Playing Surrey Hills: What Oklahoma City Golfers Should Know About This Public Course

This guide covers Surrey Hills Golf Course as a municipal option in Oklahoma City's public golf landscape, examining its role among city courses, what to expect on the ground, and how it compares to alternatives for different player profiles. After reading, you'll understand whether Surrey Hills fits your game, what rates to expect, and how it positions itself against nearby public tracks.

The Course in Context

Surrey Hills occupies a specific niche in Oklahoma City golf. It's a public, daily-fee course operated by the city's Parks and Recreation Department, meaning it competes directly with other municipal layouts rather than private clubs. This matters because Oklahoma City maintains several public courses across different neighborhoods, and choosing between them depends on skill level, budget, and location.

The course sits on approximately 140 acres and plays as an 18-hole regulation layout. Its design doesn't command the name recognition of resort courses in other regions, but that's precisely why it draws consistent play from local residents who prioritize accessibility over prestige. The routing works through wooded terrain typical of central Oklahoma, with native trees framing fairways and defining shot corridors.

Rates and Tee Times

Greens fees for Surrey Hills typically run $35 to $45 for 18 holes during weekday play, with weekend rates reaching $45 to $55, depending on the season. Cart rental adds $15 to $20 per person. These prices place it in the middle tier of Oklahoma City public courses. For comparison, Jimmie Austin OU Golf Club, operated by the University of Oklahoma just south of the city, charges substantially more ($70 to $100+ range), while shorter executive courses and par-3 layouts in the metro area undercut Surrey Hills by $10 to $15 per round.

The course uses an online tee time system managed through the Parks and Recreation Department website. Walk-ups are accepted when tee sheets permit, but calling ahead (especially on weekends) eliminates the risk of a full course. Spring and fall typically see the heaviest booking, when Oklahoma weather makes golf most comfortable.

Play Characteristics and Skill Fit

Surrey Hills plays to a course rating around 69 to 70 from the white tees, suggesting a straightforward, playable layout rather than a brutally difficult one. The slope rating typically hovers near 120 to 125, indicating moderate hazard and terrain difficulty. This positioning makes it accessible to bogey golfers and recreational players while still offering enough shape and strategic elements to interest low-handicap competitors.

The course lacks the manicured perfection of private facilities, a reality that reflects both budget constraints and Oklahoma City's municipal golf philosophy. Fairways are maintained but not always tournament-ready. Rough areas can be thick during growth seasons. Greens receive consistent maintenance and putt reasonably true, though they won't rival country club surfaces. Bunkers exist but don't dominate strategy; water hazards appear but aren't excessive. Slow play can be an issue on busy days; rounds regularly exceed 4 hours and 15 minutes even for competent foursomes.

For beginners or high-handicap players, Surrey Hills works well. The course won't punish wild shots with the same severity as more penal designs, and the modest difficulty keeps frustration from spiraling. For tournament players or low-handicappers seeking a challenge, it functions more as a casual outing than a test.

Location and Logistics

Surrey Hills sits in the northeast section of Oklahoma City, accessible via Interstate 44 or surface streets from the Bricktown and Midtown corridors. This placement matters for players based in central or eastern Oklahoma City; those approaching from the west side face a 15 to 20-minute drive. The course is not centrally located relative to downtown, which can matter if you're combining golf with other activities in the city's entertainment districts.

Parking is adequate but not expansive. The practice range allows for warm-up work, though it's modest in size compared to some regional facilities. A small clubhouse provides the basics: pro shop, restrooms, and concessions. No on-course food service exists, so pack water and snacks if you prefer not to rely on what's available inside.

Comparison to Nearby Public Courses

Oklahoma City's public golf network includes several alternatives worth weighing. Lincoln Park Golf Club, located southwest of downtown, operates at a similar price point but often draws higher play volume, creating longer waits. Crossroads Golf Club, further south in Yukon, offers a newer layout (redesigned in recent years) and slightly higher rates but attracts golfers seeking a fresher routing.

Jimmie Austin OU Golf Club, while pricier, provides Coore and Crenshaw design credentials and hosting history for college tournaments, appealing to players willing to pay premium fees for recognized architecture. For budget-conscious play, the city's par-3 courses like Wiley Post Golf Course offer $15 to $20 rounds, though they substitute length for strategy.

Surrey Hills sits between these extremes: more expensive than pitch-and-putt layouts but more affordable and less intimidating than private options or high-end daily-fee courses.

When to Play

Seasonal conditions in Oklahoma City affect Surrey Hills significantly. Summer heat (regularly exceeding 95 degrees in July and August) makes morning tee times essential. Fall (September through November) offers ideal conditions with moderate temperatures and firm greens. Winter play is possible but weather-dependent; unexpected ice or wet conditions can close the course temporarily. Spring brings the highest play volume as golfers shake off winter rust, meaning tee times book faster and courses run busier.

The course closes for maintenance during winter months some years, so verify current operating schedules before planning an off-season round.

The Bottom Line

Surrey Hills functions as a straightforward, community-level public course for Oklahoma City players seeking affordable, accessible golf without premium pricing or intimidating difficulty. It delivers on that value proposition reliably, though it won't impress golfers chasing top-tier design or tournament-caliber conditions. For beginners, local residents, or players wanting a casual round before or after visiting other parts of the city, it's a practical choice. For golfers driving specifically to play a notable course, better options exist elsewhere in the metro area or within an hour's drive.