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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
Great experience and we'll be back
We had a great time playing the Heron Lakes Great Blue course on Sunday. We played at 3pm to get a cheaper round since it is a little pricier for a public track. I would say it is definitely worth it though. The course is in great condition and it's a challenging round. There's a lot of water in play. The other golfers we saw looked to be experienced and I think this helped with pace of play. One negative I would say is that there is not much shade on the course, which we were hoping for since it was really hot.
First time - New to area
Just moved here from Sacramento. Love the layout and the length of the holes. Just be prepared for the weather - everyone has golf umbrellas and covers for their clubs. The facilities are old but I don't mind.
Course needs maintenance pretty bad
The course is wonderful and a lot of older players fav in Portland area. I played it a few times but this time I felt like the course wasn’t kept up that well. The bunkers need lots of work(weeds and sand added to them.) and some of the course needs work. Greens were ok nothing special nor bad. I just hope they do some work to it, cause it needs it cause his should be a gem in Portland
Nice course
Pace was slow, but the course and the day were excellent!
Below average.
The course was not good. I'm sure it'll be in better shape later in the season. Even so, I cannot imagine it being an above average course to play. It's was terrible to look at and to smell today. I doubt that gets much better, even in the summer. There are a hand full of courses in the Portland metro area that charge a premium price for a sub premium experience. This is certainly one of them. Overall the course lacks any genuine beauty and is overpriced to boot.
Stellar course, ESPECIALLY for the price!
Portland Parks and Recreation operates five courses in the area and Heron Lakes Great Blue is easily the best. Challenging, beautiful, and fun. Worth every penny compared to public courses in other US cities.
What? No "fluffy white sand" in bunkers?
Great Course (Great Blue)
Fairways & greens in good shape.
The sand traps, however, (and there were MANY), were NOT in good shape at all. Many had water in them and VERY little sand. This course used to be famous for it's fluffy white bunkers, many of which are fairway bunkers. Course has always been challenging but they are REALLY scrimping on the maintenance of the bunkers.
Great day on Great Blue!
Excellent condition for early February here in Oregon!
good overall but the greens were too slow... some dead spots.. we were happy overall...
Punched greens... and no alert or mention
Greens sucked.... No alert on Golfnow about recent punching of greens. Actually they may have been punched over a week ago but were in terrible shape. Sunday afternoon with great weather so you know it's going to be slow and it was as we decided to head out after 12 holes. The front nine played in over 2.5 hours... opened up for 10/11/12 and then a wall in front of us.
thirsty
Great round of golf, did not see refreshment cart once. I assume that would be loss revenue.
beautiful, but...
greens are looking a bit beat up, never saw a bev cart, and the hotdogs at the turn were served painfully slow. seeened the guy had a lot to look around at.
that said, i like the courses, and i think greenback just had its greens pinched and sanded, blue is probably next and seriously needs it.
Has gotten worse since I played there a couple years ago. Not impressed by the greens.
