The Children’s Course

General Course Description

The Children’s Course is a gem of a public 3 par just off of Highway 99E in the southeast Portland metro area. You walk 50 feet from the highway through a small parking lot and see the small but welcoming cottage that serves as a clubhouse (which is being expanded to a much larger building scheduled to be completed by September of 2020). Walk a little further and you see the course filled with tall, old trees that come in and out of play and the Willamette River beyond. The holes range from 90 yards to 148. The Children’s Course is relatively well maintained with small generally raised greens and some rolling fairways, but trees are the main obstacles. Children have the right of way (as they should). Lovely, easy walk.

Course History

In 1961, an 18-hole par 3 opened on the site as Rivergreens Golf Course. In 1990, CSM, a Minnesota company, acquired half the property and built apartments. The original owners, Charles Thomas and Charles Thomas Jr., redesigned the course for 9 holes. For a while it was private, but became public again in 1995. In 1996, philantropist Duncan Campbell and his company Youth Resources bought the course and renamed it The Children’s Course. Mr. Campbell, an avid golfer, was inspired by the children’s courses he saw in Scotland and thought Portland should have one.  The course was damaged in the 2021 ice storm. In an amazing volunteer effort, members of the Oregon Golf Course Superintendents Association and the Western Washington Golf Course Superintendents Association, together with veterans of the American Armed Forces that are members of American Lake Veterans Golf Course (in Lakeside, Washington) came together to repair the damage.

Why It Is There

Charles Thomas and his son, Charles Thomas Jr. wanted to build a course along the Willamette River on the former Rinearson Estate. It was preserved by the Thomases through development pressure and reborn as the course for children to learn and play golf by Duncan Campbell.

I Wish I Would Have Known Before I Played

Because of the variety of trees and hole distances, you need more than a wedge and a putter.

Did You Know

The Safeway (now Portland) Classic used to hold pro ams here.

Good For Them

It’s all about the kids! They hold Discovery Golf Programs for children as young as 4. They hold a Girls Golf Program just for young girls. They have multiple PGA Junior League Tteams. And it is a home of The First Tee of Greater Portland, which works with elementary schools to teach golf, core values, and healthy habits to children 7 and older.

Why Play This Course

This is not the place to be the grumpy golfer playing for speed and score. This is the place to practice your short game, enjoy the river and trees, and smile while watching the future of the game. Very handy for a quick round. A great place to play with family.

General

• • Type: 9-hole 3 par public course
  • Price: $
  • Phone/webpage: (503)722-1530/www.childrenscourse.org
  • Address:  19825 River Road, Gladstone, Oregon 97027
  • Owner: The Children’s Course, Inc.
  • Designer: Charles Thomas (although some publications show John Junor)
  • Pros: Scott Cravens (PGA), Marti Loeb (PGA)
  • Practice Facilities: Putting green; there is a children’s practice area with an iron practice range, a 5-hole mini-course (that has traps), and a separate practice green; the new clubhouse has a golf simulator
  • Pro Shop: Lots of equipment for children (including a club exchange), otherwise minimal
  • Food: Snacks and sodas
  • Bathrooms: Improved in clubhouse
  • Yardage Markers: None (except on the tee)
  • Clothing: Be dressed
  • Walkable: Short, easy walk
  • Spikes: Soft
  • Shoe Cleaning: Brush
  • Rentals: All (yes, including power carts)
  • All seasons