Mt Hood Oregon Resort

General Course Description

Mt Hood Oregon Resort has three 9-hole public courses located in the town of Welches, about an hour east of Portland. Nestled in the Salmon River valley below the forested foothills of Mt. Hood, two of the courses sit on a shelf away from the river, Pine Cone wrapping around Thistle, while Foxglove goes off on its own, initially following the river, then moving up to the shelf. All courses at Mt Hood Oregon Resort have trees, traps, bends, and holes that are challenges. Pine Cone and Thistle are generally open layouts, although there are many holes with water and/or bordered with trees. The first three holes of Foxglove are narrow and, being along the river, damp, but the course then rises, and has a more open (but still tree-lined) feel with some houses coming into play. Well maintained (although there are several wet spots) with the greens running true but a bit slow. There are some hills, particularly on Foxglove and Pine Cone, but the courses are easily walkable. Forward tees do help with distance and angle.

Course History

In 1928, the first 9 (Pine Cone, formerly Yellow) opened on a hayfield leased by Ralph Shattuck and George Waale from Billy Welch. The course was originally called “The Mt. Hood Golf Course.” In 1939, the course reverted to Mr. Welch and his wife. Mr. Welch died and Mrs. Welch sold the course to Eugene and Peggy Bowman, who operated the property as “Bowman’s Golf Club.” The Bowmans designed, built, and opened the second 9 (Thistle, formerly Green) in 1965. In 1979, the Bowmans bought a neighboring property and changed the name of the complex to Rippling River Resort. On the new property, the Bowmans built the third 9 (Foxglove formerly Red) that opened in 1981. In 1989, Ed and Janice Hooper bought the resort, remodeled the courses, and changed the name to “The Resort at The Mountain.” Ownership of the resort then changed several times with the present owners acquiring it in 2016. They then changed the name to “Mt Hood Oregon Resort.”

Why It Is There

All three courses were built as part of a resort complex, the initial course as part of a hotel built in 1890, which was then converted to a home and cabins. The first 9 is considered the first resort course in Oregon.

I Wish I Would Have Known Before I Played

One suggestion for each 9. On the 1st hole at Thistle, a short par 4 dogleg right, the pine tree straight away from the tee box is in the left middle of the fairway: play to its right but far enough out to clear the corner trees. On the 3rd hole on Pine Cone, a short par 4 dogleg left, the pine trees you see straight away from the tee mark the right side of the fairway: although you can play from either side of the trees, staying left of the trees provides better angle and distance. The infamous 1st hole on Foxglove (named in 2017 by the OGA as one of the most interesting golf holes in Oregon) is a short par 4 with a large rock with a tree rising out of it in the middle of the fairway: the rock is about 130 to 120 yards from the center of the green (so you can fly it, but if not, there is room on both sides, although left provides a better approach — some people have actually played off the rock).

Did You Know

The 8th hole on Foxglove, a good-length, tree-lined par 4 that rises, then goes slightly down hill to a 2-tiered green with traps front left, was named in 1988 as one of the best 18 holes in Oregon by The Oregonian. The complex is also the home of the “Bar Wars,” where bars from Gresham to Government Camp form golf teams to compete, with the proceeds going to the Mt Hood Learning Center in Welches (see mthoodlc.com).

Good For Them

They hold clinics for women (including those with wine and cheese), they have summer junior golf camps for all levels (both boys and girls), and they are the home course for Sandy High School. Once each year, the Men’s and Women’s Clubs chip in to a fund that is then used to help with scholarships for members of the Sandy High School golf teams.  The course annually hosts the Zipper Invitational Golf Tournament to benefit a local person in need. They have restored (and maintain) a healthy bird and fish habitat along Wee Burn Stream, a salmon habitat that runs through Thistle and Pine Cone and empties into the Salmon River.

Why Play This Course

A generally well-maintained set of courses in a beautiful setting. It has the feel of being way outside Portland when it is not that far. Although it does have some interesting and difficult holes, overall you can score well and is golfer friendly.

General

• • Type: Three 9-hole public courses
  • Price: $$
  • Phone/webpage: (503) 622-3151/www.mthood-resort.com/golf-en.html
  • Address:  68010 E. Fairway Ave., Welches, Oregon 97067
  • Owner: Stanford Oregon Hotel LLC
  • Designer: Ralph Shattuck and George Waale (Pine Cone); Eugene Bowman (Thistle); John Harbottle III (Foxglove and remodel of other courses)
  • Pros: Seth Misenhimer (PGA Associate)
  • Practice Facilities: Practice net, two putting greens — one allowing pitching practice
  • Pro Shop: Clothes, some equipment
  • Food: During the summer season, Mallard’s Restaurant, a full service restaurant, as well as a snack shop, are both open
  • Bathrooms: Improved in clubhouse and on Thistle; porta potties on other courses
  • Yardage Markers: 200, 150, and 100 in-ground markers and on cart paths; 225, 200, 175, 150, 125, 100, and 75 markers on the side of fairways; pins color-coded for position
  • Clothing: Proper golf attire
  • Walkable: A little hilly (particularly Foxglove and Pine Cone), but generally a nice walk
  • Spikes: Soft
  • Shoe Cleaning: Brushes and air hose
  • Rentals: All
  • Generally closed for a month in the winter