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Rose City Golf Course
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About
Rose City Golf Course is the second oldest municipal track in the Portland area. In 1921, A.H. "Jay" Gould played his first round of golf ever at Eastmoreland Golf Course. After returning home, he decided to look for a good place to hit golf balls and came upon The Rose City Speedway. He spoke with C.P. Keyser of the City Park Bureau and obtained permission to burn the tall grass on the infield so that golf balls could be found.
Jay and friend Herbert George used shovels and hoes to carve out a nine-hole course on the speedway infield. Tin cans were used for cups, packing cases for tee-boxes, and iron rods and rags for flags. The Oregonian and Journal Newspapers ran a story on the new golf course and 30 golfers showed up the following Sunday to hit balls around on the burnt grass and dirt. The main hazard was a head-on train collision that occurred earlier in the summer and partially blocked the seventh green.
After a few weeks, the Rose City Golf Association was founded which marked the beginning of the course. Full cooperation from the city and donations from businesses and individuals solidified the construction. George Ott drew up a nine-hole plan and work began in the spring of 1922. Play continued in the spring, but was stopped in the summer due to long grass and no mower. Play started again in the fall, but stopped again due to motorcycle racing. In the winter of 1922-23, the viaduct on the west end of the track washed out and put an end to the races. On Jan. 31, 1923 the first green fee ticket was sold to Jay Gould and in the spring, more than 800 played in one day. The city then took over the course completely.
Today, Rose City Golf Course is an 18-hole, par-72 course with rolling fairways that are lined with a variety of large trees. Water comes into play on holes 10, 11, 14, and 15 and greenside bunkers are well placed.
| Tee | Par | Length | Rating | Slope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue | 72 | 6552 yards | 71.7 | 123 |
| White | 72 | 6164 yards | 69.8 | 119 |
| White (W) | 73 | 6164 yards | 75.3 | 126 |
| Red (W) | 73 | 5589 yards | 71.8 | 118 |
| Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tournament M: 71.0/120 | 367 | 388 | 502 | 341 | 171 | 425 | 364 | 216 | 384 | 3158 | 475 | 465 | 200 | 367 | 329 | 133 | 473 | 414 | 423 | 3279 | 6437 |
| Blue M: 70.9/119 | 367 | 388 | 502 | 341 | 171 | 425 | 364 | 216 | 353 | 3127 | 475 | 465 | 200 | 367 | 329 | 133 | 473 | 414 | 423 | 3279 | 6406 |
| Blue/White M: 69.4/116 | 343 | 362 | 502 | 323 | 171 | 390 | 333 | 216 | 326 | 2966 | 475 | 465 | 200 | 351 | 320 | 133 | 473 | 378 | 405 | 3200 | 6166 |
| White M: 68.6/116 W: 74.5/120 | 343 | 362 | 476 | 323 | 154 | 390 | 333 | 190 | 326 | 2897 | 450 | 446 | 180 | 351 | 320 | 120 | 462 | 378 | 405 | 3112 | 6009 |
| White/Green M: 67.4/112 | 325 | 325 | 476 | 308 | 154 | 369 | 303 | 190 | 280 | 2730 | 450 | 446 | 180 | 298 | 262 | 120 | 462 | 353 | 395 | 2966 | 5696 |
| Green M: 66.5/108 W: 71.4/114 | 325 | 351 | 447 | 308 | 123 | 369 | 303 | 142 | 280 | 2648 | 424 | 432 | 166 | 298 | 262 | 77 | 416 | 353 | 395 | 2823 | 5471 |
| Red M: 62.7/103 W: 66.4/109 | 241 | 262 | 383 | 240 | 123 | 288 | 262 | 142 | 220 | 2161 | 353 | 365 | 142 | 260 | 262 | 77 | 416 | 275 | 294 | 2444 | 4605 |
| Red/Gold W: 66.0/108 | 241 | 262 | 383 | 240 | 123 | 288 | 262 | 142 | 205 | 2146 | 340 | 312 | 142 | 260 | 262 | 77 | 340 | 275 | 294 | 2302 | 4448 |
| Gold M: 62.1/100 W: 65.0/105 | 241 | 262 | 383 | 240 | 123 | 288 | 262 | 142 | 205 | 2146 | 340 | 312 | 142 | 253 | 230 | 77 | 340 | 220 | 294 | 2208 | 4354 |
| Handicap | 7 | 3 | 15 | 13 | 17 | 1 | 9 | 5 | 11 | 6 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 14 | 18 | 16 | 4 | 2 | |||
| Par | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 35 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 37 | 72 |
| Handicap (W) | 11 | 5 | 1 | 17 | 13 | 7 | 9 | 15 | 3 | 10 | 4 | 16 | 12 | 14 | 18 | 2 | 6 | 8 |
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Reviews
Reviewer Photos
Favorite course in Portland
Granting that the layout of Blue Heron is more challenging and that Eastmoreland has the history, I’m proud to call this place my home course. Friendly staff, terrific pro (Hi, Tom!), and while the layout may not be as challenging as the aforementioned courses, this place gives off a “forest bath” vibe, especially in the early mornings. Great putting green, less that great chipping area (most use the putting green for chips). Trees are everywhere so club down off the tee unless you like pitch outs! Fun place, would recommend without hesitation.
