Portland Golf Club offers a rich history, strategic routing, and classic parkland beauty minutes from downtown. It's a shot-maker's course where accurate play is rewarded, and legends have battled under the firs. For fans of golf history and Northwest tradition, this private sanctuary delivers a round to remember.
Pause in the oak-shaded memorial garden behind the 18th green—a peaceful spot honoring past champions and the club's storied legacy.
Portland Golf Club is classic Northwest parkland—tight, tree-lined fairways framed by towering firs and routed for strategy rather than brute force. A.V. Macan’s 1922 redesign preserved the property’s best natural corridors, while later renovations by Robert Trent Jones Sr. and Dan Hixson modernized bunkering, expanded greens, and improved playability. The result is a demanding test of placement, requiring thoughtful tee shots and precise approaches, all in an atmosphere steeped in championship tradition.
Macan’s philosophy of harnessing natural landforms and rewarding strategic thinking is still the course’s guiding star.
A long, demanding par 3 framed by classic Northwest evergreens, requiring a crisp mid-to-long iron with little margin for error. The green is subtly contoured and flanked by well-placed bunkers, making precision a must from the start.
A controlled tee shot is essential—avoid missing right where bunkers and trees await. Take your par and run if you can.
Short or left brings sand and difficult recoveries; long leaves a treacherous downhill chip.
Firm but fair parkland turf with meticulously maintained greens and restored bunkering.
Orderly, member-driven pace—expect to move but rarely feel rushed.
Quiet, classic, and clubby—golf history on every hole.
Understand the significance of Ben Hogan’s win and you’ll appreciate every fairway more.
Northwest rain showers can roll in quickly—carry rain gear even when it’s sunny in Portland.
The walk is pleasant but some subtle elevation means comfort pays dividends.
You’ll often need to flight your shots and work both directions to find fairways among the trees.
Club founded and first nine holes built by Portland businessmen
Second nine laid out by George Turnbull
A.V. Macan redesigns and re-routes the course
Hosts PGA Championship, won by Ben Hogan
Hosts first post-WWII Ryder Cup
Robert Trent Jones Sr. renovation
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places
The 1947 Ryder Cup at Portland Golf Club was the first held after World War II, with Ben Hogan captaining the victorious United States team. The event helped restore international prestige and brought the world’s golfing eyes to Oregon.
Carved among mature firs, the course has preserved its tranquil, parkland beauty for over a century. Members tout the uniquely secluded feel despite its proximity to downtown Portland.
In 1946, Ben Hogan secured his first PGA Championship victory here—an historic milestone in one of golf's most storied careers. His disciplined style mirrored the demand for precision play that still defines the course.
Nine Portland businessmen laid out the club’s original nine holes in 1914, a modest start for a club that would later shape championship history and host the game’s greatest.
Hosted both the PGA Championship and Ryder Cup within 12 months.
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2023.
The 18th hole is a rare par-3 finisher—unusual among championship hosts.
Ben Hogan’s first PGA Championship win came here in 1946.
Used as a key venue for golf’s return to post-war competition after WWII.
A top-tier public-access experience known for championship-level conditioning and variety.
Polished Northwest golf with a player-friendly, bookable layout and resort feell.
A private gem with modern championship pedigree for those with access.
Historic private club and longtime area favorite, accessible through members.
Stay in southwest Portland or Beaverton for easy access to all the region’s best courses and a quick drive to PGC.
Courses with the most similar DNA profile — matched by deviation shape across all eight playing characteristics.
Why it matches: There is real overlap here. Cattail Creek Country Club a comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character, making it a compelling counterpart to Portland Golf Club.
Why it matches: Silverado Resort North Course is a natural next stop after Portland Golf Club: it a comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character.
Why it matches: Oakridge Country Club is a natural next stop after Portland Golf Club: it a comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character.
A Bay Area icon of strategic championship golf
Classic Macan parkland with championship pedigree.
Community Sentiment
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