Pumpkin Ridge: Ghost Creek

Pumpkin Ridge: Ghost Creek

6839 Yards

74.0/145

Pumpkin Ridge has always been considered one of the nicest and toughest courses in Oregon. There are maybe two holes on the entire course that are considered "easy" by any means. Being a semiprivate club with both a public and private side, Ghost Creek (the public side) is always kept in the same shape the private side is. No matter how long I am in Portland, I always make the trip to Pumpkin Ridge. 

Hole 1: 447 Yards- Pumpkin Ridge starts out with a long and tough par 4. The bunkers on the right side are 250 yards out so left is the safe play off the tee. This is a tough green to hit in regulation because it is raised. Anything over the green is a tough up and down. 

Hole 2: 414 Yards- The second hole plays slightly uphill. A mid iron is often played into this green. Hitting your approach short isn't a bad shot because balls can be easily putted or ran up the green from the front.

Your approach into the second hole.

Hole 3: 184 Yards- This downhill three shotter is menacing. The green has two tiers so an accurate tee shot is a must. Anything above the hole on a front pin makes for a tough two putt. 

Hole 4: 533 Yards- This uphill tee shot is one of the most menacing shots on the course. Anything left will be in deep rough on a severe slope. Right is the safe bailout. The fairway narrows considerably as you get nearer to the green so an accurate layup shot is a must.

Approach into number 4. 

Hole 5: 218 Yards- This long par three demands accuracy once again off the tee with a sloped, two tiered green. With a pin tucked behind the bunkers, it is almost safer to bail out to the right either short or on the green and pray for an up and down or two putt.

Hole  6: 371 Yards- After five tough holes, you finally come to what you think is a breather. Anything too far left is in the bunkers and anything too far right is in a creek. A three wood leaves you with a short iron into a back to front sloping green. 

Approach into 6. 

Hole 7: 431 Yards- This long four shotter is a risk/reward hole. You can bail out over the first bunker to the right, but the more you try to bite off the hole the shorter it becomes. Taking it over the third bunker gives you 150 yards to the pin. 

Hole 8: 573 Yards- This long par 5 is no walk in the park. Clearing the bunkers on the right requires a 280 yard drive. 

One of the smallest greens on the course. Lay up and hit a wedge into this tight green.

Hole 9: 469 Yards- In my opinion, the hardest hole on the golf course. So hard in fact that it is played as a par 5 in the Safeway Classic played every year here. One of the widest fairways on the course, hit away and try and bite off as much as you can. A long iron is played into one of the scariest approaches you will ever hit.

Are you brave enough to hit this green in two?

Hole 10: 492 Yards- The second (and last) easy hole on the golf course. A good drive sets you up easily to reach the green in two. The bunkers on the left and right play around 280 yards out. 

Often times a hybrid or long iron will get you to this green in two. 

Hole 11: 180 Yards- The hole is slightly uphill so it is smart to club up 1/2 a club. It takes a brave soul to go after the pin when it is tucked in the back right. 

Hole 12: 444 Yards- This long par 4 is even longer with the dogleg. A fade or cut is necessary to elude the bunker on the left side of the fairway which plays 285 yards out. A fade right over the last tree on the right will leave you a mid-long iron into the green. 

Your approach into 12. 

Hole 13: 381 Yards- This hole plays slightly longer with the uphill tee shot and approach. A split drive leaves you a mid iron into the green. 

Your approach shot is deceiving; you never know where it actually is until you reach the green.

Hole 14: 234 Yards- The most scenic hole on the course. The next three holes can make or break your round. Play the hole at 220 yards. 

Hole 15: 552 Yards- A very similar tee shot to number four. The three bunkers on your left end at 280 yards. An ideal shot is played to the right side of the fairway. 

Keep your lay up shot on the right side as well... you're hitting into one of the smallest greens on the course. 

Hole 16: 133 Yards- A short, beautiful par three with the smallest green on the course. Plays downhill, so if you don't club appropriately your ball could end up on the 17th tee box, just behind the green. This is one of the toughest greens to read on the course. 

Hole 17: 329 Yards- This is a risk/reward hole at it's finest. 250 yards to carry the creek that runs through the fairway leaves you a pitch into the green. If you are going to lay up, hit your 200 yard shot for a short iron/wedge into the green. This two tiered green makes your approach as accurate as possible, anything short and right is in the water. 

Hole 18: 454 Yards- A great way to end the round. A downhill tee shot will leave you with a long-mid iron into the green. A much easier hole when the pin is in the front and not in the back. 

Alas, your round comes to an end at Ghost Creek!