The Reserve Vineyard North Course

General Course Description

The Reserve Vineyard North Course is a very attractive 18-hole semi-private course (it is private one half of each month) to the west of Portland. The Reserve Vineyard North Course is one of the two 18-hole championship courses that form one of the great Portland area golf complexes. Use of tall fir trees and water make this course much narrower than its sister South Course. Both courses are very well maintained and very well staffed. The courses have great practice facilities, a stable of teaching pros, a very attractive clubhouse, and a very good restaurant. Forward tees help with distance and angle. Even though there are some hills and long walks between holes, the course is very walkable.  [Much of the following information is also contained in the post for the South Course.]

Course History

Opened in 1997 with the South course. There was a bump in the development of the Reserve, as financing fell through after it was initially started in 1991 (with Tom Kite and Bob Culp). New financing was acquired and OB Sports and John Fought were brought in to complete development. The result is a golf complex that has hosted The PGA Champions Tour Senior Major, The Tradition (on the South course), as well as Peter Jacobson’s Fred Meyer Challenge (also on the South course).

Why It Is There

Started as a destination golf facility that achieved that result even with a financial hiccup. Now it has a good-sized private membership, a solid amount of public visitors, and a number of corporate tournaments.

I Wish I Would Have Known Before I Played

Don’t be fooled by how short Hole 4 is. It is a long carry over the marsh area (and the pole you see is a 100-yard pole). On the 12th hole, a par-5, there is a creek about 75 yards in front of the green that you may not see from your second shot.  Also, on the short par-4, 13th hole, a severe dogleg left, you need to get beyond the 100-yard pole (preferably to its left) to have an open shot to the green that is guarded by mounds on the left and drops off to a trap to the right.

Did You Know

The grapes from the vineyards, which still exist in a part of the property, are no longer harvested. Charter member Dennis Hasty carded a double eagle on the tricky par-5 18th hole. After he passed, his ashes were spread on that hole’s tee box.

Good For Them

The Reserve is a supporter of the LPGA Amateur Golf Association, hosts golf classes through Portland Community College, and is the home course for Century, Aloha, South Ridge, and Valley Catholic High Schools. The Reserve hosts the “Hundred Hole Hike” to support Youth On Course (in 2019 one golfer, Gretchen Johnson, completed the 100 holes in six hours). In environmentally sensitive areas, they manually remove invidious species and rarely use pesticides.

Why Play This Course

Although it is a little pricey and slow play can occur, it is a very well maintained, and interesting (in a good way) course with great practice facilities and a wonderful clubhouse.

General

• Type: 18 hole semi-private course (private half of the month)
• Price: $$$
• Phone/webpage: (503)649-8191/www.reservegolf.com
• Address: 4895 SW 229th Ave., Aloha, Oregon 97078
• Owner: Reserve Vineyards & Golf Club, LLC
• Designer: Bob Cupp
• Pros: Cody Pitz (PGA), Chris Rogers (PGA), Ryan Bishop
• Practice Facilities: Driving range on grass and practice greens (members have a private driving and short game practice area)
• Pro Shop: Good-sized, with clothing and equipment
• Food: Very good, full-service restaurant open to the public with a deck overlooking the course (check for times) as well as a snack shack
• Bathrooms: Improved in clubhouse; improved outhouses on course
• Yardage Markers: 150 (100 on short holes) posts; yardage on sprinkler heads; pins color-coded for location
• Clothing: Proper golf attire
• Walkable: A little hilly and some walks between holes, but fine overall
• Spikes: Soft
• Shoe Cleaning: Air hose and brushes
• Rentals: All
• Open all year