St Helens Golf Course

General Course Description

[AS OF WINTER 2019 THIS COURSE WAS CLOSED]

This 9-hole (18 with dual tees, with some tees significantly different) public course is about 30 miles west of downtown Portland. Quiet, rural course with mixed grasses and irregular fairways. The holes are interesting and varied. Valleys, mature trees, and some water provide challenges. Greens are slow and a bit pitted. It’s rolling, but a nice walk.

Course History

Finished in 1962 and remodeled in 1997. In 2018 the then owner applied to convert a portion of the property into an RV Park. The county did not approve a permit, and the owner closed the course.

Why It Is There

Locals Clarence and Gordon Johnson wanted to design, build, and operate a golf course. They did, and it has changed hands since.

I Wish I Would Have Known Before I Played

There are some quirks to some holes and playing the course twice may be advisable to score well. Some to note: on the 6th hole, par-4 dogleg right, the maple tree is in the middle of the fairway, playing it short would work best; hole 7, a short par 4, there are two traps to the right of the reachable green that you cannot see from the tee; and on the 9th hole, a par 4 with an uphill drive, don’t trust the 100-yard marker.

Did You Know

The two shrines on the first tee are to promote good fortune.

Why Play This Course

A quiet alternative to Portland-area courses. Although a rural course, there are enough twists, trees, and valleys to make it interesting at a generally low price.

General

• Type: 9-hole public course
• Price: $$
• Phone/webpage: (503)397-0358/no web site
• Address:  57246 Hazen Road, Warren, Oregon 97053
• Owner: Suki Chung
• Designer: Clarence and Gordon Johnson
• Pros: None
• Practice Facilities: Chipping area; putting green
• Pro Shop: Minimal
• Food: Some snacks and drinks in the clubhouse; adjoining restaurant serves breakfast and lunch in summer
• Bathrooms: Improved in clubhouse and porta potty on the course
• Yardage Markers: 200, 150, 100 poles; flags color-coded for pin placement
• Clothing: Be dressed
• Walkable: Rolling, but a nice walk
• Spikes: Soft
• Shoe Cleaning: Brush
• Rentals: All
• Open year-round

Dual tees are significantly different to make 18. Only front 9 listed below.