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Heron Lakes Golf Club - Great Blue Course
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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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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
Best value in town
These are 2 totally different 18 courses at one spectacular location! The greenback is a tree lined tight course & the great blue is an open links style course which is harder but more fun.
A round at Heron Lakes Great Blue course
Nice golf course. I'd first played it 18 years ago, and recall its many water features as being both very "natural" -- and very beautiful as well. Now, the water features have been "let go" -- Mother Nature appears to be reclaiming them; to marsh and wetlands. I'm all for Mother Nature, but I think that course management should have done a lot more to keep the beauty that once existed, versus letting green algae-type plants overtake the waters. The waters of Heron Lakes aren't nearly as attractive as they were in the younger days of the course.
Also, people need to be more responsible in fixing their ball marks on the greens. Far too many weren't fixed well, and many not fixed at all.
Great except for the raceway next door
I really love this course. It's such a nice contrast to other courses in the area, because of it's links style play. It's very well maintained. The only thing is that when they are allowing cars to race at the race track next door, it's very distracting. Great though for a public course.
Well maintained course
The course was full but managed well. We didn't have to wait to hit until 13th hold then a few minutes each hole until we finished. They spread tee times out to avoid being too crowded, smart idea. Course was in very good shape .
Beautiful Day. Beautiful course.
I had heard great things about this course and all were true. Everything about this place is beautiful and well kept. Challenging holes but very fun layouts. Really allows you to utilize many different shots. Several holes are high risk high reward. Will 10/10 play again
Great layout great management during covid19
I've always shyed away from trying blue, as they've said it's quite difficult. It's not bad, I was surprised multiple times how much I enjoyed this rtj design. Sure if you miss right it could be terrible but just play smart.
Most importantly it was packed! Yet pace of play was perfect, they managed the tee sheet perfectly. Or people were respectful of distance . Either way had a great time.
Yes there was a lot of geese poop, but it was dry so i didn't notice much.
Windy Monday
This time the goose poop wasn’t the only obstacle, the wind roars across this flat course making it a real challenge making me practice course management.
Birds
This time of the year there is way too many birds and the dropping all over the course makes it not so fun to play.
