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Heron Lakes Golf Club - Great Blue Course
Rating Snapshot
About
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.
| Tee | Par | Length | Rating | Slope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 72 | 6902 yards | 74.0 | 139 |
| Blue | 72 | 6491 yards | 71.9 | 137 |
| White | 72 | 6030 yards | 69.9 | 131 |
| White (W) | 72 | 6030 yards | 75.9 | 142 |
| Red | 72 | 5258 yards | 71.3 | 131 |
| Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gold M: 74.2/146 | 413 | 560 | 333 | 168 | 566 | 205 | 396 | 466 | 428 | 3535 | 412 | 200 | 544 | 446 | 376 | 187 | 380 | 523 | 413 | 3481 | 7016 |
| Black M: 72.5/142 | 403 | 515 | 324 | 150 | 520 | 179 | 388 | 428 | 402 | 3309 | 388 | 182 | 526 | 443 | 352 | 176 | 356 | 496 | 384 | 3303 | 6612 |
| Blue M: 70.5/135 W: 76.2/144 | 381 | 501 | 307 | 133 | 503 | 161 | 348 | 413 | 366 | 3113 | 384 | 173 | 506 | 408 | 321 | 156 | 325 | 483 | 375 | 3131 | 6244 |
| White M: 68.7/127 W: 74.3/140 | 351 | 461 | 286 | 126 | 475 | 136 | 312 | 388 | 335 | 2870 | 367 | 166 | 467 | 401 | 300 | 149 | 299 | 474 | 364 | 2987 | 5857 |
| Yellow M: 65.8/121 W: 70.9/131 | 314 | 435 | 260 | 111 | 432 | 103 | 297 | 361 | 286 | 2599 | 346 | 139 | 400 | 342 | 274 | 122 | 259 | 439 | 338 | 2659 | 5258 |
| Handicap | 7 | 1 | 15 | 11 | 9 | 17 | 13 | 3 | 5 | 14 | 16 | 4 | 10 | 18 | 12 | 2 | 8 | 6 | |||
| Par | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 36 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 36 | 72 |
| Handicap (W) | 9 | 3 | 13 | 17 | 1 | 15 | 11 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 16 | 2 | 8 | 14 | 18 | 6 | 4 | 10 |
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Course Details
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Golf Advisor: Top Courses in Oregon (2023 #17)
Reviews
Reviewer Photos
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Photo submitted by Bigvern13 on 11/05/2025
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Photo submitted by Bigvern13 on 07/12/2025
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Photo submitted by Bigvern13 on 07/12/2025
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That’s a green. Notice how my ball did not roll, but bounce every two feet. Photo submitted by u790885909 on 10/09/2024
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18th hole from green Photo submitted by pjolly on 07/20/2024
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Photo submitted by pjolly on 07/20/2024
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Photo submitted by u000003078946 on 11/06/2023
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Photo submitted by u000003078946 on 11/06/2023
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Photo submitted by u314161709525 on 06/23/2023
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Photo submitted by JackPark on 05/22/2023
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Photo submitted by JackPark on 05/22/2023
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Photo submitted by u403283649 on 08/08/2021
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Photo submitted by u403283649 on 08/08/2021
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Photo submitted by cbenson64 on 12/26/2020
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Photo submitted by soundertillidie on 10/04/2020
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Par 5 hole Photo submitted by murray1234 on 07/30/2019
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Photo submitted by ucla1980 on 07/12/2019
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Photo submitted by Terry7235445 on 07/05/2013
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Sunset on the par3 16th hole Photo submitted by swayvincent on 07/02/2013
Overrated and overpriced,
Dirty facilities, terrible parking lot. It would be out of business if it wasn’t in Portland. Portlanders are use to their garbage filled streets and homeless camps.
Very impressed. Tee boxes, fairways an greens in great condition.
Good condition
Blue course was in great shape and pace of play was pretty good. Would have expected a better clubhouse since there are two nice courses at this facility however it still deserves a four-star because of how well maintained the course is.
Great Blue was ... GREAT!
The course was in great shape and even had sand in the bunkers! (lol) staff was super friendly and even let us off early. I'm playing again this afternoon and it will be the third time in 3 weeks that I played this course. Nice folks out there. Now it's time to try the Greenback out for a change.
A Great Golf Experience
I have played this course several times. The staff does a remarkable job & the course is always well maintained. For the price, this course is one of the best in the Portland area. Great Blue is challenging in a different way each time I play it. From water, to wind, to sand, it’s a different challenge each round. I highly recommend this course to everyone I know. Thank you very much did a top notch day of golf.
Mixed Emotions
Played here yesterday and was excited to try this place out for the first time. For $30(?) walking 18 holes I didn't known what to expect.
I was paired with two gentlemen that were in their 80's and were quite possibly the funniest guys I've ever met. I'm convinced that the Movie Grumpy Old Men was created because of them.
Pace of play was slow and by no means was it because our group was shooting great scores. There were four Marshall's driving around and none of them communicated to any group to pick up the pace. And when I asked I was told "if you don't like it, GO HOME"
The course was fun, greens were in good shape, and the company was outstanding. But the lack of quality customer service was disgusting. I'll need to try the course again to make a better conclusion of my observations.
I shot a 68 from the tips so it couldn't be all bad, right?
“It rains a lot in Portland”
Contemporary weather forecasting is extraordinary. I was able to sneak a round in after noticing a gap of just cloudy skies on my weather app.
The course was soggy but playable. Sand traps were not playable due to standing water in most.
Layout was fun. Very walkable. The course is not easy. Especially the back nine. Very small greens.. tiny, yet undulating, postage stamp size. They rolled very true. Rare non-repaired ball marks(not true on the easier holes) because it is so difficult to land the green.
It is a fun course. I’ll come back. Btw— pro shop/ restaurant pretty dumpy…. Port -a- potty type amenities.
