7th, No. 8 provides a good par-3 challenge from 181 yards. Beware water hazard on the right, and a sloping green that, thankfully, provides a large surface for a safe tee shot. The front nine, out at 36, finishes with a 385-yard par-4 made difficult only by a series of mounds to the right of the green.

The back nine adventure begins with a highly elevated tee onto a very difficult green at the 202-yard par-3 10th. A wooded area to the left can spoil your back nine from the get go. The top-notch clubhouse includes a covered deck which overlooks the 10th. Head professional Andy Shaw and assistant pro Todd Allen oversee a tidy, fully-stocked pro shop, too.

No. 11 is one of my favourite holes – a classic risk-reward hole. A demanding dogleg left, it measures 473 yards and demands a perfect long-iron or hybrid off the tee – or a nice little 3-wood draw. A large forested area takes driver out of your hand, unless you hit a high, long draw that lands as soft as butterfly feet. Mine didn’t: it carried the tree line and rolled to the right side of the fairway where an extensive forested awaited me. Making this hole even more difficult (and ranked as the 5th toughest) is a tree in the middle of the fairway which can gobble up your approach shot.

Following the 365-yard 12th is a quirky par-5 13th hole. It measures 500 yards, and features a protected wetland which makes it almost impossible to go for the green on your second shot. Alas, my risky Tin Cup-style of play paid off, as I carried the massive hazard on my approach. In fact, even if you do lay up for your third, there’s still a lengthy approach waiting for you. Kim played this shot beautifully with a little advice from the wily veteran, and knocked his third onto the fringe despite resting along the bank of the wetland. Because the wetland is protected, and filters groundwater from a former landfill site before it enters the Thames River, it can’t be altered.

The back nine at River Road is a collection of some of the toughest holes of any public course in this area. The green at the par-3, 134-yard 14th is very quick. No. 15 is a 380-yard par-4 dogleg right. No. 16, a 174-yard par-3 tester, is like many of the River Road holes in that it features a very narrow fairway. The course sees you in at 36, finishing with the par-5, 580-yard 17th and par-4, 355-yard 18th.

Shaw and Allen have their hands full. Besides overseeing a well-operated public course, Shaw assists Allen who is the new Junior Tyson Tour convener. As well, Shaw heads up the new Golf and Recreational Club Management course at Fanshawe College, where he coaches the college golf team.

River Road has a lot to offer golfers of every level. It’s a classic risk-reward golf course with top-notch conditions, beautiful surroundings and friendly staff.

River Road GC
London, Ont.
519-661-4450
Green Fees:
$32 weekdays, $36 weekends and holidays
www.london.ca/recreation/golf/rroad.htm