mscheelar

Let me just start by saying I have a soft spot for Salem Golf Club. I grew up playing here, I have a lot of great memories. But I am a little shocked at everything that went on with round yesterday.

The course: it has been hot and dry in this area for weeks now, so I understand the course drying out somewhat. But there were some big time dead spots all over the fairways, even on some of the greens. Then on the flip side many of the green fronts and shaded areas were sopping wet and muddy. Most holes if you hit 5 feet in front of the green you plugged and your ball spun back. The greens rolled okay but the cups and greens take a beating from poor etiquette players who play here. Back tee boxes were beat up pretty bad too, overall the course is in below average condition right now.

Pace of Play: We teed off at 9:30 yesterday and the round took 5:15. Mind you this is a 6300 yard course with hardly any walking from green to tee. It felt like 6 hours. The groups in front of us 2-3-4-5 groups out were not even trying to move along. They drank beer, heckled each other, took their sweet time and at one point we watched the group in front of us look for their ball for 15 minutes. Where were the marshals? None to be found. The management at SGC does not care about pace of play. It was brutal and made the round far less enjoyable.

Overall: I can't realistically play here again. It takes too much of the day and the course is not even worth $50 right now. It's a bit sad as I was nostalgic and excited about coming back to play. Play at your own risk, even 9am tee times don't guarantee any sort of pace of play.

To say I was blown away by Wine Valley Golf Club would be an understatement. When I found out I was headed to Eastern Washington for a work trip last week, I knew I had to play Wine Valley. I had heard good things and wanted to see it for myself.

We arrived at the course around 6:20am, it was almost impossible to tell a golf course existed there with all of the tall grasses and low profile clubhouse. Driving in to the parking lot you could start to see the first tee, range etc. It was a nice scene on an early summer day.

The course is absolutely stunning. Big terrifying bunkers in the fairways and greenside, fairways are tight, and the greens are spectacular. True, fast and full of undulations.

The feeling of being by yourselves and just out in nature was very apparent on the back nine. We played quickly and had a great time. Well worth the trip and the price is good for such a great course.

I highly recommend Wine Valley, you won't be disappointed.

I played Chambers Bay a couple weeks ago on a perfect PNW day with barely a cloud in the sky. My first impression was awe as I looked down from the clubhouse to see a golf course in an old rock quarry with the bay just beyond it.

I was fortunate to play the course with no temp greens, also the USGA had just approved the length of the rough and the width of the fairways. The only disappointing aspect was the shagginess of the greens. The starter assured us they would be twice as fast next year for the US Open.

The course is beautiful, it's a bit of a fabricated links style course(due to all the sand brought in) but it has the feel of being there for a very long time. The waste bunkers are everywhere, and they are brutal. I was in the sand a lot and I paid for it.

For those who are unfamiliar with links golf, brown is beautiful, the course may look dry but it plays as it is supposed to play. I thought it was challenging, beautiful, and I definitely want to go back.

I am excited to have a major in the NW, it's been too long. Chambers Bay will be an excellent test for the pros and you need to get out and play it before June 2015.

I've had the pleasure of playing this Portland gem a handful of times in the last few years. It's really a classic Willamette valley course, big tall trees, very green, quiet and pristine.

The course itself is in immaculate condition. The members take great care of their course. The fairways are as good as some greens in Oregon, and the greens are lightning quick with major breaks from years of settling in.The fairways are also tight, and you'll run into some ponds and creeks from time to time.

Another nice aspect of the club is a great pool and a newly renovated dining area. It's a full concept country club and everything about it is superb. Located on the west side of Portland.

I hope to be a member someday, and if you're under 40 yrs old now is the time to join as well. The membership director is also a great guy and a great player.

I played Pacific Dunes for the first time in June of this year. Somehow I had gone this 13 years without ever visiting Bandon Dunes Resort, but I finally had to make it happen.

Pacific was the 2nd 18 of our day in June, and the weather was spectacular. Barely any wind and perfect 70 degree weather.

The course itself is well thought out from tee to green, but at the same time feels so natural. The views from 4, 10, 11, 12 and 13 are simply stunning. Nothing else takes you to the edge of the West coast quite like this.

The course was fair but challenging, I can see it getting nasty in the wind, but I loved every minute of it even though we ran into a terribly slow bunch on 10 and ended up playing the round in 5 hours.

Do whatever it takes. Get to Bandon Dunes Resort, it may be relatively new by golf standards but it could be the best destination for golf in the country.