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Rating Index Rating
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4.2
449 Reviews (449)
5 Stars
134
4 Stars
216
3 Stars
71
2 Stars
21
1 Stars
7
Conditions
3.9
Value
4.2
Layout
4.7
Friendliness
4.5
Pace
4.4
Amenities
3.6
93.9%
Recommend this course
409 out of 449 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.4
8 Reviews (8)
5 Stars
3
4 Stars
5
3 Stars
0
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.0
Value
4.6
Layout
4.9
Pace
4.9
Amenities
3.9
StaffFriendliness
4.9
100.0%
Recommend this course
8 out of 8 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.3
24 Reviews (24)
5 Stars
9
4 Stars
14
3 Stars
1
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.0
Value
4.2
Layout
4.7
Pace
4.5
Amenities
3.6
StaffFriendliness
4.6
95.8%
Recommend this course
23 out of 24 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

4.2
449 Reviews (449)

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 4
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Good Early Morning Round

No one pushing, no one slow motion in front just a great day of casual golf

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

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?

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Poor
Pace Fair
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 5
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 40
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

“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.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 3
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 86
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 1000 Contributor
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Walked

Divots

It would be nice if a grounds keeper would go to the par 3's a couple times a week and fill in the divots

It is like a war field, with no place to stand

Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Poor
Amenities Poor
Difficulty Fairly Easy
Played On
Reviews 16
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Beginner
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 81
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Walked
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 26
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser

At this stage the Golf coarse is very much out of touch and would be typical of a muni owned coarse.

Goose waste several feet around the club house; over maintenance poor

Conditions Average
Value Fair
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 12
Skill Intermediate
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 Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 37
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 184
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 250 Contributor
Previously Played

Yikes it’s aeration without notice!

So it’s very disappointing to find out when you arrived

Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 13
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
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