Pumpkin Ridge Ghost Creek

General Course Description

Pumpkin Ridghe Ghost Creek is an 18-hole public course 20 miles to the west of Portland that is the public side of the two championship courses that form one of the destination golf complexes in the greater Portland area. Pumpkin Ridge Ghost Creek is a very well-maintained and attractive course with about half the holes very open and the other half in the trees. A nice routing and differentiation in hole styles (some true risk-reward holes), with good use of traps and water, make the course a very interesting play. Pumpkin Ridge Ghost Creek has a very nice clubhouse with a great gallery of pictures. Excellent professionals and staff. Forward tees provide shorter distances and better angles. The course is a bit hilly, but walkable.

Course History

Opened in 1992. Since then it has hosted (or co-hosted with its companion course) several state and national tournaments including the 1993 Oregon Amateur, 1993 NIKE Tour Championship, 1996 US Amateur, 2006 US Women’s Amateur, and the LPGA Safeway Classic. It was named best new public course in 1992 by Golf Digest.  In 2008, The Oregonian ranked it as one of the 10 best public courses in Oregon. In 2019, Golf Digest ranked the course as the 87th Greatest Public Course in the country. In 2021, the Oregon Golf Superintendents Association of America named Pumpkin’s Director of Agronomy, Eric Feldhusen, as its Superintendent of the Year.

Why It Is There

Started by Marvin French, Gaylord Davis, and Barney Hyde, with an assist from Shigeru Ito and Kumiko Rodewald, as a public and private golf destination with a look to national golf championships. It has hosted national championships and has a solid amount of public visitors. Ownership changed in 2015.

I Wish I Would Have Known Before I Played

Hole 3, a 3-par, is all carry; even though it may seem downhill, you should not take less club. Hole 7, the two traps in front of the green are about 10 yards in front of the green.

Did You Know

“The Tiger Shot”: in the amateur, Tiger Woods hit a 374-yard drive on the par-5 15th hole, leaving a 178-yard shot to the green. In some charity events you may pay for the privilege of dropping your “drive” at the end of Mr. Woods’ drive point and playing in from there.

Good For Them

Ghost Creek is a supporter of the LPGA Amateur Golf Association, is part of the PGA Junior League, and is the home course for Glencoe High School. The course is a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Course.

Why Play This Course

Although it is a little pricey, it is a very well-maintained and good course with great practice facilities and extras that make it feel private. The course is a modern version of the traditional golf experience. The course should be on the list of “must-play” courses in the Portland area.

General

• Type: 18-hole public course
• Price: $$$$
• Phone/webpage: (503)647-9977/www.pumpkinridge.com
• Address:  12930 NW Old Pumpkin Ridge Road, North Plains, Oregon 97133
• Owner: Pumpkin Ridge Joint Venture, abn for Escalante Pumpkin Ridge LLC
• Designer: Bob Cupp
• Pros:  Lacy Erickson (PGA), Christopher Myrvold (PGA), Jerry Mowlds (PGA; named one of the best golf teachers in the state by Golf Digest)
• Practice Facilities: Driving range on grass and mats and practice green
• Pro Shop: Good-sized, with clothing and equipment
• Food: Very good restaurant with a deck overlooking putting green
• Bathrooms: Improved in clubhouse and on course
• Yardage Markers: On sprinklers; take a pin sheet
• Clothing: Collared shirts
• Walkable: Hilly, but fine overall
• Spikes: Soft only
• Shoe Cleaning: Air hose and brushes
• Rentals: All
• Generally open in winter and drains well