Golf Course at Birch Creek

General Course Description

Golf Course at Birch Creek is an 18-hole public course just south of Pendleton at the location of the former Pendleton Country Club. The course has an old course feel, even with a fairly recent (1986) remodel.  The course sits in an attractive location in the Birch Creek Valley (the creek runs through the course) and is surrounded by farms and hills. The large, mature trees are the primary defense, but there are many traps, some water (in the form of the creek and a pond), and some doglegs. Fairways are mixed and nicely mowed, but have bare and cracked spots. Greens are mixed, but hold well and are consistent. Forward tees provide shorter distances and better angles. Golf Course at Birch Creek is fairly flat and compact, and is a nice walk.

Course History

The course originally opened as the second location for the Pendleton Country Club. Some history of the Club: In October 1902, locals came together at the home of Mrs. Leona Thompson to form a club. They leased property in the town of Pendleton from C.E. Roosevelt. The property was previously used by the Sportsman Association, which agreed to to move its trap and shooting range to accommodate the course. The locals laid out and built the private course. The local paper reported that the first golf tournament occurred in November of 1902, but the “First Annual Tournament of the Pendleton Golf Club” was played in May of 1903. The Club purchased the property in 1919, and in 1929 the course went through a remodel with Shirley G. Stone as the architect.   Many decades later, the local school board eyed the golf course as a place to locate a school. The generous Club agreed to move to the location of this golf course and the Club’s original location is still used by the school district.

The first 9 holes in the present location opened in 1958 with Mr. Stone as the designer. In 1986, the second 9 was opened and the original 9 was extensively remodeled.  The course then became semi-private. In 2019, facing a steady decline in membership, the course was sold to the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, who also own the nearby Wildhorse Golf Course and neighboring resort and casino. After the sale, the course became fully public and the name was changed to Wildhorse PCC Golf Course. In 2020 the name was changed to Golf Course at Birch Creek (to avoid confusion with Wildhorse Golf Course).

Why It Is There

Local businessmen golfers (in particular, many of their wives, including but not limited to Mrs. Leona Thompson, Mrs. J.R. Dickson, and Mrs. H.F. Thompson)  wanted a local course.  This desire continued  with the closing of the original course and the building of the new course. The new course owners intend to improve course conditions and use the course to supplement the amenities of the Wildhorse Casino & Resort.

I Wish I Would Have Known Before I Played

Don’t get complacent if playing well on the front, as the back 9 is much tighter. On the par-5 2nd hole, you can hit through the dogleg. On the tree-lined, hit-over-the-creek, par-3 12th hole, it is more open over the trees on the right than left. The par-5 15th hole is long and difficult. The tee shot is narrow with trees on the left and sage on the right and a dogleg left starting at about 250 from the green. Unless you can power your drive over the trees left, best to be accurate than long here.

Did You Know

When the Club was considering moving the course, it originally selected a location close to town. But a member, Elmer Kerns, who was a founder and president of the Pilot Rock Lumber Company, convinced the Club to move to a location that was closer to his office. The course is located at a former Cayuse Indian encampment.

Good For Them

They strongly support junior golf: they host junior camps (four days, two hours per day) in the summer; they hold junior clinics on Fridays in the summer; and they participate in the PGA junior league. They also have women’s clinics in the summer. Ponds on the course collect rainwater for irrigation.

Why Play This Course

A player friendly course in an attractive setting. Multiple tee boxes (including the much forward Orange tees) make the course accessible for a broad variety of skill levels. The very reasonable pricing and helpful staff are pluses.

General

• • Type: 18-hole public course
  • Price: $$
  • Phone/webpage: (541)443-4653/https://birchcreekgolfcourse.com
  • Address: 69772 Highway 395 S. Pendleton, Oregon 97801
  • Owner: Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation
  • Designer: Members and Shirley G. Stone (original course); Shirley G. Stone (original 9); Frank James (second 9 and remodel)
  • Pros: Michael Wood (PGA), Ryan Vance
  • Practice Facilities: Driving range on grass (mats in winter), two pitching areas (one with sand), putting green, and an indoor golf simulator
  • Pro Shop: A fair amount of clothing and equipment
  • Food: The Grill at Birch Creek is a full-service restaurant and bar, with a great view of the course; check for times
  • Bathrooms: Improved in clubhouse and on course
  • Yardage Markers: 150-yard posts; 200, 150, and 100 in-ground markers; pins color coded for position
  • Clothing: Proper golf attire (but blue jeans are OK)
  • Walkable: A nice walk
  • Spikes: Soft only
  • Shoe Cleaning: Air hose, brushes, and wash
  • Rentals: All
  • Tries to be open throughout the year, but will be closed for a few weeks in the winter because of snow and ice