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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
4.4
22 Reviews (22)
5 Stars
9
4 Stars
12
3 Stars
1
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.0
Value
4.2
Layout
4.7
Pace
4.5
Amenities
3.7
StaffFriendliness
4.5
95.5%
Recommend this course
21 out of 22 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 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

Need work and goose poop

The par 3's are like a war field. They no longer put sand to fill the divots and it is hard to find a place to stand.

Need to send the grounds crew to fill all the divots and then put sand/seed back on all the par 3's

The goose poop is also out of control WOW

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 12
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great Blue

As always one of the best city courses in Portland!! All aspects of the course are in great shape from tees to greens.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great Blue Course is in great shape

Played with friends and a random 4th today.

Pace of play was great until hole 6 and then we waited quite a bit. End up being a 5 hour round.

The course played great. My only complai t would be the bunkers. Very compact especially on the front 9. The bank seemed better. I spent a lot of time in the sand today for some reason...lol... and am a decent bunker player. But when the sand is quite sandy, and the greenside bunkers are steep it makes for a long day.

Otherwise, we still had a fun day. And the course played fine. Will definitely be back again!

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 18
Skill Beginner
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 12
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

A good challenge with great confitions

My first time playing here and the staff was fantastic. I was solo with nobody in front of me and it was glorious. The hazards are great and the greens have a lot of shape.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Played On
Reviews 44
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Played On
Reviews 13
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Takes no prisoners.

Great Blue never disappoints. If you are up for a course challenge this course will definitely fulfill your plan. Don’t forget your sand wedge.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 5
Handicap 25+
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing

fun and challenging

I truly enjoyed playing the Great Blue course. It was in great condition, scenic and quite challenging. The bunkers reminded me of The Old Course. Many tight greens with multiple slopes. The staff is awesome, especially Francis, a marshall.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Played On
Reviews 23
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 6
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Nice venue

Played the Great Blue. The course was in good shape and the greens were running well. Had some time before the round and was noticing so many small things that are neglected. Weeds, disrepair and general cleaning around the clubhouse are not being addressed. But, that being said I went for the golf and I have no complaints about the course.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 4
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 Good
Played On
Reviews 6
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 9
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Heron Lakes Great Blue

Pace of play was not bad.played 18 holes in just over 4 hrs,usually takes Atleast 4 1/2..Course was in good shape and the greens were in nice condition

Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 3
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 13
Handicap 0-4
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 183
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 250 Contributor
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 183
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 250 Contributor
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 23
Handicap 0-4
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Walked

Good and Bad

Good - course layout is very good! Greens are good, tee box, fairways are all good!

Bad - many of the bunkers need work! Weeds, unkept, needs new sand - several are very bad. Rough - many areas have way too many weeds.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Poor
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
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