The Golf Club of Oregon

General Course Description

The Golf Club of Oregon is an 18-hole public course along the Willamette River (which you do not see) just north of downtown Albany. The Golf Club of Oregon is a relatively short course with several long holes (and somewhat confusing routing). Large, mature trees narrow the rolling fairways leading to small raised greens. The greens are slow but consistent. The course has fallen into disrepair (weedy sand traps and chopped up tee boxes), and is no longer listed with the USGA. But Golf Club of Oregon was purchased by a new owner in the summer of 2024 bringing a new positive energy (and hopefully improvements).   Fairly flat and a nice walk.

Course History

The first 9 opened in 1929 as Bridgeway Golf Club, a public course. In 1945, it became The Albany Golf Course. In 1951, the then owner, Al Fortier, designed and added the second 9 holes. In 1977, Jerrold and Earlene Claussen obtained an interest in the course and changed the name to The Golf Club of Oregon. After a failed sale attempt, the Claussen family sold the course in the summer of 2024 to the present owner which is owned by Cornelius Wenz (who had been playing the course for over 11 years). There is a nice area of old pictures and ownership history in the clubhouse.

Why It Is There

Local golfers wanted a public golf course in Albany, so they built the course on a farm (the original farmhouse is on the east side of the railroad tracks that run along the first hole). The Claussen family kept the course going until 2024. The new owner plans to invest the resources needed to bring the course back.

I Wish I Would Have Known Before I Played

The only information as to yardage and pin placement are the 150-yard poles (which, as of the summer of 2024, are only on the back 9). Take a range/yardage finder. Hole 16 is a short par 4 with a sharp dogleg right. On the tee, trees seem to block the turn (and there is a tree in the center of the fairway after you turn and one later guarding the left side of the green). To reach the green in two, you need to end up near or slightly short of the 150 pole. (formerly you could hit it past the 150 pole and then hit over or to the left of the tree that guards the left of the green, but that tree has grown too much). On the par-4 17th hole, with an early dogleg right, you drive through a tree-lined corridor which then opens up a lot, especially if you can fade the ball).

Did You Know

Bob Buchanan (former coach at Albany High School) shot the first hole-in-one on the course in 1933, when he was about 23. Then in 1974, he played 64 holes to celebrate his 64th birthday.

Good For Them

Golf Club of Oregon holds summer camps for juniors and several clinics for women. Golf Club of Oregon goes to the Boys & Girls Club of Albany to encourage new golfers and hosts the Club at the driving range.  (Shout-out to Sharon Baugh for all her efforts at the course for encouraging juniors and women to play golf.) The course annually hosts the Stars and Stripes Golf Tournament to benefit the Safe Haven Humane Society, and a tournament for Kickin’ Cancer who supports families in the fight against cancer. Special Olympians can play the course for free.

Why Play This Course

In the summer of 2024, the course was very affordable, laid-back, and quiet. It’s a good course for those who want to graduate from par-3 courses but not spend a lot of money (and those who want to play with them). The course has good “bones” with an interesting variety of holes. With an investment of time and funds, it could be a great stop in the future.

General

• • Type: 18-hole public course
  • Price: $$
  • Phone/webpage: (541)928-8338/thegolfcluboforegon.com
  • Address: 905 NW Springhill Drive, Albany, Oregon 97321
  • Owner: The Golf Club of Oregon, Inc.
  • Designer: Ralph and JE Roberts (original 9), Al and Bud Fortier (second 9)
  • Pros: None
  • Practice Facilities: Driving range off mats, practice green
  • Pro Shop: Some clothing and minimal equipment
  • Food: Hot dogs, snacks, soda, and beer
  • Bathrooms: Improved in clubhouse and porta potties on course
  • Yardage Markers: 150 poles on back 9; no pin information
  • Clothing: Tank tops and non-holed jeans are OK
  • Walkable: Flat, easy walk
  • Spikes: Soft
  • Shoe Cleaning: Brushes and air hose
  • Rentals: All
  • Open all year