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Rating Index Rating
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4.3
447 Reviews (447)
5 Stars
134
4 Stars
214
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
3.7
93.7%
Recommend this course
407 out of 447 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.5
6 Reviews (6)
5 Stars
3
4 Stars
3
3 Stars
0
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.2
Value
4.7
Layout
4.8
Pace
5.0
Amenities
4.2
StaffFriendliness
4.8
100.0%
Recommend this course
6 out of 6 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.3
23 Reviews (23)
5 Stars
9
4 Stars
13
3 Stars
1
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.0
Value
4.2
Layout
4.7
Pace
4.6
Amenities
3.6
StaffFriendliness
4.6
95.7%
Recommend this course
22 out of 23 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

4.3
447 Reviews (447)

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 3
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Walked

Solid value for money on a challenging course

Great Blue presents a well designed course that is in great condition for the green fees. The greens are hard, fast, and feature challenging undulations. Fairways and roughs are in great shape as well. Only downside is that the course is adjacent to the Portland Speedway and the extremely loud drone of racecar engines zooming around is ever-present, which is a bit disappointing.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 8
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great Blue

Great pace of play and course was in pretty good shape!

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing

My main complaint is the bunker conditions. When a course has a lot of bunkers it would be nice if they were well maintained.

Fun, beautiful course. Cool that you could hear the Portland raceway cars speeding by. I will definitely play again this summer.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Default User Avatar
Anonymous
Played On
Reviews 3
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Wet weather
Walked
Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 10
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Wet weather
Walked

Always a Fun Experience

The greens were in great shape and rolling true. Only problem was the standing water from all the rain we've been getting (not a course issue) and the goose poop everywhere you go. For mid-March, we had a great day and experience playing here.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 10
Skill Intermediate
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 155
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 250 Contributor
Previously Played
Cold weather
Walked

Winter sun

The sun brought me out and the course didn’t disappoint. Some plugging of drives but not terrible. Greens were amazingly fast and in great condition. Big plus was no wind which can blow you away.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Poor
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Fair
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 1
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 5
Skill Beginner
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 13
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
2.0
Previously Played

Aeration vs Sand traps for greens

I’ve played courses that have been punched. But, this is ridiculous. So much sand on the greens you couldn’t even attempt to putt. GolfNow prices are still the same!? This is ludicrous.

Conditions Poor
Value Fair
Layout Average
Friendliness Poor
Pace Fair
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Grounds Crew

I find it extremely rude that the grounds crew are mowing the fairway when you’re currently in it. To make matters worse, they don’t shut their mowers off when you are getting ready to hit. Maybe I’m just use to courses that actually value their quests but another typical city of Portland crew doing what they want when they want

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Fair
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 12
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 6
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Always a treat

I’ve played here many times. The Great Blue Course never disappoints. Love this course. Thank you! 😊

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 33
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Dodger

Course is tough, but so fun. Greens are in great shape. One of my favorite courses.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 182
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 250 Contributor
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
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