Heron Lakes Golf Course
Heron Lakes Golf Course delivers a dual-course experience featuring a parkland Greenback and a more open, links-style Blue layout. Located in Portland, Oregon, it offers accessible terrain combined with strategic challenges, framed by Pacific Northwest scenery and ever-present coastal winds.
Course Overview
Heron Lakes Golf Course, situated just north of Portland's urban edge, offers a distinctive golfing experience through its two contrasting 18-hole layouts: the Greenback and Blue courses. This public facility embraces a blend of parkland and links-style elements, creating a varied landscape that challenges shot-making while inviting playability for golfers across skill levels. Greenback winds through clusters of evergreens and mature hardwoods, its tighter corridors and strategic bunkering demanding precision off the tee and thoughtful navigation around its doglegs and water hazards. The Blue course opens to broader fairways and more exposed terrain, where the Pacific Northwest winds influence club selection and shot trajectory, rewarding those who can command controlled, creative ball flight.
Both courses are known for their well-maintained greens that slope subtly, testing putting skills without overwhelming less experienced players. Bunkers frequently guard the front and sides of greens, while occasional water hazards add visual drama and strategic consequence. As a municipal course, Heron Lakes prioritizes accessibility without sacrificing quality, welcoming walkers and cart riders alike. Early mornings often present dew-kissed fairways and quiet surroundings, perfect for players keen to focus on rhythm and course management.
The clubhouse serves as a functional hub offering basic amenities and a friendly staff committed to improving guests’ experiences. The course’s layout ensures it is approachable for newcomers while providing enough complexity to satisfy lower handicappers seeking tactical challenges. Shadows lengthen over the Blue course tee boxes as the day progresses, accentuating the openness of the terrain and the significance of wind on scoring.
Players planning a visit should prepare for changing conditions typical of the Pacific Northwest; rain gear and soft spikes are recommended, particularly in cooler months when the turf softens. Walking can be rewarding with its gentle elevation changes, but carts are available for those who prefer less exertion. Whether seeking to polish your short game on Greenback or test control and distance on Blue, Heron Lakes presents a Pacific Northwest golf experience that balances scenic variety with solid challenges.
Course Highlights
Heron Lakes is distinguished by its two contrasting courses: Greenback’s tree-lined fairways and bunkered doglegs evoke parkland style, while Blue's wider, links-style layout confronts golfers with wind-affected shots and water hazards. The facility offers a true test of shot shaping and course management in an accessible urban setting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Guest Reviews
Brittani Ponder
Booked online and then was told by the man with little teeth that my husband and I couldn’t have our 4 year old son with us to golf because it was a “Portland golf rule”, meanwhile we’ve been to most country clubs and clubs In Oregon and ZERO people have said anything to us for years. It seems weird to me that Herron lakes is all about “first tee” but won’t let anything younger than 8years old out there to golf. I’m all for “ rules” but these rules are exactly what makes Portland TRASH and doesn’t grow the game.
Donna Herzfeldt-Kamprath
Great public course. Muddy this time of year but to be expected. Such a variety of trees on the course make it attractive. Watch out for bunkers on the doglegs!
Robert Sweeney
Greenback is in great shape!
Mitch Baker
My favorite city course in Portland. Greenback is super friendly, especially if you have a propensity to hit a fade off the tee box. Great blue will kick your ass, but it’s a fun links style course.
Ashley Atwood
My husband was looking forward to playing somewhere new and I was looking forward to getting out to enjoy the sun while fulfilling my passenger princess duties. The course is gorgeous and well maintained, and the scenery was amazing. The amount of rules on the course and the rude staff made it real hard for us to enjoy the day. We got charged extra for me to sit in the golf cart, which wasn’t disclosed when booking the tee time. We won’t be back, which is sad because we really enjoyed the scenery.
Chris Power
Love this course. Always a joy with staff and players. Lost a star because they charge for your wife to come along as a ride along. Wild. But here's a beautiful photo I captured. Posted edited.
Dillon Williamson
Chris Power
Love this course. Always a joy with staff and players. Lost a star because they charge for your wife to come along as a ride along. Wild. But here's a beautiful photo I captured. Posted edited.
Jamie Lottering
Played Greenback and found it pretty challenging. Water hazards on many of the holes and a lot of greens surrounded by bunkers. If you play during sunrise bring extra balls as I had a hell of a time finding mine due to plugged lies in fairway and rough.
Thomas A Wiebe
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Course Details
Access & Location
3500 N Victory Blvd, Portland, OR 97217, USA
Heron Lakes Clubhouse offering pro shop and basic dining
Walking is encouraged; course has gentle elevation changes with well-maintained paths. Soft spikes recommended for turf conditions.
Open to the public with tee times available online and by phone; walking permitted, carts available on request.
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