Editor’s note: Oregonians have a reputation for being fans of the outdoors, and with good reason: summertime in the Pacific Northwest makes up for the rainy winters by providing beautiful weather. This allows many people the chance to participate in recreational sports. Recognizing this is a big part of summer in the Eugene area, the Emerald’s sports staff this summer will run a semi-regular series on how to get involved in a variety of outdoor recreational sports. First up today is golf.
As the longest day of the year has turned the corner to introduce a long-awaited summertime to the Northwest, the weather blossoms into the beautiful mix of clear skies and perfect temperature that makes this the best place in the world.
And certainly this means one thing: time to get outside. There’s no better way to blend the beautiful Northwest summers and a little friendly sporting competition than hitting the links for a round of golf. Around the Eugene area there are plenty of places to play, practice, and enjoy a nine or 18-hole round of golf at all price points.
But first, an aspiring golfer needs a set of clubs. Such an investment in a set of clubs (including woods, irons, wedges and a putter) is the only downside to starting up in the sport. However, sporting goods stores offer inexpensive complete sets for as little as $200, and Web sites like Craigslist and stores like Play-it-Again Sports offer up a cheap alternative to golf pro shops. Picking up a cheap set from a garage sale is a good starting point, and upgrading to a better, more expensive set after learning the game is always an option.
After clubs comes learning the game. Friends or family who already play can, of course, help teach a new player the right way to swing. However, a few lessons from a professional provide a solid foundation and tips on what to work on. Two of the largest golf courses in the Eugene area, River Ridge Golf Complex and Fiddler’s Green, both offer lessons. Though they aren’t cheap, good lessons are incredibly helpful.
While lessons help, practice makes perfect, and that’s where driving range time comes in play. Blasting buckets of balls down the range for swing practice is almost as vital as playing itself, and Eugene’s courses – including River Ridge, Fiddler’s, the public-owned Laurelwood Golf Course less than a mile from campus, and even the McKenzie River Golf Course in Springfield and the Tokatee Golf Club 47 miles east of Eugene – all have driving ranges that are open year-round. Greens set up to help the short game – both putting and chipping – are also a requisite feature, and are important to practicing the game.
After practicing comes playing. Ranging from affordable (under $10 for nine holes) to expensive, Eugene’s courses cater to a variety of players. River Ridge has three courses (the 18-hole Regulation course, as well as the nine-hole Par 3 Short Ridge and the Par 3 and 4 “executive course” called Sutton Ridge) all tucked next to the Willamette River just up Delta Highway from the Valley River Center. Laurelwood is a hilly nine-hole course near campus, and offers some of the most affordable rates in Eugene. Fiddler’s Green also has a nine-hole executive course right next to their massive golf shop, which is located up Highway 99 and just north of the Eugene Airport. The McKenzie River Golf Course is in the scenic rural part of Springfield, and mixes in elevation changes and some water hazards for a very playable nine holes.
Wherever one plays, golfing in Eugene is an enjoyable experience made better by the wonderful summer weather. Nothing is quite like tapping a putt in on the last hole after an afternoon out on the links, all with the sun shining.