The Cedars on Salmon Creek, in Brush Prairie, WA, is a quiet, country course just outside of ear shot from the greater Portland/Vancouver area. Tucked back into a forested setting, The Cedars begins a bit tight and tree-lined before transitioning through several open meadows. This rural, woodland environment sets up for a diverse track of traditional style golf holes and presents a new perspective at each tee. Natural wetlands and an old wooden train truss that traverses the back 9 add some rustic charm to this semi-secluded venue. For golfers in SW Washington, The Cedars is a great option to keep in the normal rotation of tee times, and it's reasonable proximity to the greater Portland area makes it a recommended visit to golfers residing south of the Columbia as well. Factor in quality putting surfaces to this peaceful setting, and The Cedars on Salmon Creek has the key ingredients for a well-rounded golf experience.
The Cedars on Salmon Creek is generously sprawled out among terrain that is primarily flat with some gradual sloping at times. Overall, this is a great walking track for those looking to pace their way through golf's great outdoors. Large, old growth trees and thick forest serve as obstacles and/or out of bounds, along with a fair share of water hazards. As the course progresses, the grounds seem to open up a bit with some generous landing areas off the tee. Arguably the biggest challenge at The Cedars are the Par 3's, each presenting respective challenges including distance, elevation, water and even a narrow opening between trees on Hole 10. Sand is present throughout much of the course, but is not an overwhelming factor of play. The bunkers, while occasionally large, are not very deep and seldom located anywhere but near the greens. The ground maintenance meets expectations of what you'd hope for at a reasonably priced course like The Cedars, but the greens just might exceed them. The putting surfaces roll very true with some quick speeds and testy sloping, and cap off what is an overall solid option for Northwest golf.
Have you played The Cedars on Salmon Creek lately? Share your thoughts on the course in the comments section below.
