Oregon/Washington ?

R-Kid · July 9, 2013

My wife and I will be taking a 3 week vacation to the northwest. We would like to find a couple of areas that has a combination of public golf and touristy type things to do. We will golf 4 times a week. Thanks Ron

wkuo3 · July 9, 2013

Check out the stay and paly package for Chambers Bay , Gold Mountain .... The olympic Penisula has Ocean Shores ( longest beach you could drive on ), The Olympic National Park ( only Rain Forest on the North America )............
Golf courses like Chmbers Bay, Trophy Lake, Gold Mountain, MaCormic Woods, The home COurse are all within 30 minutes drive to each other.
Seattle/Bellevue is one hour away.

honketyhank · July 9, 2013

Also take a look at the Bend, Oregon, area. Great golf, beautiful scenery, snow in the Cascades, high desert.

mallrat · July 9, 2013

Are you flying into somewhere or driving up from somewhere?

R-Kid · July 9, 2013

We will be flying into Portland and renting a car. How are the courses along the coast?

ws6 · July 9, 2013

Other than Bandon, SandPines in Florence is fun. Bend is a cool place to see, and you could stop at Tokatee on the way over.

[url="http://www.tokatee.com/"]http://www.tokatee.com/[/url]

[url="http://www.sandpines.com/"]http://www.sandpines.com/[/url]

DeNinny · July 10, 2013

If you leave Portland for Bend a nice route would be to take the I-84 east through the Columbia River Gorge and visit Multnomah Falls for the touristy thing and then golf at Skamania and/or Indian Creek. Then head south via Hwy35 or 97 and hit Kah Nee Ta or Crooked River Ranch. Once you get to the Sisters/Redmond/Bend area (central Oregon) you will have a wide variety of golf courses and tourist activities to choose from. Get a round at Tokatee on the way out of that area.

Although the Oregon coast has some nice courses (Sandpines, Gearhart, Bandon Dunes Resort, Salishan) they are spread out more than Central Oregon so expect more drive time between everything and also the time drive out there from Portland.

If you go north into Washington there are so many courses along the I-5 from Portland and into Seattle - Home Course, Chambers Bay, Gold Mountain, Hawks Prairie are just a few. Then once in Seattle there is another wide array of courses and tourist activities.

Have fun!

R-Kid · July 10, 2013

Would a week in Bend Be about right? We would golf 3-4 times in a week, and see the area. Drive over to the coast and drive the Pacific up to Washington and spend a week in Seattle,golf there. Does that sound like a good way to start planning? Thanks for all the input.

honketyhank · July 10, 2013

[quote name='R-Kid' timestamp='1373494297' post='7427506']
Would a week in Bend Be about right? We would golf 3-4 times in a week, and see the area. Drive over to the coast and drive the Pacific up to Washington and spend a week in Seattle,golf there. Does that sound like a good way to start planning? Thanks for all the input.
[/quote]

There are lots of ways to do it. We have a lot to offer. I can go up or down the coast and not play golf at all and still enjoy it. Or up the Cascades I would ask that you not expect fantastic courses in the northern half of the Oregon Coast, even though there are some good ones. If you are going up the coast, make that your expectation -- it will be met and exceeded. Golf will be an extra and sometimes fantastic delight.

I moved to Oregon 22 years ago and I still love it. Golf, scenery, tourism. Heck, we go out east into the high desert and love it out there. You can even find 6 hole cow pasture courses out there. Not recommended for the tourist, but great fun. And great explorations finding them.

DeNinny · July 11, 2013

[quote name='R-Kid' timestamp='1373494297' post='7427506']
Would a week in Bend Be about right? We would golf 3-4 times in a week, and see the area. Drive over to the coast and drive the Pacific up to Washington and spend a week in Seattle,golf there. Does that sound like a good way to start planning? Thanks for all the input.
[/quote]

A week is fine for the touristy things and just a taste of the golf but you may find yourself wanting more golf time there - so many good to great courses in that area. If you are interested in visiting one of the best golf shops on the planet, try to stop by Fiddler's Green as you head to the coast from Bend.

