Golf in Portland

[Dan Grossman]

Another GCAer and I are headed to Portland, OR this weekend to play golf.  (From the weather report, a canoe may be more appropriate than a golf clubs).  

We are planning on playing:

Portland GC
Columbia-Edgewater
Royal Oaks
Waverly

We were curious if anyone else has played these courses and what you thought.  Neither of us are very familiar with the courses and would like some things to look for while we are getting drenched.

Dan

[John_D._Bernhardt]

I have heard great things about all but royal Oaks and would reccomend Pumkin Ridge

[ian]

6 (or was it hours to Bandon Dunes and Pacific Dunes!
Make the drive.

[Mark  Studer]

Head to Bandon.(4 1/2 hour drive)..maybe hit EugeneGC on the way down or back to Portland.Bandon is special.Do NOT miss this chance.

[Dan Grossman]

Just to add, we have made two trips to Bandon Dunes and a previous trip to Portland which encompassed:

Eastmoreland
Pumpkin Ridge (Witch Hollow & Ghost Creek)
Astoria CC
The Reserve (Fought)

This would be the first trip to visit some of the private courses in Portland and I was curious to find out if anyone had specific comments or insight on them.

[Patrick_Mucci]

Dan G,

I played Portland Golf Club and Pumpkin Ridge in 1999 and enjoyed both.

I wouldn't pass them up.

Let me know what you think of holes # 6 and # 11 at Portland Golf Club.  When I played there, the greens were about 12 on the stimp and many hit the greens in regulation, only to take 6's, 7's and higher.  But it's fun to play.  
Tell me if they cut the limb on the tree at the elbow of # 3.

P.S.  Bring your rain gear !

[Tommy_Naccarato]

I have played both Waverly and Portland Golf Club, in fact enjoyed them both. Its been many years since I have played them (1988) but both clubhouses are pretty cool as well as Pat has mentioned about the green speeds at Portland which are borderline hilarious.

The only negative about Portland is the concrete work on the water hazards which is out of place and out of style for such a wonderful course. Another thing is I remember how the changes by RTJ were very out of place with the original architecture, not unlike a certain style of work being done today by a certain Dr. T. Fazio.

(all of you Fazio associates out there lurking, how about doing some more damage here! Why not, you seem to be on a roll!)

Waverly was a grand old club which supposedly has been changed since I was last there. It setting which is along the Willamette River is pretty neat. Especially the way that big white clubhouse sits along with it. Its not far from Eastmoreland, and of course, if you have the time, what could be worse then having to endure another round there?

Have a great time!

[Pete_Pittock]

You'll like them all. At Portland and Waverley keeping the ball below the hole is critical. Green contours flow with the lay of the land, so looking at the overall hole will tell you where the percentages are. Greens are also small, usually about 5000 sq ft,poa annua and probably aerated a week ago.
      PGC - #3 keep right, #9 look at green before you tee off, front right trap on 14 is well short of green.
      Waverley tough greens- 1,2,3,6,9,11,12,14,15. Finish with back to back 5 pars.
      Columbia-Edgewater - Hope the Air Force doesn't scramble fighters. Used to have the highest percentage of single digit players in the US. Very few straight holes, best bet is play to the outside. Average greens except for #8 (if #1 is a par 5). #16 voted among best 4 pars in Oregon. Read recently that 8 and 18 will be rebuilt. Back 9 is a counterclockwise circle around perimeter of course, OB left.
       Royal Oaks is the hidden gem with a great set of greens.
Nothing spectacular but nothing easy either. #8 hit the right tier. #13 play left on second shot. Squirrels for tee markers.
       PGC has held the '47 Ryder Cup and I think Arnie won the US Senior OPen, Lanny Wadkins won the US Amatuer at Waverley, where Tiger also claimed his 3rd US Junior.

[Tommy_Naccarato]

Peter, I could also be wrong, but didn't PGA once hold a PGA where something happened to Trevino at the 17th?

Also, didn't Tiger win a Jr. amateur at Waverly?

Or it might just be me halleucinating.

