Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club, in North Plains, OR, is a signature course for world class golf in the Northwest. It’s comprised of two championship style 18 hole courses; Witch Hollow and Ghost Creek. Witch Hollow is for members only and is a well known course on a national level. In 1996, Tiger Woods won his third and final US Amateur championship here, prior to turning pro and signing with Nike in nearby Beaverton. In 1997 & 2003, Witch Hollow hosted the Women’s US Open. Ghost Creek, Pumpkin Ridge’s public side, rivals it’s exclusive counterpart in most areas. There is no discernable difference in the level of quality and beauty between the two courses, only the perceived allure of Witch Hollow’s storied past. Ghost Creek is carved into the same forested and wetland setting with the same vision and level of care. Every aspect of the course plays to the tune of the surrounding beauty and is wonderfully laid out amid it’s natural elements.
Ghost Creek provides a full array of challenges and fantastic scenery. Don’t be fooled by the wide open layout of the 1st and 10th holes, visible from the clubhouse. They may be a friendly invitation to swing aggressive, but from then on, nature brings on more restrictions. As you head toward the forest, fairways narrow, tree lines impede and wetlands are plentiful. If you land the fairways you will enjoy hitting off their extremely short cut. Beyond that, the rough is thick and often plotted with deep set bunkers or various forms of water hazards. Rolling terrain, large knolls and some fairway-side embankments can create awkward lies, which are welcomed versus penalty drops out of protected wetlands. The greens are immaculate. They are intricately engineered and heavily defended. Short of the putting surfaces themselves lies the challenge of avoiding the bunkers, creeks, ponds, and unlevel surrounding terrain next to them. Once you’re past these neighboring nuances, your focus must turn toward their lightning fast speeds and sharp slopes with an undivided attentiveness. From tee to green, Ghost Creek is very tough, but playing here is a true privilege that not even the worst of rounds can interfere with.
Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club may have the finest overall facilities in the greater Portland area, but you must be a paying participant to use them. The clubhouse is housed in an attractive, traditional style structure that is crowned with the course’s recognizeable logo. Inside is the pro shop with many nice retails items and a large restaurant and dining area. They have a large grass-surface driving range, but the best practice features lies within the greens. They have a huge practice green for putting with all kinds of breaks to putt through. It rolls smooth and fast, true to the course. They also have a separate green with short and rough cuts to chip from, and a couple bunkers for sand practice. These facilities come highly recommended in order to make the most out of Pumpkin Ridge and the special golf that it provides.
