Red Tail G.C. - Oregon Golfing

August 12th, 2007 by mulligan

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I recently stayed in Oregon and while I was there I had the opportunity to play at Red Tail Golf Course. I have visited the area numerous times having worked for a company based out of Hillsboro which is about 25 miles west of Portland but had only played one course in the area (Meriwether National Golf Club). I think that most people unfamiliar with the Northwestern region of the US are probably under the impression that it constantly gets a lot of rain and for the most part everything is relatively green. However, the Northwest does have a dry season! That season is typically late June through August. It’s really not much different than Colorado in that sense. However we have been getting a fair amount of rain which has helped keep our courses in really good shape this year.

Having experienced golf in the middle of summer in Oregon prior to my latest trip, I wasn’t expecting the greatest of conditions, but I wasn’t really prepared for the conditions at Red Tail either. I was greeted by some severely dried out fairways and rough which was really not much more than dried out long grass. I was disappointed not only because of the conditions of the fairways, but also by the sheer lack of respect paid to the greens. I understand municipals, and I’ve experienced them quite frequently, but the greens here were some of the worst for divots I have ever seen.

The course itself was absolutely beautiful aside from it’s current state of maintenance. Large trees mixed with ponds and bunkers placed in just the right spots make this course a true shot making/placement test. I would have loved to have played it with my sticks, but unfortunately I no longer like to “check” baggage. So I had rented a set of Nike NDS clubs from the absolutely enormous facility at Red Tail. The clubs were a bit worn, but they suited me well once I figured out their closed set-up positioning. Yeah, I was pulling everything left until I adjusted for that! I was paired with some very nice people two of which were also visiting from out of state, as well as one local resident. Unfortunately none of them had played the course prior, so there was no real on the course guidance from any outside source. While playing with them, they happened to mention their starting tee-time. 1:09 p.m. Thursday afternoon. They mentioned this at 6:00 p.m. to me, while we were standing on the 16th!!!!! tee box. Now I’m no math major, but that’s longer than most slow weekend rounds in Colorado!

Overall I did have a good time, and managed to start playing my type of golf around hole 15 (I only played the back 9) after the club adjusting was complete. The course truly would be a great place to play I would guess in either early season, or late. It’s unfortunate that people didn’t repair at least SOME of the divots because the greens were a nice blend of fairness which required some careful reading. It’s just tough to get into something that you know is going to bounce 3 times prior to making it close to the hole. Even though it sounds bad, I would have to say that I wouldn’t mind giving this course another shot. Like I said, the holes were interesting and the scenery was beautiful. I’d like to see it when everything is green!

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