Portland Golf Club

Waverly Country Club

[Mark Studer]

Tiger won his third consecutive USGA Junior Amateur at Waverly in 1993. In the finals, Tiger was one down with 3 to play. He lost the par 3 16th to a par to go 2 down. They played the 17th as a 4 par with 18 being the finishing 5 par running along the Willamette River. Tiger won 17 and 18 with birdies, sending the final match to extra holes..Tiger wins. They had the finals of the junior long drive contest that year behind the clubhouse, firing balls across the river. Tiger won that too,wearing hightop Nike b-ball shoes.

[Pete_Pittock]

Tommy,
    I was there. Trevino had the tournament won at sixteen, so I left to see how Billy Casper would finish as he was playing 15. Billy played 15-18 either 3 or 4 under. Lee put it in the front bunker on a left front pin. His shot stayed in the bunker ending in a footprint. Triple bogey. It was the 1969 Alcan, which was the richest tournament at the time.
    Ben Hogan won the 1946 PGA at Portland. In the 36 hole semis he crushed Demaret (10&9), shooting nines of 33-32-31. Ed (Porky) Oliver was deflated 6&4 in the final. Being one at the time, I didn't gallery. Spectated both the 1970 US Amateur (Wadkins, Kite, Crenshaw et al) and the 1993 US Junior, where I think Charles Howell was the youngest to make match play.

[RandyC]

Royal Oaks is also thoroughly enjoyable - like Peter said, nothing fancy, but nothing poor either. Great set of greens... as the locals will tell you "don't get above the hole." I don't know how they keep the greens so fast. The only shot on the course I don't like is the tee shot on the par 4 14th. Not that it's terrrible, it just doesn't have the same feel as the rest of the course.

Tiger won the PNGA Amatuer here in 1994, setting the unofficial course record (with conceded putts... match play) of 63. Scary.

Who else has played Rose City? I really enjoy it as a fine old (1920) muni. Architecturally it's not in the same league as Eastmoreland, but I think it's an excellent routing and offers good challenge. Nice half-par holes. The 14th is my favorite... hit enough club to reach the flat spot off the tee. Then flirting with trying to get the ball close to the pin can result in a nightmarish downhill sidehill 3-putt or missing the green to any number of difficult recovery spots (despite no greenside bunkers or water).

It's my home course, so I'm biased... carry on then!

[RandyC]

Have the holes been renumbered at Portland GC or is the arial mislabeled? If I'm not mistaken, what's labeled as 1 is actually 10, and what's labeled 4 is actually 1, etc. At least that's the way I remember it...

[Pete_Pittock]

I doubt if the holes have been renumbered. Although the nines have been altered from 35-37 to 36-36 the turn is at the highest point on the course and a long way from the clubhouse. The nine-holer group wouldn't let it happen. Using the aerial's numbers the traditional routing is 4-10, 2,3,1, 11-18.

[Slag_Bandoon]

Imagine my excitement at seeing GOLF IN PORTLAND then going here and it's private stuff. Motor stalled, wind let from the sails, toe stubbed, end of my dog chain.  As I am not fit to scrape the gum off their parking lot, I must remain with larynx duct taped and fingers palsied.  Enjoy and report.  ScotchGuard everything you own.

[RandyC]

You can comment on Rose City if you like, Slag!

How about this, since you mentioned it the other day - which of the Great Blue's nines do you prefer, since they were built (and designed? anybody know if they were designed at the same time?) several years apart and have somewhat different personalities?

Tawk amongst yourselves...

[Dan Grossman]

Slag -

I am happy to hear your reviews of the public courses in Portland having played both Eastmoreland and Ghost Creek.  We are going to be playing Langdon Farms on this trip as well.  Love to hear what you think about that place.

(My earlier post was to direct the thread towards the merits of the courses in the area, rather than have it turn into a "Go play Bandon" or "Go Play Pumpkin Ridge" thread.)

[ian]

I've played Langdon Farms, John Foughts office used to be there before the move to Phoenix. Is this a warm up round?
Good place for a first round, but I wouldn't make a trip to play it

ian

[Slag_Bandoon]

  Dan G., Langdon Farms is a nice place; has a nice barn/clubhouse but, (Damn, I'm cynical) bring a clam gun and wellies for the plugged lies in the fairways as it will be a wet weekend.  The aprons will be soggy also.  Cart is "complimentary" last time I played.  Love/hate that term.

