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Heron Lakes Golf Club - Great Blue Course
Rating Snapshot
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 |
Course Details
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Bar, SnacksAccolades
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Golf Advisor: Top Courses in Oregon (2023 #17)
Reviews
Reviewer Photos
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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
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.
Nice track
Good little layout. Greens in good shape. Fairways were a bit wet/ long/thick. Not much of a warm up area. Starter was nice guy. Easy course to walk. Final 4 or 5 holes were nice challenge.
Great Course
Nice, challenging course with a beautiful setting. Excited to play this course and the Greenback course in the future.
Gorgeous Course - Highly Recommended
Light rain so I had the course almost to myself. Amazing layout and I appreciated the fact that my ball didn’t run out like the dry dead grass in Ca! Therefore my ball stayed in the fairway and greens were amazingly receptive. Other than about a million goose poops, there is zero to complain about this course. Friendly staff, well worth the money!
Tetherow Golf Experience Package
Pronghorn Golf Experience Package
