Emerald Valley Golf Club, in Creswell, OR, is the home course of the Oregon Ducks Golf Team and a staple of Willamette Valley golf. Emerald Valley has all of the tangibles of a complete and respectable golf course, even if a bit understated at first glance. Quality greens and lengthy distances establishes it as a suitable and challenging venue for collegiate practice. But also, sizable advantages from the front tees are accomodating to the common golfer and help make this a popular course for the greater Eugene area. Beyond its pure putting surfaces, Emerald Valley has a nice natural setting and a diverse array of tests at each tee. Aside from some residential properties on the front 9, other views include forested foothills and the Coast Fork of the Willamette River. Solid across the board, Emerald Valley is a course that doesn’t take a scholar to appreciate, and where a love for Northwest golf is the only prerequisite.

Emerald Valley Golf Club is built on a flat tract of land and has little in the form of shapely terrain. The course gets it character from meandering doglegs that cut through a wealth of trees, as well as tricky, undulating greens. The straighter layouts tend to tighten up, making trees the main source of trouble throughout all of the holes. Much of the threat of trees exists in rows of old growth placed between holes. Factoring in some lengthy distances puts a premium on finding the fairways. Also, sand traps exist directionally, assisting the trees in narrowing any target zones that otherwise may be favorable in size. More notable are the greenside bunkers that are frequent and often steep-faced. Aside from the Par 3s on the back 9 and several wetland areas, there is minimal water that comes into play. The greens at Emerald Valley, which counter the overall flat grounds of the course, have extreme sloping and can be very tricky to roll. They are well maintained, and provide a fast, true putting surface.

Tucked back into the hillsides of Lyons, OR, Elkhorn Golf Course is a hidden gem that should not be overlooked when visiting the Salem area. Off the beaten path but worth the drive, Elkhorn Golf Course features sweeping dog legs, forced carries and small undulating greens that give the course teeth that can’t be accounted for on the scorecard. Previously considered one the premier nine hole courses in the country, an expansion in the late 90’s turned Elkhorn into a full size 18 hole course. Rumor has it only a handful of people have ever broken par on this layout, a testament to the shorter layout of old school style golf. Be sure to stock up on golf balls before your round, as he surrounding woodlands and tight layout of the course lend itself to lost balls if you spray the ball. Elkhorn Golf Course is truly a test of shotmaking and accuracy.

The forested setting of Elkhorn Golf Course lends itself to astonishing views from the first tee shot through the 18th green. The par 3s are the standouts on this course, particularly the 11th, playing just over 200 yards. Each par 3 at Elkhorn is unique and rewarding of quality ball striking. Trouble abounds at Elkhorn, in the shape of narrow fairways, streams meadering through landing areas and large water hazards throughout awaiting to gobble up your favorite golf ball. Elkhorn is a solid test of golf but don’t let that scare you off. The tranquility of the course will entice even the most sporadic of weekend warriors. The greens at Elkhorn run at a moderate speed and are generally well maintained. Practice facilities are limited to putting and chipping greens so a long game warm up may be needed off site prior to your round.

Diamond Woods Golf Course, in Monroe, OR, is a well-designed golf getaway in rural Willamette Valley. Built into a rolling, forested hillside, Diamond Woods showcases traditional Northwest features with tree-lined holes and some notable evelation changes. With that said, the opening holes are generously layed out with wide target zones and relatively flat terrain; a feature that both assists in a favorable start for all, and accomodates to novice-9-holers. Diamond Woods is cohesively designed with the pre-existing natural characteristics of this quiet forest and farmland setting. A round here grows increasingly engaging as you progress through the twists and turns, and ups and downs of the land. At several vantage points, views across the green valley to the Cascadian foothills are available. But for much of the experience, you will be testing your precious mettle within the namesake trees of Diamond Woods.

Diamond Woods Golf Course, as mentioned, is built into the base of a hillside in which most of the holes contain gradual to moderate elevation change. Target zones are fairly generous throughout the course but beyond the ideal landing areas, and especially on the more wooded holes, errancy can become costly. Much of the forested areas have wild, undergrowth, making penalty strokes more common than recovery strokes. A good variation of hole characteristics exists throughout, and is arguably at its best amid the Back 9. Here, elevation change and the use of doglegs are maximized to create the most notable challenge of Diamond Woods. A couple of large water features come into play on multiple holes, mainly on the Front 9 to help narrow some open layouts. And sand traps exist throughout the course, primarily located next to the greens, and are decently manageable with modest depth. The greens, with exception of a few, are rather flat and easy to read, and provide an average speed and roll.

