I played here on 08/27/12 from the Blue tees at 72.4/128/6700. I have played most of the public courses in the Portland area over the last 5 years on different trips, but within the last maybe 18 months I have seen Rock Creek listed on golfnow and since I have never played here before I thought I would give it a try. It is a classic, traditional layout that has tree lined holes, raised greens that slope back to front, and is what I would consider a very simple design. The simple design is not really surprising to me I guess because the course was built in 1962, but my preference would have been for a few more dog legs. Someone could play the first 6 holes and know what to expect for the rest of the round. The course is a community course and there were homes lining just about every hole so it was not very scenic and out of bounds was on just about every hole too. The homes were very noticeable while playing because of folks talking on the phone in the yard, kids playing, dogs barking, etc. The tees, fairways, and rough were burnt out in a lot places which influenced shot choice in some places. In addition, power lines were in play on #9 and noticeable from some other holes which is something I do not like. Finally, there was some road noise from Highway 26 and every par 4 seemed like it was 400 yards except #1. Whenever I play a new course there is a risk that I will not like it. It is not that I did not like it as much as the fact that there are better options such as Stone Creek which is a similar price (I paid $33 to walk in the afternoon during the week) and in much better condition. However, I did find some things about Rock Creek that I did like. I loved the greens, they were by far the best part of the course because of the true, quick rolls. The greens were a little larger than what I would have expected due to the era when the course was built and they were tricky to read. A good read and a good stroke were rewarded here. In addition, I liked the fact that this was an easy walking course (a club elevation change a couple holes) and that the fairways were pretty wide considering the time when the course was built so it was not overly punishing. The 15th, a 191 downhill par 3 over water, was my favorite hole and other than that there were not any other memorable holes. This course reminded me a little of Elkhorn Golf Club in Stockton, CA just not maintained as well and with less doglegs. Now I can say that I have played here, but I probably would not be back unless I lived just down the street.

Rock Creek Country Club Review
Portland Oregon Golf Course Reviews

For the last couple years I have wanted to play Running Y on one of my trips to/from Portland, but it just has never worked out because it is so far off of Interstate 5. I left the Bay Area early on a Saturday morning headed for Portland and decided that I would finally make the stop here. I found a time on golfnow for $52 around noon, got there a little early to unwind and then got out a bit early. The course's claim to fame is that it is the only Arnold Palmer design in Oregon and numerous golf magazines rate Running Y as one of the top public Oregon courses. After playing it that would be my opinion too. It should be noted that ended up playing here on 08/25/12 from the Palmer tees at 73.2/132/7138. The course has a bit of a high desert feel to it and it is at some elevation so the ball traveled a bit farther than normal for me. Running Y has everything about Oregon golf that I love: scenery, trees, cool summer weather, and elevation changes. The first 5 holes play alongside a wetlands area and are relatively flat before the rest of the back 9 climbs through the tree covered hills. The back is similar with a mixture of flat holes and hilly holes but the hilly holes are pleasant to play. The downhill holes (9th, 12th, and 16th) were my favorites as there was something quite fun about driver and wedge on the 9th and 16th which are long par 4s. The 17th, a mid length par 5, is one of the best designed holes that I have ever played. It features a split fairway off the tee with the right fairway being the shortest route but then I felt I almost had to go for the green in two because of the good angle. An out of position drive to the right fairway almost forced me to play an awkward layup to the left fairway which looked like an odd shot. The 18th hole is a strong finishing hole which played 469 back into a little wind and had water all down the left. Some homes are visible from a few holes but they did not detract from the play. The course maintenance from the tees to the greens was great with only a couple dry spots which did not affect play. The greens rolled very smooth and were sneaky fast and I thought tough to read. I had a few putts break the opposite way of my read. I would not call the course tricky but some local knowledge would help with some tee shots and around the greens. The course was fairly open off the tee with large fairways and the difficulty came on the approaches to firm greens with knobs which influenced chips and long putts and many bunkers. The pace of play was slow at just over 5 hours which I do not think is common here so I think I just caught it on a busy day. I would highly recommend Running Y and it would a perfect stop on the way to Bend from the Bay Area.

Running Y Ranch Golf Resort Reviews
Klamath Falls Oregon Golf Course Reviews

Played 27 holes, first the South, then the normal West-North 18 hole combo. This almost needs to be two SEPARATE reviews, the conditions are that different.

The South is the nine that they send you off on if you are only playing nine holes. It is actually the longest of the three nines @ 3406 from the blues. It is also the most open of the three nines, only 1 + 9 had water hazards and I don't remember any fairway bunkers.

The condition of the South course is FAR worse than the West-North 18 hole combo. On the South, the entire nine severely needed watering. There were several greens that had fairly large areas that had no grass. Despite the way they looked and the bare areas, they actually putted decently, firm and medium fast, The rough was burned and was like hardpan with a little straw on top. On several par 4's that were doglegs, I aimed straight @ the green and the combination of cutting off the corner and my drive rolling forever in the burned out "rough" hardpan, left me with chips into 360 to 380 yard par 4's. The fairways & tees were OK, some spots were lush, some spots were thin. The only thing I would say that was in good condition was the traps, they were all freshly raked with good sand.

