Best Golf Courses in Portland
Best Golf Courses in Portland
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If you’ve never been to Portland, Oregon, you need to go. The Rose City is truly the gem of the Pacific Northwest and is alive with culture, great food, endless outdoor activities, and yes, plenty of world-class verdant fairways.
As a native Oregonian, one of our writers recently played tour guide as we sampled this great city’s golf, food, and drink. Our synopsis is below.
1
Waverly Country Club
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Normally we like to save the best for last at Golfer’s Authority, but we couldn’t wait to play this Chandler Egan course that’s remained largely unchanged since 1896.
We missed the entrance to Waverley twice before we finally found the narrow unmarked driveway.
Our resident writer, who has played the course numerous times before, said that cresting the hill and looking onto the property would be like stepping back into a scene from the Great Gatsby. He was right. The whitewashed clubhouse, cabins and other buildings were overshadowed by oak trees whose lazy branches surely have more stories to tell than the F. Scott Fitzgerald novel mentioned above. Employees and staff casually went about their business, in no apparent hurry.
Upon checking in, we were greeted by the General Manager who was most accommodating as he informed us that the policy for tee times at Waverley was no policy at all. That’s right, it’s up to the members to arrange pairings and starting times amongst themselves. There’s never been an issue.
Eventually, we made our way to the first tee and fell into the rhythm of the round after a few holes. The tree-lined fairways and undulating greens are straightforward. What you see is what you get.
Over the next 15 holes, birdies and bogeys were made but, none of that seemed to matter as our group seemed to fall into a tranquil trance. The serenity of Waverley is something like most in our group had never experienced on a golf course.
As we came to the 15th hole, a downhill par three of some 224 yards, we were greeted by a view of the mighty Willamette River.
The 17th and 18th holes provide an exciting finish along the Willamette as they’re both risk and reward par fives.
At the end of this memorable day, there were a few dollars exchanged but more importantly, memories were made.
Even though Waverley is a private club, they do offer reciprocal rounds for members of other private clubs that can be arranged between Head PGA Professionals.
2
Langdon Farms Golf Club
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Even though this round came toward the end of our trip, we consider Langdon Farms the best kempt public golf course in the Portland area.
Although this course sits right on Interstate 5, there’s no traffic noise and you feel like you’re on another peaceful planet.
Unlike a lot of Portland courses, there aren’t a lot of big fir trees to gobble up errant tee shots. The difficulty in this course however, lies in its undulating greens and surrounds. I think three-putts outnumbered one-putts for our foursome on the front nine.
The practice facilities at Langdon Farms are second to none. We all regret spending too much time on the range and not as much time on the practice green prior to our round.
Even thought the greens fees can be a little steep for peak morning times on the weekend, the twilight rates are more than reasonable, and this course won’t disappoint.
3
Pumpkin Ridge Witch Hollow
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You might recognize this Bob Cupp design from television. It played host to Tiger’s iconic comeback over Steve Scott to win his third straight U.S. Amateur in 1996, and was also the chosen site for the 1997 and 2003 U.S. Women’s Open.
Located in the fertile farm country of North Plains, west of Portland proper, this private club is a must play if you’re able to arrange a reciprocal round.
Whereas most courses in Portland are confined to limited space, nothing could be further from the truth at Witch Hollow. The bent grass fairways and greens are some of the purest in the area and the course is usually uncrowded.
Even though the fairways are fairly generous, your iron play better be on point into these small, well-protected greens.
While this course can be a bit of a drive from downtown depending on traffic, it makes for an enjoyable round in some of the most beautiful country western Oregon has to offer.
4
Tualatin Country Club
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Tualatin Country Club is the fourth oldest golf course in Oregon and its history reflects just that. The club was established in 1912 in reaction to the exclusion of Jewish business professionals from the other private clubs in Portland.
Since then, a lot has changed at Tualatin Country Club, but a lot remains the same, including the golf course.
The big hitters in our group spent most of their day in the trees that bordered the narrow fairways. This track is living proof that golf courses don’t have to be 8,000 yards long to be difficult.
The 8th, 9th, and 10th holes are framed by the Tualatin River, and will have you on your toes as you negotiate a short par four, reachable par five, and short par three, respectively.
As we sipped ice cold Northwest Brews after the round and I collected a handful of $20’s, our group’s bombers vowed to find more fairways and try to earn some of their money back for the rest of the trip.
5
Eastmoreland Golf Course
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If there’s a city a city in the country with a better collection of city-owned courses than Portland, I haven’t heard of it. Even though this great city’s private clubs are steeped in history and something to behold, the city’s vibe exudes public golf and inclusion.
After spending our first few days playing the Portland’s best blue-blood establishments, we were ready for a taste of everything muni. Eastmoreland Golf Course is at the center of the urban, muni culture and we couldn’t have been happier than to have Max Reinland of Portland-based golf apparel and lifestyle company Muni Kids, join our group.
Referred to EasyMo by Portland’s muni hardcores, Eastmoreland Golf Course is as far away as you can get from the snooty country club culture that’s found only a few miles away in any direction.
We pulled into the parking lot and immediately noticed our rental car surrounded by decades old Honda Civics and work trucks from local contractors. As we made our way to the clubhouse, Max greeted us wearing a pair Jordan sneakers and a tank top that read “Always the Guest, Never the Member,” a guiding principle of the Muni Kids culture.
