Jimmie Austin Golf Club At The University of Oklahoma
Jimmie Austin Golf Club At The University of Oklahoma
1 Par Drive
Norman, OK 73019-3012
United States
Telephone
Overview
Originally designed by Perry Maxwell and opened a year before his death in 1952, this home to the University of Oklahoma golf team has received several modern-day touch-ups. The latest was in 2017 by architect Tripp Davis, an OU grad and member of the 1989 National Championship golf team. Davis relocated tee boxes, shifted three fairways significantly, relocated five greens, lengthened the courses and redesigned all bunkers. He also added a four-hole Short Course.
About
Awards
Ranking history:
Best in State: Ranked for the first time in 2021-'22 (6th).
Previous ranking: 6th.
2025-'26 ranking: 5th.
America's Greatest College Courses: 13th (2023).
Panelists
Ratings from our panel of 1,900 course-ranking panelists
100 GREATEST/BEST IN STATE SCORES
Shot Options
Character
Challenge
Layout Variety
Fun
Aesthetics
Conditioning
Reviews
Review
“The Jimmie Austin Golf Club is the University of Oklahoma's golf facility and epitomizes a top collegiate golf course. Designed by Perry Maxwell, Jimmie Austin GC has been reworked twice since its 1951 debut, by Robert Cupp in 1996 and again by graduate Tripp Davis in 2017. The most recent renovations focused on a return to the style envisioned by Maxwell and maintaining relevancy with the modern game's focus on power and length, especially at the college level. The back tees are a reasonable 7,128 yards with tournament tees at a stout 7,452. Rated at 76.5 with a slope of 141, Jimmie Austin GC is a very fair test of golf from the normal tips. Tee shots are more open from forward tees and fairway bunkers are well-placed to catch wayward shots from any tee box. Many tee shots from the back tees have trees pinching inwards placing a premium on accuracy and ball flight. Copious sparse wood, waste, and natural areas are not ball thieves but will certainly make par much more difficult. Water is rarely in play except on the long par 5 13th where an average tee shot forces a layup in front of a creek and a subsequent long third or a daring second over the creek bringing the potential for a big number into play. The course layout is nicely varied with a good mix of straight (5), dogleg left (5) and dogleg right (4) holes forcing players to use various ball flights to minimize approach distances. Although the greens are well-bunkered, most holes allow both lofted and running access to at least some part of the green, except for 12 and 18 which require a high shot into the green. Built on a fairly flat piece of land, all but the uphill 4th and downhill 11th play their yardage with minimal elevation changes. There is a very good blend of hole lengths with a mix of yardages across the par 3s and par 4s. The par 5s are all quite long but shape and proper ball flight do provide some variety of length. Most days, there is a stiff breeze which can dramatically affect the length of each hole making some play multiple clubs differently than the indicated yardage. Jimmie Austin GC is a very attractive parkland course meandering through lightly wooded fields. Natural areas complement the routing and make the course appear to be gently placed on the land rather than carved out of the topography. There is no development to mar the feeling of a solitary golfing experience. The conditions at Jimmie Austin GC are exemplary with firm, quick greens that can easily be ramped up under competitive events. Fairways are fast and consistently offer good lies with spongy rough punishing balls off the optimal surfaces. Bunkers are consistently well-sanded and offer the appropriate, but not excessive, level of punishment. Jimmie Austin GC is a tremendously fair and fun course to play. A variety of distance options will allow all golfer levels to find a set of tees commensurate with their ability level. Good shots are rewarded while bad ones are punished but not too severely making par possible in most instances. That said, it is easy to envision a very stern test when played from the tournament tees with longer rough and faster greens. JAGC is an excellent college golf course, fun for the "normal" golfer while maintaining the ability to challenge top collegiate players."
Read More2023
Review
“Jimmie Austin is among the nation's best college courses, probably just in the second tier. The course is memorable, challenging, and has great variety, and uses its rolling terrain very well. Not as special Karsten Creek (to which it will inevitably always be compared), but it's in the ballpark."
Read More2022
