GolfPass Icon
Rating Index Rating
Tooltip Information Icon
4.2
445 Reviews (445)
5 Stars
132
4 Stars
214
3 Stars
71
2 Stars
21
1 Stars
7
Conditions
3.9
Value
4.1
Layout
4.7
Friendliness
4.5
Pace
4.4
Amenities
3.6
94.0%
Recommend this course
405 out of 445 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.3
9 Reviews (9)
5 Stars
3
4 Stars
6
3 Stars
0
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
3.8
Value
4.3
Layout
4.7
Pace
4.7
Amenities
3.7
StaffFriendliness
4.6
100.0%
Recommend this course
9 out of 9 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.3
24 Reviews (24)
5 Stars
7
4 Stars
16
3 Stars
1
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
3.9
Value
4.1
Layout
4.7
Pace
4.6
Amenities
3.5
StaffFriendliness
4.6
95.8%
Recommend this course
23 out of 24 reviews
Read Reviews

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.

Book a Tee Time at
Great Blue Course - Heron Lakes
Powered by GolfNow.com
Hot Deals at Great Blue Course - Heron Lakes

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)
The Best Way To Book Is With GolfPass+
waivedfees
10 rounds of waived fees
golf ball.svg
$120 in tee time credits
teetime protection.svg
Tee Time Protection
redeemtrophy
Redeem GolfPass points

Reviews

4.2
445 Reviews (445)
Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 25+
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Okay

Slow but kind of expected on a summer Saturday. Drink cart didnt come around on entire front 9, and when she did show up on the back her card machine was broken. She said shed be back but never came. Not good when play is slow and you aren't hitting very many good shots.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Friendliness Poor
Pace Poor
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Too long

Had too wait almost every hole. thats not acceptable for a Thursday afternoon. Please suggest to marshall to tell people to pick up if they are slow.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Poor
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Greens well maintained

Good price for course, but 45% of the round price for a cart!!

Conditions Average
Value Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Played Green Back

Very pretty course. Challenging, but not over the top. To be able to play a public course in four hours is awesome. Very friendly staff. Will definitely play again.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

This course is beautiful and well maintained.

This course is beautiful and well maintained I would have given it a 4.5, but staff not real friendly and they do not increase the pace of play. The play was at a very anemic pace! But will return to play it again!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Poor
Pace Poor
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 9
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Course good shape, great value.

Played at 3:15 on Friday afternoon - so I got the twilight rate. Pace of play was great. Greens were in great shape. Sand traps had two different kinds of sand and could use some more sand. Staff was friendly. Needs a new clubhouse.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

challenging water holes

My overall experience was good. I was amazed at the lack customer service at check. No "good morning" no "welcome to our golf course" NO anything - just whats your tee time -- It was like we where bothering the gentlemen behind the counter giving them our $50.00 to play there. Kinda funny that this seems to be the Normal at most golf courses unfortunately. Maybe they should really check themselves and make it a friendlier experience. People come to play golf for a good time. It starts with the people behind the desk

Conditions Average
Value Average
Friendliness Poor
Pace Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 25+
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

nice course

The course was in good shape. Great course for all levels.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 25+
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Fun course, friendly staff.

First course I've played in Portland. It was recommended by family and friends in the area. They played as well and enjoyed the course.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 24
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Fun Course

This was the second time in four days that I had played this course. The fairways and the greens were a little slower on Friday than Tuesday, but because of the dew on the ground, it was to be expected. Had a great time and played well again. If you need a confidence boosting round, that is a great course for such an occasion.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 7
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

The Greenback is Legit

Heron Lakes is my go to course - booking on-line with Golf Now was super convenient and I got a great rate for an afternoon round with the boss. We played at the end of the heat wave and the course was in excellent shape for a muni, though the driving range was a little abused and cut short to iron practice only due to a first tee practice happening at the other end of the driving range.

The t-boxes, fairways and greens were all in excellent condition. The bunkers felt a little watered down, surprising since we've been having a heatwave here.

Pace of play was brisk, even following a group that was obviously putting for money and had no reason to be playing from the blues - we still finished in just under 4hrs.

The Great Blue is my usual choice at Heron Lakes, but the Greenback provides for an entertaining round with plenty of challenge and a great finishing hole (who doesn't love a Mt. Hood view).

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great course especially for the money *Twilight rates*

I love this course! It has some very challenging holes on it especially from the blue tees. It can get pretty crowded so plan on a slightly longer round (usually around 4 1/2 hrs, maybe a little more depending on the day) The greens are almost always running beautifully especially in the summer, there is always a cart girl driving around multiple times while you play and the driving range offers grass hitting areas instead of mats. All in all if you get an early bird tee time or a twilight round (after 3 pm) it is a GREAT PRICE for the condition of the course.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Excellent course!

This links type course is always a challenge for me; it was exactly what I was looking for too! Great Blue was in a great shape! Everything was nicely mowed, the greens were firm & smooth and the cups freshly cut. I'm looking forward to playing this course again.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 4
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Great public course

Loved this course!! Excellent shape with enough challenge!

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 8
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Challenging course. Great value.

Have played here many times and it's always fun - even though the course challenges my skills. The day we played had great weather and the course was in fabulous shape. Hard to believe this is a city course.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 4
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played

Excellent Track.

Risk vs. Reward comes into play numerous times. The greens are small, firm and fast. Exciting to play. One of ther best courses in PDX area to play.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Poor
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 6
Handicap 25+
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Bunkers are awful

The sand in the bunkers is like wet cement. Needs attention.

Conditions Poor
Value Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser

Generally good condition. Had not healed from aeration.

Generally good condition. Had not healed from aeration. Pace of play on 5/3/13 was far, far better than normal and made the experience great.

Conditions Poor
Value Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser

Great Value, Great Course

The Course was very well maintained, greens were straight and true. We played the Greenback side which is a shorter track but is challenging. The pace was a little show because it was a beautiful day and there were tons of golfers out playing. My only complaint is the parking situation. The over flow parking is in the grass along the Right edge of the driving range. DANGER CLOSE and "park at your own risk" sign shows how they feel about it. Otherwise go early and get a spot in the parking lot...

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Poor
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser

This course is a great play.

Greens are slick, but doable. Fairways are in good shape. The course is challenging, but not overly so. A good value in the Portland area

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Fair
Difficulty Moderate
Nearby Courses
Portland, Oregon
Public/Municipal
4.0720861515
320
Portland, Oregon
Private
4.6666666667
3
Portland, Oregon
Private
5.0
1
Portland, Oregon
Public
3.5714285714
14
Vancouver, Washington
Public
2.5714285714
7
Portland, Oregon
Public/Municipal
3.6568627451
109
Vancouver, Washington
Private
5.0
1
Portland, Oregon
Public/Municipal
4.022988977
564
Vancouver, Washington
Private
3.0
1
Portland, Oregon
Public
4.5240958407
284
Vancouver, Washington
Public
2.5
2
Golf Packages

Pronghorn Golf Experience Package

FROM $227 (USD)
BEND, OR | Enjoy 2 nights’ accommodations at Juniper Preserve Resort & Lodge and 2 rounds of golf at Pronghorn Golf Club – Nicklaus & Fazio Courses.
Now Reading
  • Home

  • Memberships

  • Library

  • Account