GolfPass Icon
Rating Index Rating
Tooltip Information Icon
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
frame.svg
AI summaries based on real golfer reviews
circle-star.svg
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.

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

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+ Annual
golf ball.svg
$120 in monthly tee time promo codes
waivedfees
12 rounds of waived fees
redeemtrophy
GolfPass Member Pricing
teetime protection.svg
Tee Time Protection

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
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 47
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Intermediate
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Played On
Reviews 13
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 30
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Played On
Reviews 17
Handicap 0-4
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing

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.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 6
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Great Course

Nice, challenging course with a beautiful setting. Excited to play this course and the Greenback course in the future.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Amenities Good
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 87
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
Nearby Courses
Portland, Oregon
Public/Municipal
4.0636905151
328
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
3.6484593838
111
Vancouver, Washington
Private
5.0
1
Portland, Oregon
Public/Municipal
3.9303980333
574
Vancouver, Washington
Private
3.0
1
Portland, Oregon
Public
4.4533070645
301
Vancouver, Washington
Public
2.5
2
Golf Packages

Eagle Crest Stay & Play Package

CLICK BELOW
REDMOND, OR | Enjoy lodging accommodations at The Lodge at Eagle Crest Resort and golf at Eagle Crest Resort - Ridge Course, Resort Course, or Challenge Course.
Golf Course at Eagle Crest Resort

Eagle Crest Stay & Play Package

CLICK BELOW
REDMOND, OR | Enjoy lodging accommodations at The Lodge at Eagle Crest Resort and golf at Eagle Crest Resort - Ridge Course, Resort Course, or Challenge Course.
Pronghorn Golf Club – Nicklaus & Fazio Courses

Pronghorn Golf Experience Package

CLICK BELOW
BEND, OR | Enjoy lodging accommodations at Juniper Preserve Resort & Lodge and golf at Pronghorn Golf Club – Nicklaus & Fazio Courses.

Pronghorn Golf Experience Package

CLICK BELOW
BEND, OR | Enjoy lodging accommodations at Juniper Preserve Resort & Lodge and golf at Pronghorn Golf Club – Nicklaus & Fazio Courses.
Now Reading
  • Home

  • Memberships

  • Library

  • Account