Got the rare chance to play here via a charity golf auction on 5/10/24 with my father in-law James and golfing friend Chris, alongside generous Waverly member Fred on a Chamber of Commerce day; 74 deg...
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Got the rare chance to play here via a charity golf auction on 5/10/24 with my father in-law James and golfing friend Chris, alongside generous Waverly member Fred on a Chamber of Commerce day; 74 degrees, sunny with a slight cooling breeze. I had literally kayaked past the club on the Willamette River previously but only dreamed of playing this club that dates back to 1896! I was lucky enough to get that chance and was NOT disappointed in the slightest with any aspect of the day. Apologies for the lack of photos but was instructed not to really even take out my phone during the round, let alone take photos while playing.
Tee boxes: As was the norm today, everything was in near perfect/perfect condition. The grounds crew here was hard at work all morning up until the moment the single in front of us went out, during the round you could see workers manicuring the entire property too. No issues with the boxes (blue tees) this day; manicured, level and grass was perfectly cut and green.
Fairways: Driving in you get a glimpse of holes 2 then 1 before you arrive at the clubhouse, so before I even teed off, I knew what I was in for. Perfect carpets of finely cut bright green grass without a divot in sight. Lies were perfect all day. A visual wonder on a course the cares about conditions.
Rough: Penal! I wasn't expecting to find a rough equal to that of Torrey Pines, but they have it here. Must be the mix of sun/rain in Spring, along with evil greenskeepers because many of the elevated holes are flanked by rough that would grab your club like a firm handshake.
Sand: Was in my share of bunkers and even though the sand was closer to beach sand color/coarseness, they were well raked and manicured, had enough material to work your club and shape shots, and overall were in good shape. If you HAD to pick a flaw at Waverly, it would be the bunkers.
Greens: Conditions-wise, the highlight of the round! They reminded me of the greens at Saticoy CC or San Diego CC; undulated and tricky, speeds varied from fast to ice rink. Felt impossible to get a good read on them. Surfaces were immaculate.
ETC: This is a country club rich in tradition. Tiger Woods won here as an amateur. Waverly CC also hosted the 2023 U.S. Senior Women's Open, so the place is challenging in every way as well. The staff here treated us well, the clubhouse is dripping with history and charm. The grounds are sitting right on the banks of the Willamette, so the views are wonderful. Pace of play was "go when you want to go" essentially so we had a casual 4.5 hour round filled with stops to hear Fred tell us about hiring Gil Hanse (pre-mega fame) to redo the course, stories about Portland big wigs making fools of themselves on the course, and other stories that I will remember forever. If you EVER get the chance to play here, you will not be sorry you dropped your plans to be here.
