Vernonia Golf Club

General Course DescriptionVernonia golf

Vernonia Golf Club is an historic 9-hole public course designed by George Junor about an hour west of Portland in the Oregon Coast Range. The course has beautiful, tall Douglas Fir trees and some interesting holes. Water, in the form of ponds or a creek, also come into play on several holes. Fairways and greens are a little shaggy, but better maintained with new owners.  The course is basically flat and is a nice walk.

Course History

Built in 1926 as a 9-hole course. The course did expand to 18 holes in the 1990s, but was subsequently reduced to 9 holes. The course has gone through many owners. Fred Fulmer, III, served as general manager of the course for many years. Mr. Fulmer’s son-in-law, Nick Zavales, then acquired the course and then ran it (pretty much by himself) for many years. The course got a bit run down (there were reports of losing balls in the fairway and no usable carts). In June of 2023, the course was purchased by Amy and Ryan Rose, who are members of the extended O’Meara golfing clan. The Roses have been able to use their contacts and friends to quickly start addressing needed maintenance (the fairways are mowed and there are operable golf carts). Future improvements are promised.

Why It Is ThereVernonia golf

The course was built when Vernonia was a mill town of some 25,000 and the mill wanted to have a place for its employees to play.

I Wish I Would Have Known Before I Played

The par 5 8th hole is reachable in two, but only if you place your drive in the far right of the fairway about 180 to 210 yards before the green (where and impinging tree makes the dogleg left severe).

Did You Know

The course served as the home course for the local lumber-mill team (who would have competition with other lumber-mill teams in the area). And the  “Jimmyville” sign on the trees on the 8th fairway is for Jimmy Perpech a long-time regular golfer who would consistently drive it into the woods behind the sign.

Good For Them

The new owners are just getting started, so not sure what type of charities they will favor or programs they will have. It is nice to see a lot of friends and family come together to save an historical course.

Why Play This CourseVernonia golf

Although the course needs work (and it is getting it), it is an historic course in a beautiful setting and is very affordable. It is also a beautiful drive to get there.

General

  • Type: 9-hole public course
  • Price: $$
  • Phone/webpage: (503)429-6811/www.vernoniagolfcourse.com
  • Address: 15961 Timber Road E., Vernonia, Oregon 97064
  • Owner: Vernonia Golf Course, LLC
  • Designer: George Junor
  • Pros: None
  • Practice Facilities: Practice green
  • Pro Shop: Just balls and tees as of August 2023
  • Food: None (they plan to bring back food, but after they get the course in better shape)
  • Bathrooms: Improved in clubhouse; porta potty on the course
  • Yardage Markers: 150 poles in the fairway; 200, 150, and 100 markers in fairway; no pin information but small greens
  • Clothing: T-shirts and jeans are OK
  • Walkable: Very
  • Spikes: Soft
  • Shoe Cleaning: Brush and airhose
  • Rentals: All
  • Open all year (but a bit soggy in winter)
 Yards Par Rating Slope
Blue28353533.8119
White27013533.2/35.9116/129
Red25473634.4114
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Vernonia Golf Club
Average rating:  
 1 reviews
 by Julie

So glad someone has come in to save this course. Such a pretty setting and some really interesting holes.