Eastmoreland Golf Course

General Course Description

Eastmoreland Golf Course is an 18-hole public municipal course in Southeast Portland. Eastemoreland is an historic, classic course that is in very good shape given how much play the course gets. The course is somewhat short, but hole design, narrowness, tall trees, and small slanted greens make Eastmoreland Golf Course a challenge. Although water defines a few holes (and there are many traps), it is generally the variety of large and beautiful trees that you will admire (and occasionally curse). Eastmoreland Golf Course is a little hilly, but provides a nice walk.

Course History

The first 9 (the front 9) was built in 1918. It is the oldest public course in Portland and the seventh oldest course in Oregon. The second 9 was completed in 1921 (making it Chandler Egan’s first 18 hole course to open). The course has hosted several state and national events including the 1956 Oregon Open, and the 1933 and 1990 U.S. Amateur Public Links Championships (the 1933 event was the first USGA national championship event held in the Northwest).  It is the long-standing host of the city championship of Portland. It has often (but not always) been in Golf Digest’s 100 best public courses to play.

Why It Is There

The City of Portland (particularly James O. Colville, then Director of Portland Department of Parks) and business leaders (particularly T. Morris Dunne of the Multnomah Athletic Club) thought it was about time that the City had a public golf course. Now it is now a well-known and popular course.

I Wish I Would Have Known Before I Played

There are a couple of holes that need to be played two or more times to get a good feel for them. Hole 13, a short par 5, is one of them. Your drive is uphill where the fairway, lined by trees, turns left. Do not take too aggressive of a line on your drive as there is a drop-off to the left and a deep waste area that crosses the fairway about 200 yards from the green.

Did You Know

Starting in 1979 and for many years thereafter (but no longer), the course hosted the Doug LaMear One-Club Championship (subsequently known as the Pacific Coast One-Club Championship). In the early years, tour pro Peter Jacobsen played in the tournament. In the 1980s, Mr. LaMear shot 2-under using a 6-iron to win the Championship. Golf Digest reported at the time that it was the lowest one-club round on a regulation course.

Good For Them

Using fertilizer with almost no nitrogen, the course has greatly improved water quality in the creek on 16. The course is a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Course. It has a balls at breakfast program, providing free range balls to kids under 17 before 9am.  Home course for Cleveland and Franklin High Schools. Evans Scholarship participant course (through the EAGLE Caddy Program).

Why Play This Course

For its great history, design, flora and fauna, and condition, it would be difficult to find a course at a better price.

General

• • Type: 18 hole-public course
  • Price: $$
  • Phone/webpage: (503)775-2900/www.eastmorelandgolfcourse.com
  • Address:  2425 SE Bybee Blvd., Portland, Oregon 97202
  • Owner: City of Portland
  • Designer: H. Chandler Egan
  • Pros: Ray Camilla (PGA and past winner of the PNW Pro-Am); Michael Charles
  • Practice Facilities: Double-deck driving range on mats, pitching and sand areas, and practice greens
  • Pro Shop: Good-sized, with clothing and equipment
  • Food: Full-service restaurant and bar with a deck overlooking the 10th tee
  • Bathrooms: Improved in clubhouse and on course
  • Yardage Markers: 150 poles; 100 in-ground markers; most sprinklers have yardage; pin position reflected by color on 150 posts (or, on 3 pars, the color on the yardage signs)
  • Clothing: Collared shirts requested but not required
  • Walkable: A little hilly but a nice walk
  • Spikes: Soft
  • Shoe Cleaning: Air hose and brushes
  • Rentals: All
  • Open all year (but can be mushy in winter)