What's the Most Interesting Course in Portland, Oregon?

[Sean Leary]

Thanks to all of you for the recommendations.  I had a pretty full day today:

Walked 18 holes at Columbia-Edgewater
Walked 18 holes at Waverley
Had lunch in the city
Drove to the coast
Took a quick peek at Gearhart Links
Played 18 holes at Astoria with the superintendent and the assistant professional

Waverley was terrific -- much better than I'd anticipated.  Astoria was unique, but sort of what I expected.

Driving down the coast tomorrow morning to get back to work in Bandon.

Did you use your rater card to get on Waverley?

Would like to hear your more of your thoughts on Astoria, as I am not as high on it as many of the others here...

[Mike Benham]

I must say I'm a bit bothered by the general consensus that I will only enjoy Waverley because it's the only course that has been restored.  If some of the others have a really interesting set of greens, wouldn't I find those interesting, trees or no trees?

Waverley was terrific -- much better than I'd anticipated. 

Was your level of anticipation skewed, as you noted, by the quantity of GCAers that made the recommendation or a general distrust of a commoners opinion?

Through your work, you have educated (or conditioned) many on this website.  It's no surprise to me that they would recommend a course that you would find enjoyable and worthwhile of a visit.

[Tom_Doak]

Was your level of anticipation skewed, as you noted, by the quantity of GCAers that made the recommendation or a general distrust of a commoners opinion?

Mike,

At the time I posted that, only 3-4 posters had rated Waverley as a "must see", and I was reading that as relative to the other courses in Portland.  Jeff Mingay was the only one who went further, and now that I've seen it, I'd agree with pretty much everything he wrote about it.

Through your work, you have educated (or conditioned) many on this website.  It's no surprise to me that they would recommend a course that you would find enjoyable and worthwhile of a visit.

Well, if you're going to go that route, the architect who restored the course and the shaper who built the bunkers each got their start in the business working for me.  And they seem to have learned well!  But, I was equally impressed by what they had to work with.  The course is much more sophisticated than anything else I've seen of Egan's [though I admit I haven't seen much], and it's a really dramatic piece of real estate, too.

[Scott_Burroughs]

Driving down the coast tomorrow morning to get back to work in Bandon.

I admit I only peek in a couple of times per week these days and only read a fraction of threads (and often fractions of those), but what work would that be?

[Garland Bayley]

Driving down the coast tomorrow morning to get back to work in Bandon.

I admit I only peek in a couple of times per week these days and only read a fraction of threads (and often fractions of those), but what work would that be?

RD is doing a huge putting green by PD clubhouse. Think himalayas.

[Tom_Doak]

RD is doing a huge putting green by PD clubhouse. Think himalayas.

After seeing the real Himalayas in Nepal three months ago, I promised myself never to use that term as a golf comparison.  The Himalayas just dwarf any other mountains I've ever seen.

However, this putting green we're doing might also be in a league of its own.  It is big, it is VERY steep in spots [the primary starting point reminds me of the start of a ski race], and it is wild.  I will try to take a couple of pictures tomorrow, though the scale of it will be impossible to capture in pictures.

[Connor Dougherty]

RD is doing a huge putting green by PD clubhouse. Think himalayas.

After seeing the real Himalayas in Nepal three months ago, I promised myself never to use that term as a golf comparison.  The Himalayas just dwarf any other mountains I've ever seen.

However, this putting green we're doing might also be in a league of its own.  It is big, it is VERY steep in spots [the primary starting point reminds me of the start of a ski race], and it is wild.  I will try to take a couple of pictures tomorrow, though the scale of it will be impossible to capture in pictures.

Tom,
I was there with a few friends a couple of days ago, it looked like Mr. Urbina may have been in the bulldozer. I took this panoramic of the putting green. It doesn't do justice to the contours, but does give a little bit of perspective on the scale:



I'm really looking forward to the finished product and am hoping to make it back down to see it further along in the construction phase. It's nice to only be a few hours away 

[Emile Bonfiglio]

I there any place more beautiful when the Gorse is in bloom then Bandon?

[Garland Bayley]

I there any place more beautiful when the Gorse is in bloom then Bandon?

Dornoch?

[Bill_McBride]

I there any place more beautiful when the Gorse is in bloom then Bandon?

Dornoch?

The steep hillside behind the Crail clubhouse that overlooks the last four holes is quite spectacular.  The entire cliffside is aglow with that wonderful golden color.

[Connor Dougherty]

I there any place more beautiful when the Gorse is in bloom then Bandon?

Dornoch?

The steep hillside behind the Crail clubhouse that overlooks the last four holes is quite spectacular.  The entire cliffside is aglow with that wonderful golden color.

I've yet to see the gorse at Dornoch (I hope to be there a few springs from now) but I don't think I've ever seen anything as beautiful as the Sheep Ranch with the gorse in full bloom. Pacific looked incredible too, but combined with a great day and having the place to ourselves, Sheep Ranch stole the cake.

[Garland Bayley]

After seeing the real Himalayas in Nepal three months ago, I promised myself never to use that term as a golf comparison.  The Himalayas just dwarf any other mountains I've ever seen.

Can we book you a trip to Africa to see the Sahara? Probably need to stop use of that term too then.

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