Today, December 13th, we decided to get out of the house and play a round of golf. As most of you probably already know, it can sometimes get wet in Oregon in the winter, and that was the case today. Although it did not rain on us, the course was very wet and there were places that had standing water. Overall, the course played long due to the dampness of the fairways, but the greens were in great shape and rolled well.
This course is a semi-private course. The members switch back and forth between the North Course and the South Course. Frankly, I prefer the South Course with its bunkers over the North Course grassy areas. Also, the North Course has a few holes that to me are a little gimmicky, i.e. hard for me to play. Additionally, the South Course is a little longer for the big hitters, which I am not one, but it does make the course more wide open. This week we had to play the North Course as the members had the South Course. We teed off on the 1st hole into the fog. We could kind of see what direction the ball was going but had to hunt along the way down the fairway to find our balls. Somewhere along the lines I felt like I should have a bright orange hunting jacket on as I was the hunter and it would allow those behind us to see us so as not to hit into us. By about hole 5 or 6, the fog began to lift but the cold air stayed.
Some thought about the North Course – the 1st hole is a par 5 that plays pretty much straight-away. Hole 2 is a par 4 that you must keep your tee shot to the left to have a second shot into the green, unless you can play a big slice around the woods on the right. There is a creek that runs through the fairway about 80 yards from the green. Doesn’t come into play for most, but long hitters could potentially reach it if they spray their tee shot to the right and long. Hole 3 and 5 are par threes, 3 is over water and 5 is pretty straight with very little trouble. Hole 6 is where the fun begins. It is a par 5 that requires a good 3rd shot over water to a fairly big green. However, your tee shot needs to be somewhat left and your second shot is a layup of about 140-160 yards. This will leave you with about 100 or so yards to the green. Hole 7 is another fun little hole that is short, doglegged to the left, over a creek to a very small green. Best to use a fairway wood or hybrid to tee off – keeping your shot to the right. This will allow for a short iron approach to the green. Long or left of the green and you are pulling another ball out of your bag. Hole 8 is a long par 5 that runs along the creek and pond on the right, with hills and rough along the left. Tee shot to the middle will allow for a second shot up the left side. If you have successfully pulled those two shots off, it will leave you with an iron shot into the green. The green is protected by a berm long the left and back of the green, with the pond on the right. The green has a large hump in the middle that pushes everything down and right, so if the flag is in the back, hit it to the upper left side of the green and allow the contour to push your ball towards the flag. Hole 9 is a straight-away par 4 that plays long due to the elevated green. Make sure to take enough club to clear the false front and give you a put for birdie.
Turning to the back nine, hole 10 is a straight par 4 that has an elevated green. Any tee shot to the middle or middle left will provide a good chance of getting on the green. The green is once again elevated with fall offs right and left and it runs front to back. Hole 11 is a short par 3. The green is large so anything on or around the green allows for a good chance at birdie or par. Hole 12 is a long par 5 that is fairly easy. However, during the summer there is a creek that runs across the fairway that you will need to navigate on your second shot. Additionally, the green is small and guarded front and left by bunkers. Be careful not to go over the green as it will lead downhill to the 13th tee box. Hole 14 is the worse hole on the entire golf course from my point of view. It is a hole that is a short par 4, that requires a long tee shot to the far right to allow you to even have a remote chance of hitting the green in regulation. Anything to the left will create a second shot that must be bounced off of a hill to allow your ball to trickle down to the green. Any shot over the hill will produce a run off of your ball to a low area that will make if very difficult to get a bogey. This hole, again my POV, should be completely redesigned as it is a travesty to the course. Hole 15 is a mid-range par 3 that plays to an elevated green and has a false front. Make sure to club up to get to the large green and provide an opportunity for a birdie putt. Hole 16, which is a par 4, runs parallel to the par 5 6th on the front nine. A good tee shot will provide you with a long iron to the green which is located across the creek and up the hill. The green is guarded by bunkers on the right. Hole 17 is a great hole in that it is a dogleg to the left in which you cannot see the green from the tee box. A good shot to the right of the big tree on the left will leave you with a long iron or hybrid into the green. Be careful not to go left of the tree as your ball will find water. The last half of the fairway runs alongside the pond on the left and narrows at the beginning of the green. Ensure you take enough club to hit the green, even traveling to the back of the green is not bad. The final hole, hole 18, is a very nice hole as well, as it plays pretty much straight with a little left to right just at the green. A good tee shot to the middle of the fairway will allow for a second shot to the left, which puts you in the prime position of hitting into the green and not having to go over any of the water on the left.
Overall, the course was in about as good of shape as can be expected after many days of rain and drizzle. The staff was friendly and the cart attendant was on the course. We definitely enjoyed the round. This is one of our favorite courses in Oregon but if it has been raining, I would probably find another course to play due to the issues with drainage. Have fun.
