Golf

Golf enthusiasts will be happy to discover that their sport has flourished all around the state of Oregon. From courses situated in fertile valleys below the snowcapped Cascades to the high-desert links with fairways framed by lava rock outcroppings, peppery sagebrush, and twisted junipers, this is a golfer’s paradise. Many superior golf courses have sprung up in coastal regions, in southern Oregon, and around Bend, the gateway to central Oregon.

Oregon offers an amazing diversity of golf courses, and the Portland Metro area courses are some of the most interesting, challenging, and attractive in the state. With dozens of both public and private courses to choose from, you’re sure to find the links to suit you, whether you’re a seasoned professional or a neophyte.

Professionals and amateurs alike have found Portland to be a friendly host for tournament play. Portland is home to several major golf tournaments—the LPGA Safeway Classic is a regular events (also see the Recreation and Spectator Sports chapter for more information). The US Amateur Open has been played in Oregon from time to time, most notably at Pumpkin Ridge in 1996, when Tiger Woods won it.

Overview

It’s easy to see why the area has an outstanding reputation for golf. In Portland, and in the numerous courses a few minutes just outside the city, the golf courses are beautifully laid out and meticulously cared for. Small lakes and streams do a good job of defending par, and in the summertime, the greens throughout the region are quite fast. While the terrain is impressive, even for well-traveled golfers, and the facilities are superb, golf in Oregon is an affordable luxury. In Portland, greens fees fall mostly in the $25 to $45 range and sometimes lower. Discounts are available for weekday and off-season play, and afternoon and twilight rates are also common. Factor in relatively low costs for meals (and accommodations, if necessary), and golf here can be a downright thrifty habit—and a healthy one too. Walking is not only permitted at most of the courses, but here in fitness-oriented Portland, it’s also encouraged.

Portland-area courses are open year-round, but May to Sept is prime golfing time. The off-season may be a good time for you to visit a familiar course or to try a new one, because then the courses are quieter and less crowded. In the Portland area alone, about 30 golf courses are open to the public and all rent clubs and carts. The city’s four municipal golf courses offer some outstanding golf and lower-than-average greens fees. You can make tee times six days to one hour in advance for the municipal courses—Eastmoreland, Heron Lakes, Red Tail, and Rose City—by reserving them on a central website, www.portlandpublicgolf.com (or by calling the pro shops directly, listed below). Also, many area courses offer discounted greens fees for juniors, seniors, or both. Senior players can get a need a discount card for the municipal courses—call Portland Parks and Recreation at (503) 823-4328 or check www.portlandpublicgolf.com for more information. Most courses now have an online reservation system, so be sure to check their websites. Many of them also offer online discounts and coupons. And while reserved tee times are always recommended, courses are often not as crowded as they can get in some metropolitan areas, and it is usually possible to find somewhere you can walk on.

This chapter is devoted to the 18-hole courses in the area that we like to play the most, but many more are out there: Colwood (503-254-5515), Gresham Golf Course (503-665-3352), Meriwether National Golf Course in Hillsboro (503-648-4143), Oregon City Golf Course (503-518-2846), Camas Meadows Golf Club (800-750-6511 or 360-833-2000), and Three Rivers (360-423-4653 or 800-286-7765) are fine local courses. And that’s only a few of them. You will also find lots of 9-hole gems, such as St. Helens Golf Course (503-397-0358) and McKay Creek (503-693-7612). Complete listings of Oregon golf courses are available at information kiosks at the POVA information center, the airport, the zoo, and other tourist gathering places. NOTE: Nonmetal spikes are the only kind allowed on most Portland golf courses.