Portland recommendations

[95124hacker]

Going to spend a week in Portland in August. Besides Pumpkin Ridge, any other decent tracks?

[mallrat]

How many rounds are you looking to play and where are you staying? The Reserve courses are fun with the South being much better than the North course. Heron Lakes Great Blue is a good track , not a big fan of Greenback. Stone Creek is fun, nothing special but fun, same with OGA. Langdon is a good round also, layout is average but conditions are normally good 🤷‍♂️

[doc52]

Quail Valley is a decent option. Played there a couple weeks ago as a good friend of mine was practicing for the the Oregon Amateur Qualifier. 
 

If driving isn’t an issue or if you plan on heading to the coast, I’d also recommend Gearhart Golf Links. About 1.5 hours from Portland. 

[spud3]

Pumpkin's Ghost Creek is over-rated and really over-priced in August, IMHO.  Much better values elsewhere.

 

+1 on @mallrat s recs, but he's being coy about Langdon.  A recent renovation took some of the teeth out of the course, but it's still better than most layouts in the PDX area.

 

In August, pretty much everything will be well dried out; which brings more of the munis into play. Even Eastmoreland (a classic old-skool parkland track) is in the rota for us locals in August.  Quail Valley will be in it's Open-ish baked-out fairways peak, which are a blast. 

I'd also recommend driving up the Columbia Gorge to Carson and playing Elk Ridge.  It's a mini-Old Mac with wind, fescue and crazed greens.  Spectacular views, too.

 

Which begs the question:  Have you considered a run down to Bandon for a couple days?

[Pulledabill]

Get on Golfnow and pick up a "Hot Deal" for The Reserve.  Camas Meadows is another good option and not far from the airport.  

[95124hacker]

We’re staying in Southwest Portland. Only have time for 2 rounds max, most likely just 1 round realistically. Planning on renting clubs for 2 players at the course.

[spud3]

Hop on I-5 south, 15 minutes and you'll get to Langdon Farms.  You'll need to go online and make a tee time two weeks prior, especially if you want to play on a weekend morning.

 

They have good Titleist rentals there.

 

Whatever you do, don't play at Redtail.  It will probably be the closest course to you, and by far the worst choice.

 

[snakano]

My 2 cents: Langdon Farms or either Reserve courses. I've been paired with a few out-of-towners at all three and haven't heard many complaints from them after the round. Enjoy the trip!

[Kernel]

33 minutes ago, snakano said:

My 2 cents: Langdon Farms or either Reserve courses. I've been paired with a few out-of-towners at all three and haven't heard many complaints from them after the round. Enjoy the trip!

I agree. Those two are foolproof options (and I happen to like the North course at Reserve better than the South . . . either one is worth it). 

 

I think Pumpkin Ridge is a fantastic course, but the summer green fees are stupid high. Plus, with them hosting the LIV event I am done with them.

 

And 100% aligned with Spud . . . do not waste your time at Redtail. 

[Seamus_MacDuff]

43 minutes ago, Kernel said:

I think Pumpkin Ridge is a fantastic course, but the summer green fees are stupid high. Plus, with them hosting the LIV event I am done with them.

Pumpkin Ridge is only $11 more than Langdon Farms during the week ($110 vs. $99).  Agree with you on being done with them following their whoring out to the LIV event though.

[MR2Tyler]

On 6/21/2022 at 1:55 PM, Seamus_MacDuff said:

Pumpkin Ridge is only $11 more than Langdon Farms during the week ($110 vs. $99).  Agree with you on being done with them following their whoring out to the LIV event though.

I’m so happy to read other people saying this. I’ve felt the same way, and wasn’t sure whether I was overreacting!

[doc52]

If you’re able to take advantage, Pumpkin does have a $40 replay rate. 

[spud3]

23 hours ago, MR2Tyler said:

I’m so happy to read other people saying this. I’ve felt the same way, and wasn’t sure whether I was overreacting!

Just got an email from the PNGA describing an offer from Pumpkin where they are offering a 60-day "Discovery" membership, and I've never seen anything like that from Pumpkin.

 

One might conclude that the exodus of members due to the LIV thing is more than just a rumor...

[mallrat]

6 hours ago, spud3 said:

Just got an email from the PNGA describing an offer from Pumpkin where they are offering a 60-day "Discovery" membership, and I've never seen anything like that from Pumpkin.

 

One might conclude that the exodus of members due to the LIV thing is more than just a rumor...

Nope, it’s a real thing. Talk with a woman almost daily and she is a member there. Says they have lost over 40 members for a few reasons related to LIV….

 

1) they closed the course for the week before and a couple days after 4th of July weekend without consulting any members. The ownership group decided to do this on their own, which includes closing both courses. 
 

2) the ownership group took the money and promised to use it to improve the courses. Turns out they are assessing the members for the capital improvements instead of using that money. They aren’t even 100% sure where the $ is going. 
 

3) ownership did this without consulting any members. 
 

Last, it’s Portland and Saudi Arabia, just not a good combo

[MR2Tyler]

I got the same email from OGA. Does anyone know what they’re charging for the 60 day membership?  If it’s cheap enough that I can convince myself they’ll lose money on me, I might do it.