Oak Hills Golf Club

General Course Description

You can see Oak Hills Golf Club off of I-5 on the north side of the town of Sutherlin, about 13 miles north of Roseburg. It is an interesting and surprisingly difficult course that is in much better condition than it has been in the past. The difficulties are presented in the form of elevation changes, fairway mounds, and doglegs, with trees, water, and sand thrown in. Oak Hills Golf Club is well maintained and the greens, often sloped, run well. It has a mixed feel because you are among houses, have a hole along the freeway, see freeway services nearby, but also see beautiful tree-covered hills and a lush green valley to the west. Forward tees generally provide better angles.  It is hilly, but walkable (you might sweat).

Course History

Opened in 1971 as Sutherlin Knolls Golf Club, but was up for sale by 1973.  Since then it has gone through many owners and has had a variety of names: The Knolls, The Club at Sutherlin, Umpqua Golf Resort, and now Oak Hills. Past owners include Alaska Sutherlin Knolls (which wanted to build a resort hotel) and Sutherlin Resorts LLC.  All owners have tinkered with the design of the course. In 2016, it was bought by the present owner, which also runs Stewart Park Golf Course in Roseburg.

Why It Is There

Locals wanted to build a course, so they obtained an FHA loan and built it. Several owners since have had visions of leveraging the course for resort grandeur. The present owner have brought a stability (and has a referral source in the Roseburg public Stewart Park Golf Course).

I Wish I Would Have Known Before I Played

Yardage information is limited, so bring a range finder. In general, don’t miss left, and most greens are raised, so club up.  The 2nd hole is a par-4 dogleg right; you need to drive it to the center or center left of the 150 pole to have an open shot to the elevated green.  And on the 3rd hole, an uphill par-4 dogleg left, the fairway is mounded to 150, so balls hit a bit left will bounce and roll left. Center or right is better.

Did You Know

When it is really wet in the winter, they have designed the course so that they can change it to an 18-hole, par-3 course.

Good For Them

They only use reclaimed water from the city. Juniors under 17 are free with a parent. They hold junior summer golf camps for both boys and girls.  It is the home course for Sutherlin High School, and Umpqua Community College teaches golf there. They annually hold the Sutherlin Rotary Tournament to support the local high school. And Special Olympians are allowed to practice for free.

Why Play This Course

It is a solid course and a good challenge for a good price. It is worth a look if you are traveling I-5 or are in the Roseburg area.

General

• • Type: 18-hole public course
  • Price: $$
  • Phone/webpage: (541)459-4422/www.umpquagolf.com
  • Address:  1919 Recreation Lane, Sutherlin, Oregon 97479
  • Owner: Umpqua Golf Management
  • Designer: John Zoller
  • Pros: Brian Sackett (PGA)
  • Practice Facilities: Heated and covered driving range on mats (only one in Douglas County); pitching area and putting green; in clubhouse there is a driving net
  • Pro Shop: Minimal clothing and equipment
  • Food: Snacks, soda, and beer; looking for an operator to open a restaurant in the adjoining space
  • Bathrooms: Improved in clubhouse and port-a-potties on course
  • Yardage Markers: 150 poles; 150 plum and 100 pear trees; no pin-position information
  • Clothing: Tank tops and jeans are OK
  • Walkable: Hilly, you may sweat a bit
  • Spikes: Soft
  • Shoe Cleaning: Brushes and air hose
  • Rentals: All
  • Open all year