  Rose City is fun.  Can't recall rains effect on ground. Sure wish I could have seen it when it was an old race track but glad it's a golf course now.  

  I wish I could say what course is best in the rain in Portland but you have to go to Lewis River Golf Course in Washington (about 30 miles north) before ground starts letting the ball bounce.  
 Tri-Mountain in Ridgefield, Wa. off milepost 14 (My club) gets my vote for best effort and most improved.  Terrificly nasty greens. Super deserves a medal.

  Heron Lakes Great Blue is in good hard condition but with the rains that could change quickly.  

 Randy C.  Not sure if the 9's at HL GB were designed at the same time but fairly confident in saying 'no' as, I understand that one nine was Pappy and one 9 was Jr. with some touch-up on first nine.  I'll have to research that. ...
    I like the front nine better but the back is great when the heroic shots begin to land in your favor.  Toughest final 3 in Portland from what I've played.    They have a terrific weekday (M-TH) special before 10:00AM through the summer for $25.00.  Hope that stays truthful.  

   How's Quail Valley in Banks after a deluge?  Or Reserve (Cupp) Course?  

  Attention Sand Salesmen!  Drain pipe Salesmen!  Big potential sales in the northwest.  


  


    

[Dan Grossman]

Slag -

Thanks for the comments.  We were up in Portland last time in February.  We played with a guy at Pumpkin Ridge who wore Duck Boots instead of golf shoes.  That place was a mud pit.  The Reserve (fought) was fairly firm, but I am not sure when the last time it rained prior to our weekend there.

[Pete_Pittock]

Slag,
   Both nines at Heron Lakes Great Blue were designed and built at the same time. The Reserve Cupp and Fought courses both drain okay, and they're doing a lot of french drainage work. Water seems to sit on top for a day, but doesn't get muddy everywhere. Too many problem low spots for a course nearly 5 years old, tho.

[Tommy_Naccarato]

It was late, I was tired, the sun was in my eyes, I had a hole in my mitt, etc. etc. etc.

Peter's hole layout is right. After all, It has been almost 14 years since I played there--ONE TIME!

Sorry for the problems!

[Slag_Bandoon]

Dan G, How'd the golf trip go?   Swimmingly?  Hope all went well.

[Dan Grossman]

Slag -

Golf trip went great.  It only rained during the last twelve holes of Portland GC.  

We played Royal Oaks, Columbia-Edgewater and Portland GC on Saturday and Waverly on Sunday (we were too tired to get up for the round at Langdon Farms).  

Columbia Edgewater was my favorite by a hair over Portland GC.  I thought both courses were really neat, but Portland suffered from the holes around the large hill at the southeast corner of the property.  #6 and #11 are an uphill slog and #12 didn't do much for me either.  We had a little trouble getting the flow of C-E, as #1 & #17 and #9 are under construction with the rebuilding / addition of ponds.  But, I thought the holes were outstanding with really neat green complexes and bunkering.

Waverly was good, although I thought the front nine was much better than the back nine.  I really liked the strong par fours on the east side of the property away from the Willamette river.  Royal Oaks was fun, but I didn't think there were any individually fantastic holes (no weak ones either, other than #12, the modernistic par 3 over water).  Taken as a whole, it had a neat feeling and worked well.

Both of us laughed about the fairway bunkering at all of the courses though.  We played each course from the back tees and never came within 20 - 30 yards of reaching a fairway bunker.  I imagine they come into play during the summer.

[THuckaby2]

We played Royal Oaks, Columbia-Edgewater and Portland GC on Saturday and Waverly on Sunday (we were too tired to get up for the round at Langdon Farms).  

Three rounds at three different courses in one day?  You didn't need to say you were too tired on the next day!

That is damn impressive.  I gotta go on a golf trip with you some day.  Oh wait a second... in 48 hours, I am, at least sort of!

TH