Back
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
Rentals/Services
Practice/Instruction
Policies
Food & Beverage
Bar, SnacksAccolades
-
Golf Advisor: Top Courses in Oregon (2023 #17)
Reviews
Reviewer Photos
-
Photo submitted by Bigvern13 on 07/12/2025
-
Photo submitted by Bigvern13 on 07/12/2025
-
That’s a green. Notice how my ball did not roll, but bounce every two feet. Photo submitted by u790885909 on 10/09/2024
-
18th hole from green Photo submitted by pjolly on 07/20/2024
-
Photo submitted by pjolly on 07/20/2024
-
Photo submitted by u000003078946 on 11/06/2023
-
Photo submitted by u000003078946 on 11/06/2023
-
Photo submitted by u314161709525 on 06/23/2023
-
Photo submitted by JackPark on 05/22/2023
-
Photo submitted by JackPark on 05/22/2023
-
Photo submitted by u403283649 on 08/08/2021
-
Photo submitted by u403283649 on 08/08/2021
-
Photo submitted by cbenson64 on 12/26/2020
-
Photo submitted by soundertillidie on 10/04/2020
-
Par 5 hole Photo submitted by murray1234 on 07/30/2019
-
Photo submitted by ucla1980 on 07/12/2019
-
Photo submitted by Terry7235445 on 07/05/2013
-
Sunset on the par3 16th hole Photo submitted by swayvincent on 07/02/2013
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
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.
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!
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.
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!
Love this course!
I always enjoy this course. I love the set up of it
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
Overrated and overpriced,
Dirty facilities, terrible parking lot. It would be out of business if it wasn’t in Portland. Portlanders are use to their garbage filled streets and homeless camps.
Tetherow Golf Experience Package
Pronghorn Golf Experience Package
