First round of 2024 after a LONG break from regulation golf was a new course to this now Oregonian, the municipal Eastmoreland GC in Portland, OR. Great little club (reminds me of Balboa Park GC in Sa... Continue »

First round of 2024 after a LONG break from regulation golf was a new course to this now Oregonian, the municipal Eastmoreland GC in Portland, OR. Great little club (reminds me of Balboa Park GC in San Diego) with an old-school course, cozy little clubhouse, and very modest amenities. Played 3/31 on an 11AM tee-time with unreal weather; 68 degrees and a slight cooling breeze.

Tee boxes: Fairly chewed up as you'd expect for a muni that gets THIS much play. Lots of tee boxes didn't have a place to stand level and the white tees were so beat up on most holes that there was more dirt than grass. That being said, it didn't affect play much.

Fairways: Considering it had only been sunny for 48 hours to this point after a fair amount of rain, the fairways were in good shape. The dampness and goose poop stopped the ball from rolling any, but hitting surfaces were good for the most part. Areas under tree canopies were understandably muddy and gross, but you know what you are getting on a course that sits just below sea level with poor drainage.

Rough: The rough here was just as penal as Torrey. It ate up balls left and right, and with d%mn or often muddy ground underneath, hitting a shot out of it was nearly impossible.

Sand: Was only in one bunker and as expected, it was wet, compact, and so challenging to hit out of, it may as well have been wet cement.

Greens: The highlight today. They were surprisingly tricky for a course like this. Quicker as the day progressed and all in all, not very easy to read. Beautiful color and had it not been for goose poop, the roll would have been great.

ETC: Pace of play was not awful at 4.75 hours with no waiting, just full tee sheet and lots of shorter par 4's. The front nine is parkland-style similar to Bayonet/Blackhorse in Monterey, the back nine looks like a completely different course reminding me of Goose Creek with the routing and hole layout. Fun times.

As a native Portlander, Eastmoreland is a track I've played too many times to count and the conditions I experienced today were hands down the best I have ever seen. It was truly amazing to see a plac... Continue »

As a native Portlander, Eastmoreland is a track I've played too many times to count and the conditions I experienced today were hands down the best I have ever seen. It was truly amazing to see a place notorious for mediocre conditions and slow play in a "showcase-quality" state with fairways and greens in phenomenal shape.

In years past, Eastmoreland was also famous for for geese and goose sh*t around the course, especially the back 9, but that appears to be a problem of the past as well. I heard a rumor in the clubhouse that the head greenskeeper has changed and that a lot of the improvements can be attributed to that, but whatever they're doing - it needs to continue.

Until today, I would recommend that golfers from outside the state play Eastmoreland for the "experience" more than anything (a classic design in the heart of the city) but now I would tell people that the combination of price and conditions makes it a must play (especially in early July). It's as difficult as ever, but now, the conditions make the pain of penalties a little easier to tolerate.

90 year old course in central Portland that was very busy on a Thur. afternoon. Customer Service was a ++. The clubhouse is a very old picturesque building. The course meanders through public stree... Continue »

90 year old course in central Portland that was very busy on a Thur. afternoon. Customer Service was a ++. The clubhouse is a very old picturesque building. The course meanders through public streets and old homes that are mostly hidden with huge trees.

The layout is VERY tree lined, fairly tight with many holes that have character. The greens were firm, rolled well and were medium fast. Front nine greens were in better condition, there were several on the back that had scalped or bare spots. The fairways were lush and in good condition, as was the mostly mowed down rough. The tees were decent, a few could use some divot fix-up. I was in several traps, and the texture varied considerably.

The course is a good value, as attested by the 100+ golfers who were out playing Thursday twilight golf, it took app. 4.5 hours to walk 18 holes.

Eastmoreland Golf Course Review
Portland Oregon Golf Course Reviews

First off, I live near Eastmoreland GC, so I play and practice there often. It's a Portland Municipal course that gets a lot of play, so rounds can be very slow depending on the time of day and how c... Continue »

First off, I live near Eastmoreland GC, so I play and practice there often. It's a Portland Municipal course that gets a lot of play, so rounds can be very slow depending on the time of day and how crowded the course may be. Plus, you get a lot of novice and inexperienced players out there that can really slow things down.

Despite all that, Eastmoreland is a wonderful value and golf experience. It's a classic, tree-lined layout with a great mix of short and long par 4s, reachable par 5s and demanding par 3s. The greens are small and their condition has really improved over the last 2 years (new superintendant). Your short game will have to be sharp to shoot a good score. The main defense for the course are the tight, tree-lined fairways. There are lots of doglegs that require well thought and executed strategy. Often you'll have the choice to hit driver to cutoff a dogleg or play a more conservative route with a fairway wood/hybrid/iron. It's not a long course, but it's a great strategic test for any level of player.

The back 9 is much more interesting visually as it winds around Crystal Springs Lake and several creeks that feed into the lake. The front 9 is a little more straightforward with a number of straightaway (though heavily tree-lined) holes. There's a lighted driving range (mats only) and a good putting and chipping area.

People in the area seem to either love or hate Eastmoreland GC. The haters don't like all the trees and/or pace of play. The ones who love it enjoy the strategic test, walkability and value. Overall, it's a an above average municipal course across the board. Decent conditioning much of the year (very muddy in the winter), good test of golf and good value. I feel lucky to have this course just down the street and it's a place everyone should play at least once. The course was built in the 1920s and hosted professional events in the mid-20th century. The "classic" nature of the course is very evident and serves as a refuge for the game we love.