Driving down Lake Park Road to the clubhouse you can see the fairways are inviting. Even from a distance the course looks golfer friendly.
Managed by Evergreen Alliance Golf, Lake Park Golf Club is a links-style par-70 course, with a length of 6,135 yards from the tips (there are three sets of tees) and 4,960 from the front tees.
“ Lake Park was renovated in 1996 with Lanny Wadkins as a consultant,” says Mark Ruhga, former PGA Golf Professional and General Manager of Lake Park Golf Club. Wadkins is currently a PGA Champions Tour player and CBS Golf Analyst.
“ The fairways are 419 Bermuda and the greens are Tif Dwarf Bermuda,” said Ruhga, “selected for their durability, putting quality, and suitability to our climate. We overseed the greens and tees with winter rye grass in the fall.”
Lake Park has a unique and plentiful water source. It is located next to the dam of Lewisville Lake. According to Ruhga, “Water is drawn from the lake and held in our irrigation pond on the 17th hole.”
The pond also holds the ball from my first shot from the tee on number 17, the course signature hole, which is a par-4, 350 yards from the back tee.
When I asked Mark why the 17th was given this designation, he explained, “Hole number 17 is a classic risk/reward hole. Water stretches down the entire right side of the fairway. Most players will benefit from hitting an iron into the fairway, but the longer hitters can hit driver over the lake directly toward the green, occasionally reaching the green.”
My partner for the round that day was my wife, Kathy. She says her favorite hole is the 115 yard par-3 16th. She described it the same as Ruhga when I asked him if he had a favorite, other than number 17.
He said, “I personally enjoy the par-3 16th. It is not a long hole, but trouble surrounds the green in the form of out of bounds, a greenside bunker, and Lake Lewisville. It also provides one the best views on the course.”
Kathy’s tee shot landed on the green during this round and she proceeded to par the hole, which I am sure did not influence her selection of number 16 as her favorite. She has done it again since then.
Lake Park Golf Club has completed significant renovations and is a full service golf course with a stocked pro shop, a lighted driving range, and restaurant. In fact, when you leave the green on number 8 and are having hunger pangs, you can order food from the clubhouse at the speaker stand located on the cart path to the number 9 tee boxes. Your order will be ready when you make the turn.
If you are not good at judging the distance of a shot, for an additional deposit, you can rely on the ProLink GPS system installed in every cart.
Fees are reasonable and you can sign up for email golf specials on the Lake Park Golf Club Web site at www.lakeparkgc.com. A real value, golfers can take advantage of the season pass and save on green fees.
For more information and tee times call the clubhouse at 972-219-5661. Tee times are most flexible Monday through Wednesday, but if you want tee times Thursday through Sunday, call well in advance, as Lake Park is very popular with local golfers.
Collared shirts are preferred, but sleeves are required. Alternative spikes are required.
Lake Park Golf Club is located at 6 Lake Park Road in Lewisville. Exit I 35 E on FM 407 and go east.
Once you have played Lake Park and discover what a real pleasure this course is, you will be back, often.
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