Kinzua Hills Golf Club

General Course Description

Kinzua Hills Golf Club is a unique course, seven miles (the last mile on a dirt road) up the hills above Fossil, about 100 miles to the northeast of Bend. The course is unique in that it is the only 6-hole course in Oregon, with three separate tees that allow you to play 18. Kinzua Hills Golf Course is also somewhat unexpected because it is surprising to find a golf course in a meadow among the pine-covered hills above Fossil.  It is a rolling and very wide-open course with some holes (namely 4 and 5) crossing each other (if the course is busy, this can make for a more entertaining round). It is a rural course that is cared for, with mowed fairways having a variety of grasses, and slow greens that are closer cropped fairways. The course has a strong community feel, with operations relying on donations and volunteers, and weekly potluck gatherings. Just put your reasonable greens fee in the slot and play. Hilly, but compact — providing a nice walk.

Course History

Opened in 1930 on a log-sorting yard and mill pond (which still exists on the 2nd hole). The course fell into disrepair and was used by a semi-pro baseball team for several years. In 1951, a group of local golfers leased the property and restored the course with sand greens (which became grass in 1954).  The company mill town of Kinzua basically shut down in 1978, when the buildings were removed and the townsite planted with trees. The course continued to be owned by the original owner or successor until 2000, when the company was sold and local golfers bought the course. An underground irrigation system was installed in 2017.

Why It Is There

The course was developed by the Kinzua Corporation for its employees. It has been resurrected by local golfers who keep the course going.

I Wish I Would Have Known Before I Played

The best way to get there.  As you head south out of Fossil on Highway 19, you will see a sign to Kinzua (now a ghost town). Just follow that road up until it becomes dirt and you will see the sign for the golf course (after a bit, a second sign will appear on the right — take that turn to avoid the RV park). On the course, the 4th hole is a dogleg right with two pine trees in the left center of the fairway. As you approach the green, there is a pine tree guarding the right side of the green (and a small trap right behind the tree). Drive over or to the left of the pine trees in the fairway to have a good approach shot to the green.

Did You Know

Kinzua, named after a town in Pennsylvania, is now a ghost town. But in the 1930s, it was the most populous town in the county.

Why Play This Course

This is not a destination course. But if you are in the area (rafting the John Day, looking for fossils, or exploring the interior of Oregon), it’s a nice, short diversion to experience something different.

General

• • Type: 6-hole public course
  • Price: $
  • Phone/webpage: (541) 763-2074/kinzuahills.wixsite.com/khgc
  • Address: 21467 Hoover Creek Road, Fossil, Oregon 97830
  • Owner: Kinzua Hills Golf Club
  • Designer: Local golfers
  • Pros: None
  • Practice Facilities: None
  • Pro Shop: The clubhouse is generally closed, just put your greens fees in the slot and play; when the clubhouse is open, it has some balls, tees, shirts, and hats
  • Food: None; there is a soda machine
  • Bathrooms: Improved in clubhouse (if open) and on the course; also, a port-a-potty on the course
  • Yardage Markers: Inconsistent, some holes have posts with yardage marked on them; no pin-position information
  • Clothing: Tank tops and jeans are OK
  • Walkable: Hilly, but short and compact — a nice walk
  • Spikes: Any
  • Shoe Cleaning: None
  • Rentals: If the proshop is open, they have clubs you can use for free and one power cart is available to rent; they leave pull carts out for use
  • Closed in winter

*For 18 holes