Broadmoor Golf Course

General Course Description

[NOTE: Broadmoor Golf Course closed October 25, 2020.] Broadmoor Golf Course is an historic, 18-hole public course in Northeast Portland, with an old-school feel. Broadmoor Golf Course is one of the most popular courses in Portland and probably the best bargain for a non-municipal course.  Lots of mature trees, well-placed traps, and water (in the form of Broadmoor Lake and sloughs) provide a variety of challenges.  Limited practice facilities. Except for the climbs up 9 and 18, it is a fairly level course.

Course History

Built in 1931 by six sisters and their friend, course architect George Junor. Being an old course, it does have a lot of history. The depression caused cash-flow problems that the sisters worked through with dances in the clubhouse, pheasant hunting on the course, and sledding and tobogganing in the winter. The course is owned and managed by the descendants of the six sisters. In early summer of 2020, the course was closed to Prologis, a California real estate trust, whom plans to use the property for industrial development and a wetlands preserve. The course closed on October 25, 2020. In 1948, the Columbia River flooded the course under six feet of mud. The greenskeeper saved the trees by waiting for the mud to dry, scraping them clean, and replanting them. The course hosted the OGA Tournament of Champions in 1993.

Why It Is There

The sisters wanted to convert the Rose City Dairy into a golf course. The family has kept the course going.

I Wish I Would Have Known Before I Played

Hole 7 is a tree-lined par 5, dogleg right. The fairway has several mounds to it and goes uphill as the dogleg starts. The fairway then rolls down to the green. For a mid-handicapper to have any shot at getting to the green in two, you need to play up the left side of the fairway.

Did You Know

Playing tickets are checked on the third tee — after you cross the slough and near a snack shack. The reason for this is simply tradition (and the practice may stop in the future). I was told by many that the hot dogs at the small seasonal snack shop on the 3rd tee are the best in the city. Originally, the short (or “women’s”) green on 10 was the first hole and there were 2 second holes: over the water to the far 10th green (for men) and the present 11th hole (for women).

Good For Them

There is also a wetlands overlay within 150 feet of the water, where application of chemicals are restricted. It is a Youth on Course participant.

Why Play This Course

An interesting and (for Portlanders) convenient course that has a pretty fair price.

General

• • Type: 18-hole public course
  • Price: $$
  • Phone/webpage: (503)281-1337/www.broadmoor-1931.com
  • Address:  3509 NE Columbia Blvd., Portland, Oregon 97211
  • Owner: Broadmoor Inc
  • Designer: George Junor
  • Pros: Scott Kieger (PGA; Oregon Open winner; US Senior Open participant; former coach at University of Oregon)
  • Practice Facilities: Practice green
  • Pro Shop: Minimal — balls, tees, and gloves
  • Food: Full-service restaurant generally open 6a.m. to dusk; there are also seasonal snack shacks on the 3rd tee
  • Bathrooms: Improved bathrooms in clubhouse (old locker rooms) and on course
  • Yardage Markers: 150 posts; 250, 200, 150, and 100 in-ground markers; color of flags mark pin position
  • Clothing: Casual
  • Walkable: Except for climbs up 9 and 18, the course is very walkable
  • Spikes: Soft
  • Shoe Cleaning: Air hose and brushes
  • Rentals: All
  • Open all year and improving in winter as they add drains