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Rating Index Rating
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4.2
449 Reviews (449)
5 Stars
134
4 Stars
216
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
3.6
93.9%
Recommend this course
409 out of 449 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.4
8 Reviews (8)
5 Stars
3
4 Stars
5
3 Stars
0
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.0
Value
4.6
Layout
4.9
Pace
4.9
Amenities
3.9
StaffFriendliness
4.9
100.0%
Recommend this course
8 out of 8 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.3
24 Reviews (24)
5 Stars
9
4 Stars
14
3 Stars
1
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.0
Value
4.2
Layout
4.7
Pace
4.5
Amenities
3.6
StaffFriendliness
4.6
95.8%
Recommend this course
23 out of 24 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

4.2
449 Reviews (449)

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 7
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Fair
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 7
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Great course design, terrible drainage

Soaking wet course, but very fun and unique hole designs

Conditions Fair
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 29
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

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!

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Played On
Reviews 2
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Walked
Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 2
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 7
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Does not handle water

I love this course, it’s beautiful and laid out very well. It is below par in drainage. It needs yards and yards and yards and yards of sand. We played after a steady rain that occurred the few days before we came. Although a sunny sky, I could barely stand in much firm ground

Conditions Poor
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Walked
Conditions Fair
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
2.0
First Time Playing

Heron’s poops every everywhere yucks!

Goose poops all over the course. We stopped playing after three holes, just couldn’t handle the stepping on the poops all over. Will wait until summer time to return.

Conditions Poor
Value Fair
Friendliness Average
Played On
Reviews 86
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 1000 Contributor
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Walked

Goose poop and shoe cleaners

Still wet, had a few balls plugged, could not find my playing partners ball on #3

The goose poop on the course is terrible!

I am surprised no one has become sick.

The course is muddy and there still is not once shoe cleaner on the Great Blue!

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 12
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
2.0
Previously Played

Left to vandals

I usually love this course. Great track with a lot of variety and challenging green complexes.

I'm used to the poop but these conditions were abysmal. I haven't seen anything this bad since redtail. I felt punished to put it in the fairway- there were more divots or mud chunks then grass. I guess it speaks to the people playing regularly or they maybe understaffed.

To top it off some teenagers in a subaru were messing w cars and stealing sand bottles and a flag stick! A great guy blocked the road and gave them a telling off! Way to go guy! Kinda summed up the course experience though... Left to vandals.

Conditions Poor
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Played On
Reviews 3
I Recommend This Course
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Poor
Value Fair
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 86
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 1000 Contributor
Previously Played

Goose poop galore

Very wet and this was the 4th day without rain

And the ball was still plugging!

Worst part was all the goose poop and no way to clean my shoes!

All the shoe cleaners either gone or in terrible condition

My Clicgear had so much poop on the wheels I had to take it to the cart wash area for a rinse

Come on Heron Lake get your goose poop together!

Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 2
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Played On
Reviews 5
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Love this course!

I always enjoy this course. I love the set up of it

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 20
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 39
Handicap 25+
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Keep your focus,

Accuracy is key to success on the Great BlueLEnjoyedplaying this challenging cours- course management is key as is staying out of the numerous bunker

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
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