pdx5 · July 11, 2013

The best courses in Portland area...Waverley, Oswwego Lake, Columbia Edgewater, Pumpkin Ridge, Portland GC & Royal Oaks.
But they are all private! You can play them for the green's fee if you are a member at other private golf club. LPGA played annually for several years at Columbia, and now they play at Pumpkin which also has a public 18 holes course. If you like link style courses, Bandon has 4-18 hole layouts very highly rated by Golf magazines, with many holes along the Pacific ocean.

oregongolf · July 11, 2013

[quote name='pdx5' timestamp='1373517852' post='7429942']
The best courses in Portland area...Waverley, Oswwego Lake, Columbia Edgewater, Pumpkin Ridge, Portland GC & Royal Oaks.
But they are all private! You can play them for the green's fee if you are a member at other private golf club. LPGA played annually for several years at Columbia, and now they play at Pumpkin which also has a public 18 holes course. If you like link style courses, Bandon has 4-18 hole layouts very highly rated by Golf magazines, with many holes along the Pacific ocean.
[/quote]

You're right, some of the best courses in the area are private.. but Oswego Lake? Hardly memorable or even a great course. I think people most everyone would agree that Reserve South is probably a better track.

The LPGA is back now at Edgewater again.

I think if I were doing a similar trip, I would fly into Seatac, head down to Bandon for two days, then loop up to Bend before heading back to Portland to fly home. You'd catch the great tracks around Seattle, Bandon (heaven), and Bend (second heaven), and Portland last.

I know people who've made similar golf pilgramages and they've loved it. I've made the loop from PDX to Bandon to Bend and there is plenty of stuff to do and see along the way.

spud3 · July 12, 2013

Here's my suggestion:
Fly into Portland, drive to Bend. Spend 3-5 days there, golfing and sightseeing.
Take a leisurely drive to Bandon, stay there 3-4 days, mostly golfing (if it's not already booked)
Drive up the coast to Puget Sound (this will take at least a day), possibly stop to play/stay at Salishan or Gearhart
Golf/sightsee around Seattle for a few days (4 or 5)
Drive back down to Portland, golf and sightsee for 4 or 5 days, then fly home

That would get you the best of Pacific NW golf and sights

And we have plenty of great courses in the Portland area that are public: Pumpkin Ridge, Langdon Farms, The Reserve (2 courses) and even some decent munis

Bubba Julio · July 13, 2013

Fly into Portland and hit up Pumpkin Ridge, the Reserve, maybe Heron Lakes or Langdon Farms. Head over Mt. Hood on your way to Central Oregon (a beautiful drive), stop and play at the Resort at the Mountain on the way there. Stay in Sunriver and enjoy all that Central Oregon has to offer, it's a recreational paradise. Hit up Crosswater, Tetherow, Pronghorn, Meadows, Black Butte, etc.. There are literally 20 - 25 courses within a 45 minute radius of each other. From there head to the coast and stop for a round at either Tokatee or Trysting Tree (depending on what route you take). Stay at Bandon and play as many of the courses as your wallet allows, all of the Bandon courses make for rounds that you will never forget. While you are down there play Sandpines as well and make sure to leave yourself enough time to enjoy the beautiful Oregon coast. On the trip back to Portland, stop at Lincoln City to play Salishan and have some fun at the casino... You never know, you might win your vacation money back at the craps table!

againstthegrain · July 13, 2013

[quote name='wkuo3' timestamp='1373375886' post='7416028']
Check out the stay and paly package for Chambers Bay , Gold Mountain .... The olympic Penisula has Ocean Shores ( longest beach you could drive on ), The Olympic National Park ( only Rain Forest on the North America )............
Golf courses like Chmbers Bay, Trophy Lake, Gold Mountain, MaCormic Woods, The home COurse are all within 30 minutes drive to each other.
Seattle/Bellevue is one hour away.
[/quote]

There is rain forest in SE Alaska. Costal WA and SE AK are the only temperate rain forests in the world. They are awesome to explore.

oregongolf · July 13, 2013

Upon second thought, I would amend my trip... by playing primarily in Oregon, you're missing some of the great tracks in Central and Eastern Washington. You also have three weeks and haven't specified a budget, but with unlimited money, I would make the large PNW circle. Seattle>Portland>Bandon>Bend>Eastern WA>Central WA>Seattle and you'd pretty much cover the best available courses we have in the region.

