Golf in Eugene area?

[wmblake2000]

My wife and I are thinking about moving from SoCal to Eugene...retired, green (love the green, trees, etc), smaller, less hectic,/crowded cheaper. We were there for a few days last week and I didn't bring clubs or try to play, but it looks like there isn't a lot of golf within, say, a 30 mile radius. Of course, there are world class golf facilities 2-3 hrs away, but that's not going to be where I play the most. Emerald Valley seems excellent and Eugene Country Club (I'm not much of a country club guy but the course looks great so...) But the town only has 2 9 hole daily fee courses in it, and seems to me that the golf is pretty thin.

 

For any of you in the area: how's the golf? Where do you play most of the time?

[stevopagolf]

Emerald Valley is nice. Oregon team practices there. Take a ride out to Tokatee, beautiful mountain views right around an hour. Sandpines in Florence is a little over an hour and nice as well.

[wmblake2000]

Thanks... Do you live in the area? If so, where do you mainly play? I play 2-4x/week and would like to find 2 pretty regular places to play within a 30 minute drive.

[stevopagolf]

Thanks... Do you live in the area? If so, where do you mainly play? I play 2-4x/week and would like to find 2 pretty regular places to play within a 30 minute drive.

 

No, my Mom lives in Corvallis which is about 45 miles north of there, so I have played a bunch around there. Diamond Woods in Monroe is decent about 30 minutes, I forgot that one. Fiddler's Green is a nice pro shop up route 99 about halfway between Eugene and Monroe.

 

I always drive to Tokatee which is about 1.5 hours from Corvallis. Very enjoyable. More courses north of Corvallis, easy drive up I5

[spud3]

I lived in Eugene for many years. Sadly, your initial impression is accurate. For the size of the Eugene-Springfield area, there is not very much in the way of public golf.

 

The two CC's (Eugene CC and Shadow Hills) are the best courses near or in the city. Emerald Valley is a decent course, but still a 20-30 minute drive. Tokatee is also a decent course in a beautiful setting, but quite a ways away to serve as a regular course.

 

Your best bet is to join Shadow Hills, if you can't afford Eugene CC. Other than that, locate on the south side of town so EV is a little closer.

[soregongolfer]

Eugene stinks for public golf. Emerald Valley is nice, but it's not inexpensive and there's a dairy around there that'll make your stomach turn when the wind is right. I've heard River Ridge is on it's way out as well making public golf in Eugene even worse. If golf is going to be a big part of your retirement, I'd considering somewhere else.

[wmblake2000]

Yes, I think River Ridge just closed 9 holes and still has 9 left open, so...

 

I would join a country club except it really does chew up the golf budget and keeps you mainly on one course. Although I think Eugene CC course is very nice... I had not noticed Shadow Hills, but will look into it. (Just did.. It is reasonably priced.) I read somewhere Eugene CC has a waiting list.

 

We really liked the Eugene area... just the right sized town for us, with a lot of really interesting stuff... theatre, arts, restaurants, etc. And the incredible green - we'd probably live in south, near hiking, where it seems there is less development. I don't mind the cost of Emerald Valley, but I'd like one more go to course.

 

Thanks everyone for your input. We're going to go there during the winter to make sure we can handle the rain...but right now, we're pretty excited about the prospect.

[Pulledabill]

If you arent used to the rain, and dark gloomy days, it will be a tough transition. its a gorgeous city with quite a bit to offer and Portland is 2 hours north if you want bigger city environment. Im an hour north in Salem and will be spending some time in Eugene as my daughter just started at UO. Hope it works out for you.. Dont forget Bandon is just 2 and a half hours away as well as Bend.

[zzyzxx33]

I live in Bend. It's smaller than Eugene. There are more choices over here, but we get some snow. Redmond is less expensive than Bend. It is only 20-25 minutes north and has Juniper Golf Club. I had an annual pass there for two years, but now I play at River's Edge. It closer to home and a little less expensive than Juniper. Send me a pm if you have other questions.

 

Andrew

[spud3]

Waaaaay better golf options in Bend area, even if it's not a year-round locale...

