Killarney West Golf Club

General Course Description

Just outside the City of Hillsboro, about 20 miles west of downtown Portland (and a very short drive from McKay Creek), Killarney West Golf Club is a short, flat, rural 9-hole public course that is fairly well maintained given the very inexpensive price. Although Killarney West Golf Club is generally open, there are many tall trees that make the fairways feel narrow. There are also several “risk-reward” holes that can challenge any player. This course is an easy walk.

Course History

Opened in 1979 on forested property that Joe O’Meara bought in the late 1970s.

Why It Is There

Joe O’Meara originally bought the property as forestland with the intent to clear out the blackberry bushes and sell the lumber. But his friend, Henry Van Grunsven, convinced him to turn the property into a golf course. Mr. Van Grunsven died about the time the course opened, and the O’Meara family has been operating it since. Closeness to a city, low pricing, and generally good maintenance make it a popular spot.

I Wish I Would Have Known Before I Played

Hole 2 is a very short par 4 that in 1994 The Oregonian referred to as one of the worst golf holes in the state. That is a bit unfair, but it is a severe dogleg right, which you can reach in one if you know the line. So if the course is empty, take a walk to the corner and figure out the line. If the course is busy, play the fairway the first time (hitting your drive beyond the tree in the fairway at the 100-yard marker) and figure out the line and play it again (for the price, you can play the course twice).

Did You Know

The name does come from County Killarney in Ireland (where the Irish Open has been played several times). Joe O’Meara was born on a farm about eight miles away from the course.

Good For Them

Limited use of water (generally watering just tees and greens), and no pesticide or insecticide use (as the course annually floods).

Why Play This Course

Fun and laid-back atmosphere (5 somes are allowed). A course with beautiful trees, but very open. The laid-back atmosphere and trees can cause crowding (although the mantra in the pro shop is “18-holes in less than four hours”). But even with the potential of slow play, Killarney’s pricing makes it a great place to stop.

General

• • Type: 9-hole public course
  • Price: $$ (but barely)
  • Phone/webpage: (503)648-7634/www.killarneywestgc.com
  • Address:  1275 NW 334th Ave., Hillsboro, Oregon 97124
  • Owner: Killarney West Golf Course, Inc.
  • Designer: Hank Van Grunsven
  • Pros: None
  • Practice Facilities: None
  • Pro Shop: Minimal, some balls and tees
  • Food: Hot dogs, snacks, soda, and beer
  • Bathrooms: Improved in clubhouse and porta potty on course
  • Yardage Markers: 150 white pvc poles and wooden 100-yard stakes; no flag-position information (but the greens are fairly small)
  • Clothing: OK for men to go shirtless and have no shoes (you gotta wear pants)
  • Walkable: Flat, easy walk
  • Spikes: Soft
  • Shoe Cleaning: Brush and air hose
  • Rentals: All
  • Course closes for a bit in the winter when the two creeks (Council and Dairy) flood