Cross Creek Golf Course is a rural, links course outside of Dallas, OR. This course provides a favorable opportunity to swing without fear, stay in play, and enjoy a respectable golf course. Sitting amid forested country hills and green farmlands, and home to casts of hawks, Cross Creek has pleasant natural elements despite it’s locale off of Highway 22. For a full-sized track, this is a friendly place to score low or for newcomers to enjoy an unintimidating golf experience. The grounds at Cross Creek are fairly simple with a lot of open space, but the features that do exist are maintained with care, especially for such an affordable golf venue.

Cross Creek Golf Course has large target zones and provides a good range of yardage to suit all golfers. The back tees adds a lot of distance, and counters a lack of trouble areas for longer or experienced golfers. There are minimal trees on the course; just several areas of native trees as well as sparsely plotted immature trees throughout. There’s not an excess of water either, but true to it’s name, the course traverses over a creek that runs through the grounds and across numerous holes. Linked to the creek are a couple of man made lakes that can definitely come into play, notably on the Par 4 10th. No fairway bunkers adds to the courses openness, but most of the greens are guarded by sand and knolls. The greens at Cross Creek have large surface areas, and are kept in good shape. They provide ordinary speed and break.

Cross Creek Golf Course is simple regarding amenities and facilities, but they have a very nice outdoor driving range. The hitting stations are grass-surfaced and elevated a bit from the range. There is a small practice green to warm up, but it’s modest for mere practice purposes. The pro shop is small and simple with basic merchandise and some snacks and drinks. Be alert as you drive up Highway 22, as the course is not well marked.

NOTE: Cougar Canyon Golf Course is currently closed for play.

Cougar Canyon Golf Course, located in the small town of Myrtle Creek, OR in Southern Oregon is on of the most enjoyable tracks in the state. Formerly known as Myrtle Creek Golf Course after the town it resides in, Cougar Canyon recently changed their name to reflect the widlife and scenery enjoyed throughout your round. While the prospects of gold at the neighboring Seven Feather Casino may bring you to Cougar Canyon on a Stay and Play package, the riches of the views, peacfulness of the nature around you and quality of golf should bring any golfer back for more. Understanding that you may not be satisfied after one go around, Cougar Canyon offers Unlimited Golf with Cart greens fees for less than what many courses charge for one round. Your greens fees are determined by your start time, and you can go all day if you are so inclined.

Situated among the hills of the Umpqua Valley, Cougar Canyon is serene and quiet, offering an escpae to it’s players that rivals any course. Due to it’s location, players will endure immense elevation changes, rolling fairways and greens often blind from the tee box. The primary challenges of Cougar Canyon Golf Course comes to the player in the form of it’s terrain. It is more common than not that you do not see the pin during your tee shot. Setting up your second shot from the tee is a must at Cougar Canyon. It is definitely a course that needs to be played often to master, while still fair to any newcomer. The greens at Cougar Canyon regularly run at a medium pace by design, anything faster would make the greens almost unfair as much as they move. Hazards come in the form of tall grass, wetlands and large bunkers lining most of the greens. The occasional well placed pond and tree lined holes also come in to play to prevent scoring. Cougar Canyon

Playing Cougar Canyon Golf Course

Cougar Canyon Golf Course begins with one of the best holes on the course, a downhill Par 5 covering 546 yards from the tips. A large tree comes in to play if you leave your ball on the right side on your second shot. A well guarded green awaits your shot into the green, with trouble left right and behind the green. The first hole at Cougar Canyon gives you a sense of what you’re up against throughout your round, with heavy undulation in the fairwaays and greens and a sever elevation change from tee to green. After a Par 3 with landmines all around you, players encounter the second Par 5 of the day, a sweeping dog leg right back uphill to an elevated green. Up and down is the name of the game for the next three holes until you hit perhape the most challenging and unique Par 4 on the property, Hole #7. From a signifcantly elevated tee box, the inclination is to tee it high and swing hard. However, the course tightens near most players landing area, and anything missed left gives you almost no shot at the green. Swing hard if you dare. Your Front 9 finishes with yet another Par 3 and a long, uphil Par 5. The Front Nine at Cougar Canyon features three Par 3’s, three Par 4’s and three Par 5’s.

As you head to the Back Nine at Cougar Canyon Golf Course, you are greeted by yet another uphill, blind tee shot into a postage stamp green, guarded by a creek in front and a hill behind. Par is a good dscore as you begin the back. The 11th Hole is yet another sweeping dog leg right. The course tricks you into believing you may have a chance to go at the green, but the safe play is to aim well left of the green. Attempting to cut the corner will only bring trouble. The 13th is one of the better Par 3’s on the property, with a pond in front and a large green to the left. The safe play to the right leads to tall grasses, making accuarcy a must on this demanding Par 3. As you make your way to the finish line, you encounter fewer elevation changes, but just as much undulation until you hit the final hole, a Par 5 lined by a side hill. The final green is guarded heavily by bunkers, making the 18th hole scorable, but also ripe for a high number. By the time you hit the end of Cougar Canyon, you may just want another run at it!