Forest Hills Golf Course

General Course DescriptionForest Hills

Located about 27 miles to the west of downtown Portland, Forest Hills Golf Course is a public (but there are daily standing tee times for the over 300 club members), 18-hole course away from the city in a bucolic, rural setting with views of Mount Hood, Mount St. Helens, and Mount Adams. The remodeled course has a classic design (by one of the great California golf-architect families), with good use of trees, sand, and water. Forest Hills Golf Course has a great variety of holes to challenge you: narrow and wide, long and short, flat and hilly (with blind shots), over water and around trees. It is fairly well maintained. The forward tees do provide benefits of shorter distance and better angles. The course is rolling, but a nice walk.

Course History

Front 9 opened in 1927 and was designed by William Martin. William Martin was still an owner in 1954 when the second 9 opened under the design of William F. Bell and William P. Bell (although the latter died before the remodel was completed). The course was sold to its present owners (the Speros family) in the early 1970s. The course hosted the OGA Tournament of Champions in 1972. The par-4 16th hole was named in 2017 by the OGA as one of the most interesting holes in the state (in 1994 the same hole was listed by The Oregonian as one of the worst holes in the state).

Why It Is There

William Martin and Lee Smith thought the area needed a golf course. They bought the Rehse Farm and named the course for its location between Hillsboro and Forest Grove. The Speros family have kept the course going (in good times and bad). It now has a healthy regular membership.

I Wish I Would Have Known Before I Played

Almost every green runs back to front (some severely) so being a little short of the pin is a good thing. The fairway undulations cause many a blind shot, and there are some hidden hazards (the trap between the trees left on your approach on 6 and the slope going down to a pond about 150 yards from the green on 16). So playing the course several times may be in order.

Did You Know

The course suffered a pair of devastating events in the 1980s. First was the eruption of Mount St. Helen’s, whose ash covered the course and destroyed the greens and many fairways. Then in 1983, herbicides from a neighboring nursery got into the holding ponds that are used for course irrigation. Most of the greens were destroyed. But for the perseverance of the then owner Dick Speros, the course would have been closed. I also want to note that in 1933, the course held a “Noisy Tournament” where players were allowed to make as much noise as they wanted, even during an opponents swing. The two restrictions were that you could not make noise within two club lengths of your opponent and “firearms and dynamite” were prohibited.

Good For Them

They have low rates for juniors, hold annual junior clinics, and are the home course for Forest Grove High School and Hillsboro High School. Because of past environmental issues (see above), they use very little chemicals. The course annually hosts a tournament to support The Michael J. Newton Esophageal Cancer Foundation.

Why Play This Course

A classic course with an interesting history, a diversity of holes, and great views. The laid back feel and friendly staff are a plus.

General

    • Type: 18-hole public course
    • Price: $$ $ (but not by much)
    • Phone/webpage: (503)357-3347/www.golfforesthills.com
    • Owner: Forest Hills Golf Course, Inc.
    • Address: 36260 SW Tongue Lane, Cornelius, Oregon 97113
    • Designer: William Martin (original, now back, 9); William F. Bell and William P. Bell (remodel)
    • Pros: Nick Mabry (PGA)
    • Practice Facilities: Driving range on mats, practice chipping and sand area, multiple practice greens
    • Pro Shop: Lots of clothes and some equipment
    • Food: Full-service grill for breakfast and lunch (specializing in pizza and ice cream); nice dining areas looking out to the course
    • Bathrooms: Improved in clubhouse and on course
    • Yardage Markers: 250, 200, 150 and 100 markers; flags placed by zone — take a pin sheet
    • Clothing: T-shirts and non-holed jeans are OK
    • Walkable: Hilly, a fine walk
    • Spikes: Soft
    • Shoe Cleaning: Brushes and air hose
    • Rentals: All
    • All seasons
Yards Par Rating Slope
Black 6275 72 69.6 128
White 6022 72 68.8/75.1 126/137
Red 5167 72 69.5 126
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Forest Hills Golf Course
Average rating:  
 1 reviews
 by Pete

Great course, well maintained, with nice folks running it. But it is a lot harder than the yardage and rating reflect.