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Rating Index Rating
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4.3
457 Reviews (457)
5 Stars
137
4 Stars
220
3 Stars
72
2 Stars
21
1 Stars
7
Conditions
4.0
Value
4.2
Layout
4.7
Friendliness
4.5
Pace
4.3
Amenities
3.8
92.5%
Recommend this course
416 out of 457 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.3
14 Reviews (14)
5 Stars
5
4 Stars
8
3 Stars
1
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.2
Value
4.3
Layout
4.9
Pace
4.2
Amenities
3.9
StaffFriendliness
4.7
92.9%
Recommend this course
13 out of 14 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.3
29 Reviews (29)
5 Stars
11
4 Stars
16
3 Stars
2
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.0
Value
4.2
Layout
4.8
Pace
4.4
Amenities
3.8
StaffFriendliness
4.6
93.1%
Recommend this course
27 out of 29 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
457 Reviews (457)

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 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Moderate difficulty; not in top condition

Fun course that’s especially suited to mid-handicap players. Two disappointments. First, the practice green was substantially slower than the greens on the course, so unsurprisingly I 3-putted the first hole, and it took me a while to recalibrate. I lost 4-5 strokes over that. Second, some of the fairways were in poor shape with large bare spots. Is that normal for September or does a maintenance investment need to be made?

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Played On
Reviews 6
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Hard course with a technical layout

Overall good condition with a very technical layout. Forces you to plan your way around the course.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 185
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 250 Contributor
Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 63
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 6
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Fair
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 6
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing

Quick Vacation Round

Was able to get a tee time and matched up with another traveler and played in 3.5 hours. Great scenery and some wildlife

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 37
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Played On
Reviews 14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing

wonderful golf course

great course. challenging but fair. blackberries on bushes on many holes were in season and very sweet. will be back

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
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 2
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Played On
Reviews 5
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 87
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 1000 Contributor
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Walked

Nice course and close to home

Not bad, a lot of goose poop on the course. But it is a PDX city course and I am sure they cant discourage the goose from the course

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 185
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 250 Contributor
Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 5
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 26
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
First Time Playing
Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 185
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 250 Contributor
Previously Played
Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Not in the best shape

I was excited to play the Great Blue for the first time this year, but was disappointed with the condition of the course. It has been a very mild very wet spring and starry to summer so I was surprised how many dead spots there are in the fairways. The greens clearly had not been mowed for the weekend play. Greens were slow and bumpy. I’ve been playing the course since the Red 9 opened, now the back 9 of the great blue. I don’t know why the course is in such poor shape this early in the summer but it is. For $53.00 to walk the course they really need to do a better job of course upkeep.

Conditions Fair
Value Fair
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 30
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
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