Rock Creek Country Club in the Westside suburban outskirts of Portland, OR is a private community course with a classic parkland setting. Play is primarily reserved for club members, although open tee times are available throughout the day through GolfNow. Built in the 1950’s, Rock Creek has a bit of a throwback feel. Thanks to modern day improvements in drainage and maintenance, Rock Creek has overcome the challenges of the wet climate, restoring itself to its long-standing country club standards. If you hold quality putting surfaces in the highest regard when it comes to course characteristics, then Rock Creek, which is highlighted by some of the purest and fastest greens in the area is sure to meet your mark. Surrounded mainly by homes and single-filed tree lines, the overall layout is rather straightforward and understated. It is the well-kept grounds and tour quality greens that have this middle aged golf course operating in its prime. Factor in some narrow fairways and respectable length, and Rock Creek provides players with a true test of golf while withstanding its own test of time in the lineage of Portland and Northwest golf.
Rock Creek Country Club is a great walking course as it is primarily flat with some gradual sloping. The course plays pretty tight due to lots of tree lines and out of bounds in the form of residential property. The trees are mainly single-filed, making them manageable to recover from and definitely a better miss than the O/B property lines. Aside from the tight layout, there is little in the way of hazards. There are green side bunkers on most holes but nothing in the way of directional bunkers en route to the greens. The traps that do exist are well placed and protect the greens which vary in difficulty. While some of the greens are welcoming with front-to-back slopes or larger surface areas, many of the greens can be difficult to approach due to smaller sizes or well-designed shapes and builds. In peak season, the fast and firm surfaces make it all the more difficult to hone in on the pins. Moderate slopes and tiers create some obvious breaks to contend with, but subtle breaks on these fast greens are also a challenge to look forward to. Hit the line and respect the speed and you will enjoy some of the truest rolls of any course, young or old in the area.
