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Rating Index Rating
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4.3
458 Reviews (458)
5 Stars
138
4 Stars
220
3 Stars
72
2 Stars
21
1 Stars
7
Conditions
4.0
Value
4.2
Layout
4.7
Friendliness
4.5
Pace
4.3
Amenities
3.8
93.8%
Recommend this course
417 out of 458 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.3
15 Reviews (15)
5 Stars
6
4 Stars
8
3 Stars
1
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.2
Value
4.4
Layout
4.9
Pace
4.2
Amenities
4.0
StaffFriendliness
4.7
93.3%
Recommend this course
14 out of 15 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.3
23 Reviews (23)
5 Stars
9
4 Stars
13
3 Stars
1
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.1
Value
4.3
Layout
4.8
Pace
4.4
Amenities
3.9
StaffFriendliness
4.5
95.7%
Recommend this course
22 out of 23 reviews
Read Reviews
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AI summaries based on real golfer reviews
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Course Highlights
The Great Blue course delivers a cleverly designed layout with water features that reward strategic play, making it a favorite among Portland-area golfers. Well-maintained fairways, true-rolling greens, and efficient pace of play offer strong value at this accessible municipal track.

About

Holes 18
Type Public/Municipal
Style Links
Par 72
Length 6902 yards
Slope 139
Rating 74.0

Heron Lakes Golf Course was opened for public play in 1972. The course was designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr. and is located off of I-5 next to the Portland International Raceway. It was named after the Blue Herons that inhabit the many lakes and ponds around the course. There are two courses, the Great Blue and the Green Back.

The Great Blue has been rated for years as the most difficult golf course in the Portland Area. It is a links style course with water, tall rough, narrow fairways, and sand everywhere. Most fairways on the Great Blue narrow to small greens that roll and pitch in several directions.

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Course Details

Year Built 1992
Fairways Winter Rye Grass
Greens Bent Grass
Golf Season Year round

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes
GPS No
Pull-carts Yes
Caddies No
Clubs Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Bunker Yes
Golf School/Academy Yes
Teaching Pro Yes
Pitching/Chipping Area Yes
Putting Green Yes

Policies

Credit Cards Accepted VISA, MasterCard, Discover Welcomed
Metal Spikes Allowed No
Walking Allowed Yes
Dress code Shirts must be worn on the premises at all times.

Food & Beverage

Bar, Snacks

Accolades

  • Golf Advisor: Top Courses in Oregon (2023 #17)
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Reviews

4.3
458 Reviews (458)

What Golfers Are Saying

The 19th Hole is Great For:
Drinks 11
Watching the Game 7
Course Challenges Include:
Water Hazards 24
Bunkers 22
Undulating Greens 13
This course/club is great for:
Advanced Golfers 15
Locals 15
Walkers 13
This Course's Location is:
Convenient to the City 22
Near the Airport 16
Worth the Drive 11

Numbers based on reviews tagged with attribute.

Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 6
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 16
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Blue Heron

Always wanted to play this course. Really enjoyed my round. Greens were fast, but they were consistent on all holes. Open course with sand and water all thru the course. Not many trees which were a nice change of pace. Will come back.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Windy weather
Used cart

The round was $66 through GolfNow but I purchased a cart and a large bucket of balls and that totaled $100

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 8
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Golf carts

Golf carts are old and dirty no a pressure washer in Portland. I Guess spider webs and all no coolers for beverages. Can do a lot better in n carts for 90$

Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 15
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 185
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 250 Contributor
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Like course but forced to play way too fast

Paired with player that were semi pro and the course wants you to play 18 waaayy too fast. Not that enjoyable

Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Poor
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 15
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Walked

slow play

The light blue tee box was new to me, after playing there for 40 years. Not a big deal, just weird at first and I think it leads to more slower play because of more tee boxes. Oh well. There's always change. I call it engineers on acid. LOL

Conditions Good
Value Fair
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Poor
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 185
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 250 Contributor
Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 160
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Top 100 Contributor
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Walked

February golfing?

The ducks and the geese keep the fairway grass short and it is dry enough for some run out on low hit balls, but not high. Greens are in good shape and for this early in the year I was very pleased. No wind made this a golf shirt round.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 185
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 250 Contributor
Previously Played
Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 7
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 17
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played

It’s a beautiful challenging course

I played in the rain so other than the weather making it more difficult nothing negative to say about this course. Always aim for the fairways and your next shot would be perfect. It’s a few you might want to keep left if you can.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 39
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great City Course

Challenging layout, greens and fairways were well maintained. Also a great walking course.

Could use more parking.

Overall a good value.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser

Weather insurance is a scam

I bought the weather insurance and it’s a scam. It rained hard for the first 12 holes and most greens had so much water that we couldn’t putt on them . We got zero refund from golf now. Very disappointing.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 14
Handicap 0-4
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Average
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