Applegate River Golf Club

General Course Description

Applegate River Golf Club ia a short, but delightful 9-hole rural course nestled in the scenic Applegate Valley about eight miles south of Grants Pass. Applegate River Golf Club is very open, but the course has water on many holes. The course is nicely maintained with a great staff. Several holes offer a risk-reward option, where the better course of action may be to go short. Applegate River Golf Club is family friendly, and an easy walk.

Course History

Opened in 1994 as Applegate Golf. Since then, this course has suffered more than its share of disasters. In 1997, a flood covered the property, uprooted trees, took out the irrigation system, and caused a deep rut on the property. Many locals joined the effort to repair the course. In 2002, a fire came close to the course. When the course was sold to the present owners, the buyers were going to close the course, but the wife of the buyers, who had worked at the course and met the regulars, convinced her husband to keep the course open. In 2024, the course constructed an RV park that shortened the 9th hole.

Why It Is There

John and Nancy Briggs, neither of whom played golf, wanted to do something attractive with their property. So they built a course. Leah and Patrick Bernard have preserved and improved the course, and the course has a loyal following.

I Wish I Would Have Known Before I Played

Creeks, marshes, and ponds wander in and out, providing the risk-reward nature of the holes. Take the time to go around twice; the first time to get a feel for each hole and the second time to see how aggressive you can be.

Did You Know

Hole 9 is referred to as the “Butterscotch Hole” in honor of longtime member Jim Hess who played golf for 79 years and always had butterscotch candies in his pocket. Legend is that he was finishing 18 when he suffered a heart attack next to the green. He fell down but got up and putted out. He fell down again, locals tended to him and called emergency services. He then asked that his score (a par) be placed on his scorecard. By the time paramedics had arrived, he had passed away. The course annually host a tournament in his name.

Good For Them

The course is a Special Olympics practice facility. Each year the course selects an area family who has a child in need and then holds a charity tournament for the benefit of that family. The ponds collect runoff for irrigation, and the course has numerous bird boxes.

Why Play This Course

An attractive, well-maintained course in a very attractive setting, with a friendly staff and reasonable rates. If you have an RV, a beautiful place to park and play.

General

• • Type: 9-hole public course
  • Price: $
  • Phone/webpage: (541)955-0480/www.applegategolf.com
  • Address:  7350 New Hope Road, Grants Pass, Oregon 97527
  • Owner: Applegate Valley Investments LLC
  • Designer: John Briggs
  • Pros: Jerome Gilbert (lessons)
  • Practice Facilities: Practice net, practice chipping area, and two practice greens; indoor golf simulator
  • Pro Shop: Some equipment and clothing
  • Food: Sandwiches, hot dogs, hamburgers, snacks, soda, beer, and liquor in the clubhouse (with a very nice patio)
  • Bathrooms: Improved in clubhouse and porta potty on the course
  • Yardage Markers: 150 poles; 200 and 100 in-ground markers; lower flag on pins mark position
  • Clothing: Wear clothes (including a shirt)
  • Walkable: Flat, easy walk
  • Spikes: Soft
  • Shoe Cleaning: Brushes and air hose
  • Rentals: All
  • Open all seasons, but can experience flooding