Willamette Valley Country Club

General Course Description

Willamette Valley Country Club hosts an 18-hole private course is just outside Canby, about 20 miles south of Portland. Although surrounded by houses, the course has a rural feel.  It is a classic course, with narrow fairways, towering trees, well-maintained fairways, and small, true, and speedy greens. Water, sand, and doglegs make it an interesting and fine play. Lack of undergrowth and few OBs allow you to recover from most errant shots. Willamette Valley Country Club has very good practice facilities and an attractive clubhouse. The course is generally flat and a nice walk. At the tips (at over 7,000 yards), it can be a challenge for the scratch golfer, but with six sets of tee boxes including forward tees that provide much better angles and shorter distances, this course can be enjoyed by golfers of many levels.

Course History

The first 9 holes were opened in 1962 and the second 9 in 1963. The original opening day for the first 9 was October 13, 1962. But on October 12, the Columbus Day Storm (one of the worst storms ever to strike the north Willamette Valley) occured, causing a delay in the opening. The course was sold to Willamette Valley Country Club in 1963. There have been two significant remodels of the course, the first in 1989-92 by Bill Robinson, in which two ponds and 32 bunkers were added and six greens rebuilt. The second remodel was by Craig Schreiner, which occured in the late 1990s. It has hosted many state events including the Oregon Amateur (2010, 1998, 1985, 1971, 2022) and Oregon Open (1978, 1977, 1974, 1969), as well as many national qualifying events, including for the US Amateur.

Why It Is There

The property was farmland referred to as “Lucky’s Pasture” owned by the Collins Lumber Company when local businessmen formed Country Club Estates to buy the property and build a golf course development with a private course.

I Wish I Would Have Known Before I Played

On the 4th hole, a short par 4, dogleg left, you need to hit it to the 150 pole to have a shot to the green, but do not go too long as there is a pond just beyond the fairway. On the 14th hole, a short rolling par 5 with a dogleg right at the end, there is a trap long left in the driving area. If you are able to land it to the left of the trap you might be able to reach the green in two. In any event, favor the left as you approach the dogleg to have a better approach and avoid the trap in the front center and right of the green.

Did You Know

In 1987, Shanda Imlay, then an assistant pro at Illahe Hills CC, became the first woman to play in a men’s match play event in the Northwest at the Oregon PGA Championship held at Willamette Valley CC.  In addition, the 4-par 16th hole was named in 2017 by the OGA as one of the most interesting golf holes in Oregon.

Good For Them

It is the home course for George Fox University and Canby and West Linn High Schools, and is an Evans Scholarship course.

Why Play This Course

A challenging and beautiful course that is very well maintained and has a classic feel.  With six sets of tee boxes, very good practice facilities, and a friendly staff, it is a great overall experience for all levels of players.

General

• • Type: 18-hole private course
  • Price: Private
  • Phone/webpage: (503)266-4066/www.willamettevalleycc.com
  • Address:  900 Country Club Place, Canby, Oregon 97013
  • Owner: Willamette Valley Country Club, Inc.
  • Designer: Shirley Stone; Bill Robinson early 1990s remodel; Craig Schreiner late 1990s remodel
  • Pros: John D. Grothe (PGA, 2008 Oregon PGA Professional of the Year)
  • Practice Facilities: Driving range on grass and mats (some covered spaces), practice chipping area, practice chipping course, two practice sand bunkers, putting green, and an indoor performance center with two Trackman machines
  • Pro Shop: Good amount of clothing and equipment
  • Food: Members and guests enjoy a full-service restaurant upstairs in the clubhouse, and a full-service bar downstairs with a nice patio
  • Bathrooms: Improved in clubhouse and on course
  • Yardage Markers: 150 poles; 250, 200, 150 and 100 in-ground markers; yardage on some sprinklers; flags color-coded for position
  • Clothing: Proper golf attire
  • Walkable: A little rolling, but a nice walk
  • Spikes: Soft
  • Shoe Cleaning: Brushes, an electric brush, and air hose
  • Rentals: All
  • Open all year