[Cwebb]

Be ready for a lot of wet soggy conditions. Nice place to get out of the heat in the summer, but other than that, would be tough for a golfer looking to play for most of the year

[zzyzxx33]

Waaaaay better golf options in Bend area, even if it's not a year-round locale...

 

Very true. The season is longer than i thought it would be (about 10 months) and longer if you are retired.

[The Pearl]

Bend or Bandon. You could make Bandon Crossings your home course and pop on over to Bandon once in awhile.

 

As some have mentioned, I would give serious consideration to the weather. If it is not your thing, it can be oppressive. I have two life long friends that live in Portland and they are both heading south. I just can't deal with the rain and clouds any longer.

[wmblake2000]

I was playing yesterday. Beautiful late summer day here in SoCal. There are a lot of sunny days here. I sure did wonder what 'oppressive rains' would be like for my wife and me who really like to be outside doing stuff. The golf is just part of the story. I can figure that out (I think!). But can we handle gloomy day after gloomy day after gloomy day? I mean, last week there was beautiful. The hiking was magnificent, the trees glorious. All that rain does great things. And we like having a college around.

 

We're not going to decide for a while. Going to go in Jan or Feb, during the worst time, and see. Bend doesn't appeal to us - too small, too cold. But can 2 SoCal retired people handle the rain?

[Rohlio]

Join the private courses or move somewhere else. Public golf in the part of the state blows!

[wmblake2000]

Join the private courses or move somewhere else. Public golf in the part of the state blows!

 

I exchanged a few messages with fairway Fred who posted years ago here about Eugene and he said the same thing. Emerald Valley is about all there is or join Eugene cc.. He wasn’t too keen on the other cc. I’m just not a cc kind of guy. I just like to play golf. The 9 hole course Laurelwood seemed fun, too but it’s just 9.

 

 

Odds of the move are not great as we think about it. But wow did we love it there. Loved the hikes we took and the slower pace and all the arts/restaurants in town, the size of the town, the u of Oregon vibe. Didn’t like the homeless vibe. Don’t like the golf and the limited sunny season.

 

 

[Rohlio]

I was a member of a private cc in Oregon a small town in Oregon. Absolutely nothing like being a member at a Private club in California. It was filled with a pretty wide assortment of people. Many blue collar, who just happened to like golf. It was actually wonderful, not pretentious at all.

[Cwebb]

Join the private courses or move somewhere else. Public golf in the part of the state blows!

 

I exchanged a few messages with fairway Fred who posted years ago here about Eugene and he said the same thing. Emerald Valley is about all there is or join Eugene cc.. He wasn’t too keen on the other cc. I’m just not a cc kind of guy. I just like to play golf. The 9 hole course Laurelwood seemed fun, too but it’s just 9.

 

 

Odds of the move are not great as we think about it. But wow did we love it there. Loved the hikes we took and the slower pace and all the arts/restaurants in town, the size of the town, the u of Oregon vibe. Didn’t like the homeless vibe. Don’t like the golf and the limited sunny season.

 

I would look into further south in Oregon. Winters are still a struggle, but a lot less of the grey sky and soggy turf for much of the year....and more golf options.

 

Also, I'd rather live in the Boise Idaho area than Eugene, even though the winters are rough

[spud3]

I was a member of a private cc in Oregon a small town in Oregon. Absolutely nothing like being a member at a Private club in California. It was filled with a pretty wide assortment of people. Many blue color, who just happened to like golf. It was actually wonderful, not pretentious at all.

 

+1

 

I know a few members of Shadow Hills, and it is not a pretentious place at all.

[BrandonDunes]

When I was in Eugene for college my favorite course around the area was Springfield Country Club. It's a private/public course.

[soregongolfer]

Look in Ashland, OR. It's close to the Cali border. It's not quite as green because it's dryer there, but still a small liberal college town with pretty good golf nearby. Centennial and Eagle Point and two of my favorite courses and the Rogue Valley Country Club is pretty nice. It's not Eugene CC nice, but ECC is pretty expensive to get into and I doubt you'll find any blue collar types there.

 

Corvallis is also a smallish college town. Trysting Tree is pretty nice and Mallard Creek is close by.

