This 3 nine mountain course was only open for the season for a short time when we played it last weekend. The Thistle & Pine Cone 9's were beautifully green and lush. Fairways and greens were unders... Continue »

This 3 nine mountain course was only open for the season for a short time when we played it last weekend. The Thistle & Pine Cone 9's were beautifully green and lush. Fairways and greens were understandably slow after winter snow and early spring rain. The clubhouse and local restaurant (Mallards) were just waking up as well. Conditions were not summer-resort style yet and scoring was good until you miss a fairway into the long, long rough or trees. Take your medicine and bump it ahead into the fairway. I played it once before (same nines, I think), and noticed that the tee shots look far more difficult than they play. Don't be intimidated out of driver based on the view from the tee. The fairways have generous landing spots. I loved every minute of playing this place. The views, water features, animals all around the course made it particularly enjoyable. As the weather warms, the fairways get fast and the greens rolled, this will be a prime mountain golf destination for north-central Oregon.