1. Fly into Seatac. Poke around in Seattle and the surrounding areas. Play Chambers and Golf Mountain Olympic.
2. Drive to Portland. Play Pumpkin Ridge Ghost Creek, The Reserve South.
3. Drive to Bandon. Enjoy the Oregon coast on the way down. There are spots that are very different from each other. Go wild at the resort...
4. Drive to Bend. Play Crosswater, Pronghorn, Brasada, Tetherow. Poke around in Bend. Lots to do
5. Drive to Eastern WA (Walla Walla). Enjoy the wineries. Play Wine Valley. Twice. You can sub in Palouse Ridge in Pullman also. Hugely underrated track.
6. Drive to Central WA (Cle Elum). Play Suncadia. I can't speak to the quality, but there is a winery and multiple day tour operators.
7. Drive to Seattle. Fly home.

soregongolfer · July 13, 2013

[quote name='Bubba Julio' timestamp='1373745192' post='7448148']
Fly into Portland and hit up Pumpkin Ridge, the Reserve, maybe Heron Lakes or Langdon Farms. Head over Mt. Hood on your way to Central Oregon (a beautiful drive), stop and play at the Resort at the Mountain on the way there. Stay in Sunriver and enjoy all that Central Oregon has to offer, it's a recreational paradise. Hit up Crosswater, Tetherow, Pronghorn, Meadows, Black Butte, etc.. There are literally 20 - 25 courses within a 45 minute radius of each other. From there head to the coast and stop for a round at either Tokatee or Trysting Tree (depending on what route you take). Stay at Bandon and play as many of the courses as your wallet allows, all of the Bandon courses make for rounds that you will never forget. While you are down there play Sandpines as well and make sure to leave yourself enough time to enjoy the beautiful Oregon coast. On the trip back to Portland, stop at Lincoln City to play Salishan and have some fun at the casino... You never know, you might win your vacation money back at the craps table!
[/quote]

That's a fine golf vacation right there . My wallet screamed, however, when I read the post aloud.

signats · July 13, 2013

Check the weather before you decide, some of those places can be pretty hot mid-summer, and the coast can be foggy and downright cold if you hit it wrong.

coast: [url="http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=46.03320252140958&lon=-123.92303466796875"]http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=46.03320252140958&lon=-123.92303466796875[/url]

Bend: [url="http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=44.06193297865353&lon=-121.300048828125"]http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=44.06193297865353&lon=-121.300048828125[/url]

Portland: [url="http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=45.57944511437787&lon=-122.6239013671875"]http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=45.57944511437787&lon=-122.6239013671875[/url]

Gig Harbor: [url="http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=47.31555190588103&lon=-122.60330200195312"]http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=47.31555190588103&lon=-122.60330200195312[/url]

Bubba Julio · July 14, 2013

[quote name='soregongolfer' timestamp='1373754819' post='7448826']
[quote name='Bubba Julio' timestamp='1373745192' post='7448148']
Fly into Portland and hit up Pumpkin Ridge, the Reserve, maybe Heron Lakes or Langdon Farms. Head over Mt. Hood on your way to Central Oregon (a beautiful drive), stop and play at the Resort at the Mountain on the way there. Stay in Sunriver and enjoy all that Central Oregon has to offer, it's a recreational paradise. Hit up Crosswater, Tetherow, Pronghorn, Meadows, Black Butte, etc.. There are literally 20 - 25 courses within a 45 minute radius of each other. From there head to the coast and stop for a round at either Tokatee or Trysting Tree (depending on what route you take). Stay at Bandon and play as many of the courses as your wallet allows, all of the Bandon courses make for rounds that you will never forget. While you are down there play Sandpines as well and make sure to leave yourself enough time to enjoy the beautiful Oregon coast. On the trip back to Portland, stop at Lincoln City to play Salishan and have some fun at the casino... You never know, you might win your vacation money back at the craps table!
[/quote]

That's a fine golf vacation right there . My wallet screamed, however, when I read the post aloud.
[/quote]

Haha, very true... But that's why you hit Chinook Winds Casino on the way back to recoup all the cash you spent on golf! =)