[soregongolfer]

Join the private courses or move somewhere else. Public golf in the part of the state blows!

 

I exchanged a few messages with fairway Fred who posted years ago here about Eugene and he said the same thing. Emerald Valley is about all there is or join Eugene cc.. He wasn’t too keen on the other cc. I’m just not a cc kind of guy. I just like to play golf. The 9 hole course Laurelwood seemed fun, too but it’s just 9.

 

 

Odds of the move are not great as we think about it. But wow did we love it there. Loved the hikes we took and the slower pace and all the arts/restaurants in town, the size of the town, the u of Oregon vibe. Didn’t like the homeless vibe. Don’t like the golf and the limited sunny season.

 

I would look into further south in Oregon. Winters are still a struggle, but a lot less of the grey sky and soggy turf for much of the year....and more golf options.

 

Also, I'd rather live in the Boise Idaho area than Eugene, even though the winters are rough

 

He said he liked the college vibe of Eugene. Boise is quite the opposite.

[wmblake2000]

Thanks again everyone for all your input! I/we really appreciate it. My wife has a friend in Ashland and next trip we plan on driving vs flying there with a stop in Ashland.

[2putttom]

I was playing yesterday. Beautiful late summer day here in SoCal. There are a lot of sunny days here. I sure did wonder what 'oppressive rains' would be like for my wife and me who really like to be outside doing stuff. The golf is just part of the story. I can figure that out (I think!). But can we handle gloomy day after gloomy day after gloomy day? I mean, last week there was beautiful. The hiking was magnificent, the trees glorious. All that rain does great things. And we like having a college around.

 

We're not going to decide for a while. Going to go in Jan or Feb, during the worst time, and see. Bend doesn't appeal to us - too small, too cold. But can 2 SoCal retired people handle the rain?

roflmao ... written like a true SoCal resident.

[Cwebb]

Thanks again everyone for all your input! I/we really appreciate it. My wife has a friend in Ashland and next trip we plan on driving vs flying there with a stop in Ashland.

 

Medford has some courses as well

[wmblake2000]

I was playing yesterday. Beautiful late summer day here in SoCal. There are a lot of sunny days here. I sure did wonder what 'oppressive rains' would be like for my wife and me who really like to be outside doing stuff. The golf is just part of the story. I can figure that out (I think!). But can we handle gloomy day after gloomy day after gloomy day? I mean, last week there was beautiful. The hiking was magnificent, the trees glorious. All that rain does great things. And we like having a college around.

 

We're not going to decide for a while. Going to go in Jan or Feb, during the worst time, and see. Bend doesn't appeal to us - too small, too cold. But can 2 SoCal retired people handle the rain?

roflmao ... written like a true SoCal resident.

 

Ha! We pay too much in property tax not to get our guaranteed sunshine. And thanks to NoCal for the water...

[2putttom]

we're not staying in Cali when we call it quits. Too expensive, taxes on everything even water.

[wmblake2000]

we're not staying in Cali when we call it quits. Too expensive, taxes on everything even water.

 

What are your leaders in the clubhouse for places to retire?

[metalhip2hcp]

shadow hills is an excellent course, unpretentious & hosted an annual nike event until about 8 yrs ago but you'll find all the valley/portland courses pretty soggy during the rainy season.. best golf in oregon in the winter has to be Bandon Crossings or Bandon Dunes- built on sand with outstanding drainage and much nicer winter weather than the valley or portland

[duffer987]

As a PNWer who's spent time elsewhere (including 5 years in the Bay Area), OP you need to think really long and hard about the weather.

It's not Dec to Feb that are bad IMHO. That's the winter, it's supposed to be sh1te. If it isn't it's a bonus.

The bad part is when you have an October like 2016 where it sets records for rainfall totals or a March like 2017 which sets records for least amount of sunlight in some parts. That's what wears you out.

 

I couldn't imagine being a longtime California resident and stepping into that, year after year and enjoying it.

 

Edit:

That said OP, if you think you can stomach the rain/gloom and want downsizeable PNW wonderfulness with quality public golf options: Bellingham, WA.

 

For Eugene folks: why is the public golf so dire in Eugene? Surely for its size there should be a few decent options.