One of my favorite ways to take advantage of the summer weather is to hit little white balls as far as I can. The number of golf courses in the Eugene area provides plenty of opportunities to players of all skill levels to do just that.
Players with skills ranging from first-timer to beginner can find a place to practice at Oakway or The Nines, while seasoned veterans can expect to hit all types of shots at Diamond Woods or Emerald Valley. Every course in the area is reasonably priced (around $20-$40 per round).
I’ve had the luxury of playing several courses in the area at least three times over the past year and my score has not only drastically improved, but I’ve also found different challenges at each one.
Oakway, located at 2000 Cal Young Rd., and The Nines, the smaller course located at the RiverRidge Golf Complex at 3800 N Delta Hwy., are the perfect pitch and putt courses for all types of golfers in Eugene.
Because the distances at these two courses are much shorter than at others, you can play a full round in three hours. Beginners don’t have to worry about losing so many balls, while the veterans can practice by using irons that strengthen their short games. And though both offer golf carts, they’re hardly needed due to the short distances.
The local 18-hole courses reside at RiverRidge (the same location as The Nines) and Springfield Country Club at 90333 Sunderman Rd. in Springfield.
Each course presents different types of obstacles. Springfield plays longer and a little bit more open, while RiverRidge is much more about control and distance shots.
Springfield is the more beautiful course. There, you have the ability to play alongside the Mohawk River for a number of holes on the back nine. The course also supplies an eatery that makes for a great pit stop along the course.
RiverRidge is arguably the more popular course because it’s located in town, so I’d recommend making tee time reservations 24-48 hours in advance.
I enjoy Springfield more because it offers more opportunities to test my skills throughout the golf course. While RiverRidge is a more standard course, Springfield offers more difficult hole locations. At the latter, the cup locations on the green are constantly changed for different approach shots depending on the day.
Outside of Eugene, golfers can travel to Diamond Woods or Emerald Valley. Diamond Woods is about 25 minutes north, located at 96040 Territorial Hwy. in Monroe, and offers pristine scenery to go along with a difficult layout. Emerald Valley is about 20 minutes south, located at 83301 Dale Kuni Rd. in Creswell, and tests golfers with rolling hills and little room for mistakes.
Diamond Woods is my favorite golf course in the area because it makes you use every club in your bag over the course of a round. From par-3 holes where you can’t afford a misplaced shot to par-5 holes where it’s best to end up on a different fairway, Diamond Woods challenges you in every way.
In the end, what makes golf in the Eugene area special is the variety. From true tests of your golfing ability to hitting balls with beer on hand, there’s always a course to play.
Follow Ryan Kostecka on Twitter @Ryan_Kostecka
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