Gearhart Golf Links / Cannon Beach golf

R4haehl · August 19, 2018

Headed down to Cannon Beach, OR next week and thinking about getting a solo morning round in at Gearhart Golf Links. I'll be the first tee time off so I can play quick. I understand they had a course restoration a few years ago to bring back the true links feel but I don't know much about it other than it is the oldest continual golf course west of the Mississippi. A buddy played it earlier this summer and said it was fun but nothing to write home about. He said they chem sprayed the greens that morning and I think that affected his opinion.

Anyone play it recently? Reviews/Thoughts? Other courses to consider? - Trusting fellow GolfWRX'ers opinions over what I have found online

Kernel · August 20, 2018

I played Gearhart in the spring and really enjoyed it. It is a fun track - very linksy since they removed a ton of trees. The greens are tiny and the course was in great shape when we played.

R4haehl · August 21, 2018

I played Gearhart in the spring and really enjoyed it. It is a fun track - very linksy since they removed a ton of trees. The greens are tiny and the course was in great shape when we played.

I appreciate the response and the insight. I figured at least one person on here has played it lol anyone else who has anything to add feel more than welcome to chime in. I'll report back after I play

CMCSGolf · August 21, 2018

I played there in October of 2016. It's a good course that looks very linksy and windswept. However, the ground did not play all that firm so it wasn't really like playing a links course. Overall, it's worth a round and was in decent shape for the end of the season. I'll agree with your buddy, nothing too memorable out there.

R4haehl · August 22, 2018

I played there in October of 2016. It's a good course that looks very linksy and windswept. However, the ground did not play all that firm so it wasn't really like playing a links course. Overall, it's worth a round and was in decent shape for the end of the season. I'll agree with your buddy, nothing too memorable out there.

I hear what you are saying and I appreciate the honesty. I'm not expecting it to be Bandon by any means but while I am there, its close enough to where we are staying so why not. Playing golf on a short trip is better than playing no golf! Hopefully it is playing a bit firmer in late August than it was for you in October of 16.

R4haehl · August 29, 2018

Played Gearhart Golf Links this morning. Super foggy and misty this AM at the course. It was about what I expected the course to be: Right in front of you for the most part and small greens. The turf was firm for the most part but not quite as "linksy" as I had hoped it to be. It was a little soft in a few places since there was damp air, morning dew, etc... The greens were decent, but somewhat inconsistent due to the dampness but I thought they rolled well once I got the feel for it. I love the older style of courses in how they have the tee boxes right next to the green you just finished. The course plays short overall as it tips out at 6551yds but I could see it playing much longer if the wind was blowing, and there was none for me this morning

I finished in just under 3hr but I very well could have finished in 2hrs and change. I was playing with 2 older gentlemen on the front 9 who moved a bit slower than me ;-) Not bad players but took their time with everything, and I like to play fast. They wanted a "break" at the turn, so I kept on going solo and I cruised the rest of my round in just under an hour for the back 9. By the time I saw them teeing off on 10, I was hitting my approach on 13.

I didn't partake in the McMenamins Sand Trap or the Pot Bunker pubs, nor did I look around the clubhouse. The clubhouse did look pretty cool from the outside though. The proshop had some decent gear, lots of Columbia stuff given that the course is owned by the owner of Columbia Sportswear. A handful of Seamus covers and the usual hats, polos, pullovers, shirts, golf bags, other bags and other golf shop souvenir things.

Overall, I enjoyed the course and I would play here again when I am back in the area but it is nothing to write home about. I thought it was quite a bit overpriced at $85. It'd be awesome if there were beach and ocean views but it's a few blocks away from that.

Thanks again to those who chimed in and if anyone has any questions, let me know!

CMCSGolf · August 29, 2018

Spot on assessment. I also agree on the price, it was the first thing I thought when I played it. I think they can get away with it because most of their rounds are tourists and not much is nearby. It's a $50 course, but worth a round if you are nearby.

jpdx · August 30, 2018

I play it once a year on a trip to seaside. I have played in a few different conditions. Definitely not linksy in play but looks linksy. The par 3 11 (I think it’s 11) can be stretched out and normally plays into the wind.

I enjoy it every year. But perhaps a bit over priced, but I’ll pay it as...some golf is better than no golf.

spud3 · August 31, 2018

The North and Central coast really doesn't have much, if you can't get on at Astoria. Gearhart, Salishan and Florence Golf Links (formerly Sandpines) are the only ones worth bothering with between Astoria and Bandon. The rest are various shades of charming 9-hole courses. Fun, but not the same.

IIRC, I had read some time back that Keiser was trying to work a land swap to build a course around Pacific City(?), but it fell through. I hope he keeps at it, as a Bandon-quality course in the north half of the coast would make a killing with those of us in PDX