Pine Ridge Golf Club

General Course Description

Pine Ridge Golf Club (fka Springfield Golf Club) is a semi-private (there are reserved times for men’s club and women’s club) 18-hole course just a few miles to the northeast of Springfield, but it feels a long way away nestled in the Mohawk Valley and surrounded by trees and only a few houses.  A well-maintained course with a classic feel and a great staff.  Pine Ridge Golf Club plays longer than what is on the card with elevation changes, doglegs, beautiful tall trees, traps, ponds, and creeks. Greens (generally back to front) run great. Forward tees provide the benefits of shorter distance and better angles. Although there are some hills on the front 9, Pine Ridge Golf Club is a nice walk.

Course History

The first nine holes opened in 1957 as Springfield Country Club, a public course.  Sometime in the early 1980s it became an 18-hole course and in 1992 it became private. Mike Stark did a redesign of the course in 1996. By 2011, the course was allowing limited public play, but was having financial difficulty. In 2018, the course was purchased by its present owner, whose principal, Ronald Perkins, owned a house on the first fairway. When R & R Perkins LLC bought the course, it changed the name to Pine Ridge Golf Club.

Why It Is There

Neighbors wanted to build a course in the area. When the course was financially in trouble, a neighbor bought the course and has kept it going (thank you).

I Wish I Would Have Known Before I Played

Generally, the greens are a bit raised and/or have false fronts. You want to make sure the approach gets to the center of the green.  Otherwise the course is very much in front of you, except the bit-out-of-place 8th hole, a par 5 that crosses two creeks and has a very undulating fairway (so balls hit shy of the creeks can roll in). The first creek is about 230 yards from the green (and, again, you can roll in).

Did You Know

Since the early 2000s, the course has been a center of cross-country races, hosting NCAA Western Regionals, Pac-10 and Pac-12 Championships, and the Bill Dellinger Invitational. And now, the old clubhouse, between the 12th and 14th holes, is the center (simulator inside, short game area outside) of the practice facility for Bushnell University and is reported to be the only privatized practice facility in the NAIA.

Good For Them

Water draining on the front 9 gathers in the ponds and is then used for irrigation. They have golf camps for boys and girls and are a PGA Junior League course.  They are the home course for Mohawk, Springfield, and Thurston High Schools as well as Bushnell University. They host several charity events including Fore! for Four Golf Tournament benefiting local cancer research, the Mohawk Valley Lions Club Golf Tournament supporting local projects, and the Willamalane Park Foundation Golf Tournament in support of local parks and parks programs.

Why Play This Course

A well-maintained, scenic course with interesting holes that can fit many levels of play. For the quality of the course and the extras, it may be the best bargain in the greater Eugene area. The friendly and accommodating staff and members are a bonus.

General

• • Type: 18-hole semi-private course
  • Price: $$$
  • Phone/webpage: (541)747-2517/pineridgegolfclub.net
  • Address: 90333 Sunderman Road, Springfield, Oregon 97478
  • Owner: R & R Perkins, LLC
  • Designer: Sid Milligan (original 9), John Zoller (second 9), Mike Stark (remodel)
  • Pros: Nic Sherman, Chris Polski, Aaron Oakley (PGA Associate)
  • Practice Facilities: Driving range on mats; short iron range; pitching and sand practice areas; two practice greens
  • Pro Shop: Small but packed with clothing and equipment
  • Food: Mowhawk Bar & Grill is a full-service restaurant in the clubhouse serving lunch and dinner
  • Bathrooms: Improved in clubhouse and on course
  • Yardage Markers: 150 posts; 250, 200, 150, and 100 in-ground markers; yardage on sprinklers; rotating zone pin-position
  • Clothing: Proper golf attire
  • Walkable: A little hilly on the front 9, but a nice walk
  • Spikes: Soft only
  • Shoe Cleaning: Air hoses and brushes
  • Rentals: All
  • Open all year