Do NOT waste you $$$ or time on the South course unless you would prefer to practice on a course rather than a driving range. I would rate it below a 5.0 on the GK scale.

The normal West-North 18 hole combo was FAR superior to the South, but still in not nearly as good a condition as when I played here 5 weeks ago. It has been better watered and maintained than the South, but everything from the fairways to the greens are VERY firm and it is playing MUCH shorter than the 6719 it is listed on the scorecard. A couple of holes I hit Driver on 5 weeks ago and kept it in the fairway I was hitting a 3I on today because the ball was rolling so much farther. The greens were getting faster and faster as the day went on, they were scary fast by the end of the day, so much so that if you were above the hole, a mere tap may leave you 6-8 ft. coming back. It was amazing how fast the greens were because they were actually bumpy, the putts would often fish-tail and you could putt the same putt three times and have a little left, straight and a little right result on a seemingly straight 6-8' putt.

The normal West-North 18 hole combo was more like a 6.5 to 7.0 on the GK scale. It was OK, but unless they water it more or it rains a decent amount soon, these two nines could go downhill fast.

Another thing that warrants mentioning in this review is the course management. There were no Marshall's or Drink cart people, only a few maintenance workers were visible anywhere on the entire 27 holes. Two straight groups in front of me on the normal West-North 18 hole combo went off mid morning with little kids. The little boy in the first group was maybe 8-9 and probably belonged on a par three course, at most an executive course. Then the next group was a 5some where none of the players hit anything close to a decent drive on the first hole... and the mom & dad were coaching their 5-6 year old daughter and she was playing as their 5th.

To their credit, the Pro Shop let me switch and play the South instead of waiting behind those two groups. After waiting on the tee and witnessing the above, I walked back over to the Pro Shop & cleared changing 9's with the Pro Shop, met up with a single, walked over to the South 9, we both teed off and were walking around the lake to play our 2nd shots... And the little girl was STILL swinging and missing on the Red tee of hole #1.

Meriwether National Golf Club Review
Hillsboro Oregon Golf Course Reviews

Walked the Blues (6615, 72.0/128) in 4 1/2 hours playing on a very busy mid-day weekday. This is the shorter and easier of the two Heron Lakes courses, both of which are ran by the City of Portland. Customer service here is a +, from the guys in the pro shop, to the starter, the Marshall's and the cart ladies. All are visible and active.

The layout is challenging, not overly tight and has no tricked up holes. There are many dogleg right holes and a decent amount of water, but certainly less water overall than the Great Blue 18. The trees are mature and thick, and they come into play much more on the Greenback 18 than they do on the Great Blue 18.

The greens were smooth and rolled VERY well, medium fast. I didn't see any greens that had a huge amount of break, I don't remember any greens that were double or triple tiered, most sloped gently from back to front. I saw the lines and read the breaks well on these greens. The sand traps were in excellent condition and well maintained. Many tees looked like a busy city course & could use some maintenance. The fairways were generally lush, but there were some wet spots where the ball would plug and also some burned spots due to the recent heat wave. The rough had some areas that was very lush, some that were thin and a few that were burned, it was definitely hit and miss.

$38 is steep to walk this course in the middle of the week, the overall condition and layout does not justify that price with many cheaper alternatives nearby. However, I liked the course and will be back, I'll just shop for a better twilight deal.

Heron Lakes Golf Club Review
Portland Oregon Golf Course Reviews

First time here, beautiful course. Was an added bonus that I got to witness longtee400's first career hole in one, a beautiful 4I hybrid on #3.

The condition of everything was immaculate. Nearly every hole has multi colored flower arrangements in strategic locations around the tee box, green or both. The greens were medium fast, SMOOTH, firm and very consistent from green to green. Hardly a ball mark anywhere. The tees were lush and even the par 3's didn't have severe divot damage. The fairways & rough were both lush. The sand traps were in excellent condition, hardly any unraked areas and the sand was thick & soft.

The layout was a +, not overly tight but plenty of trouble if you got a little crooked on most holes. Knee deep rough that they let grow natural was lurking right off the primary cut of rough. No tricked up holes, few blind or around dogleg shots. #9 & #18 share a green that is so large that many players could probably hit a full wedge from one end to the other.

This course isn't cheap, but it delivers high quality conditions like you may expect @ most country clubs for the higher green fees, a fair exchange. Easily one of the best conditioned public courses I have ever played. I will definitely be back.

Landon Farms Golf Club Golf Course Review
Portland Oregon Golf Course Reviews

This is one is my favorite courses in the Portland area but even more so after today as I got my first ever HOLE IN ONE on #3, a 173 yd par 3 from the blues witnessed by Nickesquire1.

9:50 tee time and played in 4 1/2 hrs for $44 WR Farm Card Holder rate. The course is in great condition and shows pride in every phase of the operation.

In many respects this feels like a links type course. Closely cut puttable areas are around most greens. Many fairways have raised borders allowing shots to funnel back to the flat parts. The 2nd cut of rough is long and wild and is the major defense of this course. Although most holes are straight, well placed bunkers and a few water hazards make this is a very interesting and challenging track.