After we negotiated strokes and the game on the first tee, it quickly became clear that Max was at home on this course where hard pan stands in place of rough and the bunkers resemble bomb craters. Our writer and host for this trip had played this course many times before but he was still no match for Max.
Per our usual custom, we gathered around post-round beers and listened intently as Max spoke proudly of the muni culture and how some of the best players don’t learn the game on perfectly manicured fairways at country clubs. Instead, they tough it out on courses in less than perfect shape, with a cast of characters who like to play for money and aren’t afraid of talking a little trash.
Suffice it to say, EasyMo proved a welcome respite and is a must-play for a reasonable price when you’re in Portland.
6
Heron Lakes Great Blue Golf Course
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There are two courses at Heron Lakes but the Great Blue is considered the ball buster among Portland’s municipal tracks.
Designed by Robert Trent Jones II, this track isn’t overly long at just 7,016 yards but, it’s small greens and fescue-lined fairways demand your absolute best from tee to green.
We played this special track on an especially windy afternoon and our group made as many doubles as birdies.
Having played this course once, we’d definitely play it again. However, we don’t recommend it for a casual date with your significant other or any high handicapper for that matter.
Bottom line is, if you’re a decent player and want to test yourself, the Great Blue is a must play. For everyone else, the Greenback is a great golf course and will provide a fun experience for players of all levels.
7
Columbia Edgewater Country Club
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Columbia Edgewater Country Club is said to be home to more single-digit handicappers than any golf course west of the Mississippi River.
As we warmed up the range before our round, the surrounding swings resembled a tour event. We are good players but damn, we weren’t about to challenge anyone around us to a $20 Nassau.
Columbia Edgewater Country Club is an iconic Pacific Northwest parkland golf course. Its design is straightforward and not overly long. Accuracy and shot making are a must and, the greens are sloped and quick.
Even though nothing unworldly stands out about this track, it’s easy to see why so many great players call it home. It’s a stern, yet fair test that rewards well played shots, and punishes poor ones.
Our money game was tied after 18 holes so we decided to double the stakes, grab a drink, and head to the nine-hole Mason par three course. This little gem proved unbelievable as our wedge games and short games (or lack thereof) were on full display.
Setting up a reciprocal round is well worth it at this iconic private club set near the Columbia River. Just make sure you don’t gamble with the members.
8
Portland Golf Club
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Much to the dismay of the driver-loving bombers in our group, Portland Golf Club isn’t going to reward distance anytime soon. Instead, accuracy and deft touch are required to navigate this prestigious private club.
Formerly home to the Portland Open, a PGA Tour event won by the likes of Ben Hogan, a round at Portland Golf Club feels like stepping back in time.
Even though a couple guys in our group made a bushel of birdies, no one came close to breaking par. That’s mostly due to greens that resemble uncovered dinosaur burial grounds and run at 12’ on the Stimp meter.
The members say that a round without a three-putt is the key to scoring. Safe to say no one in our group could lay claim to that accomplishment. Portland Golf Club won’t disappoint those lucky enough to score a reciprocal round. Just be sure you hit plenty of practice putts before you peg it on the first tee.
9
Rose City Golf Club
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After a couple days off from muni madness, we couldn’t wait to get back and our choice was the second oldest course in the state, Rose City. Our writer and host for this trip grew up playing this course in junior tournaments and warned that it might not be in the best of shape.
Such couldn’t be further from the truth. For a city-owned course that sees in excess of 300 rounds per day in the summer, the fairways and greens were a dream come true.
Even though this track is in a low-income neighborhood, it’s a spectacle of how public and private partnership can work together to make a golf course both profitable and enjoyable.
We teed off first thing in the morning and couldn’t have had a better experience. The course’s old school design makes shot making a premium although our bombers were finally allowed to go full throttle at their drivers on a few holes.
What made the day was our standard post-round beverage. Four Mirror Pond Pale Ales cost $12. The same round cost $32 at one of the private clubs the day before. The cheap price and the fact that we were able to share a pint with a retired postmaster whose been playing Rose City since the early 1980’s made the day extra special.
When you come to play Rose City, and you absolutely should, make the effort to play with a local. Not only will they help you navigate the tricky greens, they’ll keep you entertained with stories of their beloved muni going back decades.
10
The Reserve Golf Club – North and South
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Located in the suburb of Aloha, both courses at the Reserve are worth the price of admission. Even though this facility is technically private, members only privileges rotate between the North and South courses on a weekly basis.
Formerly home to the PGA Tour Champions Jeld-Wen Tradition, a major, this facility is world class.
We were fortunate to play the South Course and were treated to one of the more enjoyable rounds of our trip.
The mixture of short and long holes makes for an exciting round that features plenty of risk and reward. If you’re just looking for a spot to work on your game for an afternoon, the Reserve’s practice facilities are the best in the area.
Conclusion
Our trip to Portland was a whirlwind filled with iconic Northwest golf, too many Northwest craft beers, and food fit for a king. After nearly two weeks on the road and golf almost every day, we were ready to get back home.
With that being said, we can’t recommend Portland enough as your next golf destination. The courses, culture, and Northwest hospitality rival that of anywhere else we’ve been in the country.
If you’ve played golf in Portland or have questions about our recommendations, we’d love to hear from you below in the comments.