Great course in great shape but green a bit slow.
Great course but the greens are slow and inconsistent due the sanding… in the middle of summer? Also could use an official driving range
Love Rose City
One of my favorite courses anywhere, let alone Portland. I work outdoors at Mint Valley Golf Course. Rose City is fantastic. Some challenging holes (those dog legs on Holes 13/14!!!) and some cool wildlife (coyotes, gulp!)
Also, you had a new marshal who took care of me. Can't remember his name. He was only on his second or third day of work. He filled up my tires on my push cart. Very helpful.
Love you all. Can't wait to get back.
Good course, grumpy pro
Like a walk through a forest, especially the back nine. When they sweep the greens, it’s fun to putt. When they don’t, it’s not. Grounds staff is really cool. Pro shop guy named Tom works in the morning and f you enjoy Passover aggressive behavior, that man is your man. I’d recommend in a heartbeat, with the above qualifications.
Great track
Easily one of my favorite courses in Vancouver/pdx vicinity. Greens rolling well. Appreciate the marshals for their assistance. First class facility all around. Challenging course. But you can score on the backside with two b2b par 5s.
Scheduling disaster
I showed up for my tee time, supposedly to join a threesome. Their leader forcefully informed me they were a foursome. The starter said only three had been booked. I asked if the next group was 3 or 4. The starter checked with the pro shop and it was a threesome. I offered to wait the ten minutes to be the fourth. Four golfers then showed up insisting they had booked as a foursome. The next group was a foursome. I returned to the pro shop, got my green fee refunded, and went home.
satisfection
Everything was very good accept the weather but not too bad.
A forest bath
6am tee time on the back nine after not playing a round for nearly a year. That was fun. I just recently learned the term Forest Bath? Now I’ve got a first-hand experience. Highly recommended.
Rose City Love!
My personal favorite of the Portland public courses. As an intermediate golfer (shoot in the high 80s usually) this course is challenging in good ways but also fair and gives opportunities to score. It’s varied hole to hole but not gimicky. Some ups and downs but definitely walkable for 9 or 18. For a public course and the price I think it’s well maintained. Fairways are solid and tee boxes in good condition.
The starter and marshall last night were very nice and set us off on a good foot.
Clubhouse has reasonable prices on food and food selection of drinks.
Overall I definitely recommend this course and think it has something for everyone. 🌹
Not the same
I have played this for many years, it has really gone down hill the last several years. I dont like what they did with hole nine.
The greens were very furry and need to be cute,
Great Portland Municipal
Nice city course with traditional layout. Good walking course with a hill on each nine, but fairly easy walk. Back has a par thee which is often on a short temp green which is a bummer. Fairly well maintained for a public track.
Great Day for golf
Had a great time playing this course. The weather was awesome.
Great condition
Rose City was in great condition for a Portland-owned course with well mowed fairways and rough, and greens in excellent shape. The best condition I've ever seen on this course in 40 years.
Great public course
Tough to play when the ground is wet! Get be a little short for long hitters! The course is harder than it looks,! 7/10 course which is a solid score.