Landon Farms Golf Club Golf Course Review
Portland Oregon Golf Course Reviews

A shorter par 70 course with only 1 par 5 per side. Most holes are straight ahead with just a couple of exceptions. One quirky par 3 is just over 100 yards but is easily 70 feet straight uphill. The manager recommended adding 3 clubs to that shot. An assortment of wide open and narrow fairways with a fair amount of sand and water hazards.

The condition could be better as there were bare and thin spots on fairways and tees but they didn't affect play generally. Greens were quite undulating but smooth. The speed was uneven making putting unpredictable. Sand was good.

There is a grass driving range and practice area, the club house is brand new and has a restaurant (closed on Mondays) but the pro shop is quite spare.

Overall a fun course if you are in the area.

Alderbrook Golf Course Review
Tillamook Oregon Golf Course Reviews

I have played here a few times and the greens were in the best condition I have seen them ever. They rolled true and medium fast with minimal ball marks. The long stretch of dry hot weather has caused some bare spots on the edges of the fairways. The tees were generally in good condition with some divot damage in spots. The sand traps played well.

Many holes have elevation changes, are tree lined and have strategic traps and water. The course features attractive views of the surrounding hills and forested areas and is a good value on a Sunday for $41 with cart.

Gearhart is the oldest course west of the Mississippi River. While there aren't any ocean views, the course sits just inland about a Bubba Watson drive away from the water. The salt air and heavy, cool wind make it feel like a links course along with the firm playing conditions, mounding and numerous bunkers. It's a very playable course for all skill levels with no forced carries and most holes have openings in front of the green to allow for bump & runs shots.

The greens are very small with soft contouring. The bunkers are filled with beach sand, which tends to be pretty soft and heavy. It's a very fun course where you can score playing aggressive or conservative. Very easy to walk. There aren't many good options for golf along the northern Oregon Coast, but Gearhart is a standout. It's a very charming place with a Lodge and McMenamin's Brew Pub on-site. I highly recommend a visit if you're in the area.

Gearhart Golf Links Course Review
Gearhart Oregon Golf Course Reviews

First time on the Robert Trent Jones, Jr. design. City of Portland course. Enjoyed a nice mid-day round with LongTee 400. I think if we were keeping score, the official tally was golf course 2, Ed and Nick 0 on this day! Let's just say they accurately named this course the Great Blue, because water is abundant on the majority of the holes. 139 slope from the blacks, 137 from the blues, 131 from the whites.

There are challenging sight lines and forced carries, usually over water on many holes. While there are a decent amount of mature trees, this is a links style course. The tree lines are cut back well away from the course boundaries, it was calm yesterday, but I was advised by one of the locals that the lack of tree barrier around the outside of the course often produces very gusty conditions... just what you want when deciding what iron to play over a lake! While most holes are not overly tight, EVERY hole has deep rough that is an almost sure lost ball grown up knee to waist deep if you get too far off the beaten path.

Due to several recent days of close to 100 degree temperatures, there were several burned spots on a few greens, tee boxes and fairways. However, from my perspoective, the spots did not interfer with playability. The greens were big and undulating with lots of severe to subtle breaks. Longest putt I made AD was probably 4', I couldn't convince myself to play the short ones that far outside the hole and was underplaying the break consistently. The greens rolled very well, smooth and medium fast. Several greens had pins that you absolutely could not be on the wrong side of the hole, 9 & 12 come to mind. The fairways were generally lush, but had alot of divot marks. The tees were level and generally lush, except that many had moderate to severe unfixed divot damage. The rough was generally lush except for the burned spots. Sand traps were well maintained with thick, heavy sand.

The course was busy but very efficient in keeping the tee times rolling on time. Both the Marshall and Cart gal were visible and doing their jobs well. Very challenging layout that I found thoroughly enjoyable. I will definitely come back here and try the sister course, the Greenback (supposedly not as difficult) as well.

Heron Lakes Golf Club Review
Portland Oregon Golf Course Reviews

Reasonably well maintained public course that gets a lot of play and it shows. Plenty of divots on tee boxes and fairways. Greens have a fair amount of ball marks. It was over watered and had some spongy areas that inhibited roll out.

Despite the conditions, the course is well designed and extremely challenging with some tight and some wide open holes, most of which are defended by either trees, water, sand or undulating greens.

There is a good grass driving range and chipping and putting areas. In my view, this is one of the top 5 public courses in the Portland area and I always look forward to playing here.

Heron Lakes Golf Club Review
Portland Oregon Golf Course Reviews

Big Meadow is interesting, challenging and beautiful all rolled into one spectacular golf experience. The course is perfectly groomed in every aspect. It winds through the scenic Oregon cascades which gives each hole its own character while showing off spectacular views. The greens are smooth firm and fast and a joy to putt on.

The club house has a great pub and the pro shop has a good selection. The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable.

Combined with a sister course 10 mins away, this is a truly wonder golf destination not to be missed when in Central Oregon.

Black Butte Ranch Golf Course Review
Sisters Central Oregon Golf Course Reviews