General Course Description
Colwood Golf Course is a 9-hole public par-3 course in northeast Portland that is part of a golf practice and learning complex. This is a great course for families or friends with different skill levels. Colwood Golf Course has a little bit of everything: water, sand, trees, and mounds. The greens are also big and have a lot of breaks. It is a little hilly, but short and a nice walk.
Course History
The course originally opened in 1931 as Meadowbrook, an 18-hole, privately owned course designed by George C. Otten and Arthur Vernon. In 1932, the course became subject to bankruptcy and emerged as Colwood Golf Course. 1955 provided new ownership and a new name: Colwood National Golf Course. In 2014, the course was purchased by the City of Portland and basically split up into three parts: one part industrial (to be used for Portland’s new main post office), one part preserved wetlands, and one part golf facility. In 2022, the course received the Player Development Award given by the National Golf Course Owners Association in recognition of the course’s player development programs.
Why It Is There
Originally opened as a privately owned public course, it morphed in 2014 as a 3-par golf course and learning/practice complex for the City of Portland to accommodate the new post office and preserve wetlands.
I Wish I Would Have Known Before I Played
The mounding on the greens makes the blue tees pretty difficult; so take it seriously if you want to score well. Also holes 6 and 8 play at least 10 yards farther than posted.
Did You Know
The course was one of the first if not the first course to have a golf school for women, opened by Ed Vanderberg and Ed Neiderkorn in 1963.
Good For Them
They strongly promote the game for juniors (and women), and have lots of clinics for both. One of the offices for the First Tee of Portland is located there with a large kids practice area across the street. The course hosts the Vanport Jazz Festival. There is an environmental overlay on the north end of the course to protect the adjoining wetlands.
Why Play This Course
A great place to play for family and friends with different abilities, and a very handy place to practice.
General
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- Type: 9-hole 3-par public course
- Price: $
- Phone/webpage: (503)254-5515/www.colwoodgolf.com
- Address: 7313 NE Columbia Blvd., Portland, Oregon 97218
- Owner: Portland Bureau of Parks and Recreation
- Designer: John Zoller
- Pros: Jake Bader (PGA); Tom Mueller (PGA); Jarred Gomez
- Practice Facilities: Driving range on grass and mats, some with cover; pitching area; large practice green; there is an adjoining 6 hole practice course that you can rent out (and make private) or play for $10 (or free if a junior with an adult)
- Pro Shop: Some equipment
- Food: Cully’s Corner is a seasonal snack bar on the bottom floor of the clubhouse (the top floor hosts events)
- Bathrooms: Improved in clubhouse
- Yardage Markers: None (except on the tee box)
- Clothing: Casual
- Walkable: A little hilly but short, so a nice walk
- Spikes: Soft
- Shoe Cleaning: Brushes and air hose
- Rentals: All
- Open year-round
Yards | Par | Rating | Slope | |
Blue | 1223 | 27 | 26.8/27.8 | 76/86 |
White | 833 | 27 | 25.1/26.4 | 69/70 |
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