Myrtle Creek Golf Club

General Course Description

About 20 miles south of Roseburg, in the delightful small town of Myrtle Creek, Myrtle Creek Golf Club, fka Cougar Canyon Golf Course, is an 18-hole public course tucked in-between forested hills and farmland. With a creek running through it, Myrtle Creek Golf Club has a very pastoral setting. But the intriguing design of the holes, with the first nine defined by elevation changes, and the second nine defined by doglegs, and both sides having blind shots, provides challenges. Forward tees provide better distances and angles. Take a cart — it is very hilly and there are distances between holes.

Course History

First 9 opened in 1997 and the second 9 opened in 1998.  Built by the City of Myrtle Creek, it originally opened as Myrtle Creek Golf Course.  The city was unable to make payments on its financing, so it leased the course to Myrtle Creek Links, LLC (whose principal, Karl Hallstrom, is the third-generation owner of Zip-O-Logs Mills, Inc., in Eugene), who changed the name to Cougar Canyon Golf Course.   In October 2019, the course ceased operations. In July 2020, with the city providing some financial incentives, the course re-opened as Myrtle Creek Golf Club under the management of Umpqua Golf Management (who owns and operates Oak Hills Golf Club in Sutherland and operates Stewart Park Golf Course in Roseburg). In 1998, Golf Digest listed the course as the Seventh Best New Affordable Public Courses in America.

Why It Is There

The City of Myrtle Creek needed a method for disposing of grey water that did not involve the Umpqua River, so it decided to build a golf course. A portion of the funding was from a federal grant.  When the course closed in October 2019, the City found that there was a good sized local following and re-opened the course in July 2020 under new management (we are lucky to have it back).

I Wish I Would Have Known Before I Played

There are a few risk-reward holes, and a few you may need to play twice to figure out (even with a yardage book). On the par-5 3rd hole, a dogleg right with a carry over a waste area, the carry is not as long as it looks and the driving area is a bit bigger to the right than you think (but you can easily drive through the turn if you hit it straight). On the severely downhill par-4 5th hole, mounds protect the front sides of the green and the green runs away from the fairway. On the uphill par-4 10th hole, the fairway starts at the 150 post and turns sharply left there (so you need to hit beyond the pole to have a clean shot to the green). And on the downhill par-4 11th hole, it is a sharp dogleg right, and you need to place your drive between 120 to 170 from the hole to have an unobstructed view of the green (otherwise, you need to be far enough left to have a shot over the trees).

Did You Know

When it was built, over four inches of sand were spread evenly on the course to help the grass grow and assist with drainage.

Good For Them

The course offers lessons, range time, and reduced golf rates to juniors in an effort to encourage play. They are working with the local high school to get a golf team (or two) together.

Why Play This Course

It is a very interesting and challenging course in a scenic area. For the price, it is worth a diversion for those traveling I-5 or who are in Roseburg or Grants Pass (or even Eugene, which is only 90 minutes away).

General

• • Type: 18-hole public course
  • Price: $$
  • Phone/webpage: (541)863-4653/umpqua.golf
  • Address:  1316 SE Fairway Drive, Myrtle Creek, Oregon 97457
  • Owner: City of Myrtle Creek (managed by Umpqua Golf Management)
  • Designer: Graham Cooke & Associates
  • Pros: Scott Simpson
  • Practice Facilities: Driving range on grass, practice chipping and sand areas, practice green
  • Pro Shop: Minimal clothing and equipment
  • Food: Snacks, soda, and beer. The grill is presently closed (summer of 2022) but may open in the future with wider food options.
  • Bathrooms: Improved in clubhouse and port-a-potties on course
  • Yardage Markers: 150 poles; in-ground (and on cart path) 200, 150, and 100 markers; color on top of 150 pole (or on tee of three pars) provide pin-position information
  • Clothing: Tank tops and jeans are OK
  • Walkable: Hilly, with long walks between some holes; golf cart suggested
  • Spikes: Soft
  • Shoe Cleaning: Brushes and air hose
  • Rentals: Clubs (several grades), carts, and pull carts
  • Open all year (but may be closed during weekdays in winter due to limited play)