Game day had finally arrived in Eugene, OR. The combatants had gathered on the playing surface and were anxiously awaiting the start of the contest. The colors of green and yellow dominated the view in every direction. This was a special day. No we weren’t at Autzen Stadium watching our former team the University of Colorado Buffaloes battle our new team the University of Oregon Ducks. Nor were we visiting Hayward Field, the world-class track and field facility at UO. We were just a few blocks down the road at Laurelwood Golf Course ready to start the round on our fifth edition of the Oregon/Washington, Always Time for 9/McMenamins, Golf/Beer Trail Series.
The brilliant green of the course dotted the horizon and the yellow hue of the sun greeted me as I pegged it up to finally (I’ll explain later) start my round. I nervously stood over the ball on the elevated tee box at Hole #1 as a dozen criticizing eyes scrutinized my every move from the clubhouse deck high above. My exhilarating initial shot is long and splits the fairway leaving me with the perfect second shot at this opening dogleg left, 540 yard par 5. Nothing like opening up with a par on a difficult initial hole!
The hole routings may be a little tricky for the first-timer out here. Hole #2 is up the hill and to the right. You will find Holes #2 and #5 tee boxes side-by-side. This dogleg right par 4 has a generous landing area and strange “donut-shaped” bunker fronting the green. The par 3 third hole plays a little longer than the 160 yardage. The green is surrounded by two bunkers both left and right.
Hole #4 is a “grip it and rip it” par 4. Straight-away with a fairway that slopes from right to left. Too far left will find high rough, so aim down the right side. Hole #5 is the number one handicap hole with a big dogleg to the right. Try to cut off too much of the dogleg and you may find yourself parked in the hidden bunker beyond the tree line. The green is surrounded by thick foliage and a front, right bunker. Hole #6 is a par 3 that is played from an elevated tee box. The fairway slopes down then back up to a bunker-guarded green. There is also a small ditch to carry, so pick your tee box carefully!
If you can read, Hole #7 is an interesting and fun ride. Read and ride are the important words. The silver tees are what you first encounter, but the sign (which I missed) for the other tees take you for a ride through the woods to a perch high above the fairway. Once you have found the landing area, your second shot at this par 4 is to an elevated green surrounded by trees. This is how you make a straight hole fun, interesting, and challenging!
The par 3 eighth hole is probably the easiest on this 9-hole beauty. This hole sets up well for your slice as the hill to the right will gently funnel your wayward shot back to the flag. Anything to the left will usually result in a bogey or worse. Hole #9 is a fantastic way to finish your round.
This is a 421 yard par 5 with a dramatic uphill dogleg to the right. Your drive requires a shot that is long enough to get to the dogleg, but not too long as there is bunker awaiting those drives.
Your second shot needs to ascend the hill to find sight of the green. If you need a birdie to finish this round – Good Luck!
Rating – Ace (52 out of 60): First of all, try to make a tee time if you want to play. This review was in the writing process for four years because as a single, I tried to walk on this busy course with no luck. I wrote the opening of this review in 2021 and finished it in 2025. Finally after moving from Oregon, on a return visit I was smart enough to try to gain access by arriving on a weekday afternoon…and I was not disappointed by my four-year wait! It is a gem of a course, and pairing it with McMenamines East 19th Cafe made for another addition to the Oregon/Washington, Always Time for 9/McMenamins, Golf/Beer Trail Series.
2700 Columbia St., Eugene, OR 97403; 541-484-4653; www.golflaurelwood.com
