Emerald Valley Golf Club
Encyclopedia
Emerald Valley Golf Club is a public golf course
located in Creswell, Oregon
in the Pacific Northwest
region of the United States
. The Emerald Valley course was the first regulation-length public golf course in the Eugene
metropolitan area. The course runs along the west bank of the Coast Fork of the Willamette River
.
from the Russell brothers and left the partnership. The first nine holes were opened in 1967. The site’s original dairy barn was remodeled and converted into a clubhouse and was opened along with the first nine holes. The second nine holes were opened in 1968, making Emerald Valley the first regulation-length public golf course in the Eugene
-Springfield
metropolitan area.
In 1974, the Russell brothers sold the golf course to Peter Murphy, owner of the Murphy logging company. Over the next four years, Murphy installed a new drainage system and made other improvements. In 1978, Murphy sold the golf course to the Mazama Timber Products Company, which was owned by the Forrest Solomon family. Mazama planned to build a modern clubhouse and health spa as well as homes and condominiums adjacent to the golf course.
Mazama began construction of a clubhouse, restaurant, and health spa complex in 1979. The 46000 square feet (4,273.5 m²) facility was finished a year later at a cost of $4.5 million. In addition, Mazama invested over $200,000 in course improvements. The company also applied for zoning changes to allow residential development on the property around the golf course. The city of Creswell approved building permits for 54 homes and a 250 unit motel on the Emerald Valley property, but financial problem delayed construction.
The Oregon Bank took over the golf course in 1984 after Mazama went bankrupt. In 1987, the bank offer to sell the Emerald Valley golf course and sports complex to Lane County
, but the county decided not to purchase the property. A year later, the bank sold the golf course to a group of investor headed by Chicago
businessman Steven Klemen. The Klemen group bought 150 acre (0.607029 km²) adjacent to the golf course where they planned to develop 360 homes; however, they built less than a dozen.
In 1993, the golf course was sold separately from the rest of the property to the Paloma Golf Group. This formally separated the golf course from the troubled resort and housing developments. Paloma invested in some course upgrade that improved the general aesthetics of the course and increased the operation’s revenue. Paloma sold the golf course to Arnold Palmer
Golf Management Company in 1997.
In 2002, the Palmer group sold the Emerald Valley golf course to Jim Pliska, a Portland
area businessman and former member of the University of Oregon
golf team. Pliska restored the course and added a new driving range
and practice facility on 25 acres (101,171.5 m²) of undeveloped land at the northeast corner of the property. A new irrigation system was installed in 2005. Today, Emerald Valley is one of the best golf courses in the state and is the home of the University of Oregon golf team.
The original course was laid out in 1966 by Bob E. Baldock. In 2002, parts of the course were redesigned by Dan Hixon, a Portland golf course designer who had player at Emerald Valley when he was at college. The redesign added elevated tee boxes for the 2nd and 3rd holes, providing a view of the Willamette River from the 3rd tee. The redesign project also enlarged the pond in front of the 2nd green, added new bunkers near the 3rd and 8th greens, and expanded the 9th green.
The course challenges golfers of all abilities. There are four tees settings, Gold being the longest. The first nine holes are a par 36, measuring 3431 yards (3,137.3 m) from the Gold tees. The second nine holes are also a par 36 and measure 3712 yards (3,394.3 m) from the Gold tees. The total length of the par 72 championship course is 7143 yards (6,531.6 m). The shortest course is 5421 yards (4,957 m).
Over 200 golfers, play in the Emerald Valley Men's Club program. Club competitions are held on Saturday and Sunday from March to October, except for weekends when the golf course is hosting a special event. The club hosts the Emerald Valley Amateur in June, the Firecracker Open on the 4th of July
, the Club Championship in August, and the Ray Davis Memorial tournament in September. The club also sends a team to the Oregon Golf Association team championships as well as individual players to the association’s Net Championship.
The Emerald Valley Women's Club is open to golfers of all abilities regardless of handicap. The women’s club hosts weekly competition and an annual club championship. During the summer months, there is a junior golf program as well. The junior program includes instruction from Emerald Valley’s professional teaching staff every Thursday from July though August. There is also a junior club championship tournament and a parent/youth ice cream social tournament at the end of August.
. To get to the Emerald Valley Golf Club from Interstate 5
, take exit 182. Turn onto the Emerald Parkway heading east and go about one quarter of a mile; make a left turn onto Dale Kuni Road. The Emerald Valley Golf Club parking lot is on the right side of the road about one hundred yards from the junction.
Golf course
A golf course comprises a series of holes, each consisting of a teeing ground, fairway, rough and other hazards, and a green with a flagstick and cup, all designed for the game of golf. A standard round of golf consists of playing 18 holes, thus most golf courses have this number of holes...
located in Creswell, Oregon
Creswell, Oregon
Creswell is a city in the Willamette Valley of Lane County, Oregon, United States. The population at the 2010 census was 5,031.- Geography :According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which , or 2.42%, is water....
in the Pacific Northwest
Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest is a region in northwestern North America, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains on the east. Definitions of the region vary and there is no commonly agreed upon boundary, even among Pacific Northwesterners. A common concept of the...
region of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The Emerald Valley course was the first regulation-length public golf course in the Eugene
Eugene, Oregon
Eugene is the second largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and the seat of Lane County. It is located at the south end of the Willamette Valley, at the confluence of the McKenzie and Willamette rivers, about east of the Oregon Coast.As of the 2010 U.S...
metropolitan area. The course runs along the west bank of the Coast Fork of the Willamette River
Willamette River
The Willamette River is a major tributary of the Columbia River, accounting for 12 to 15 percent of the Columbia's flow. The Willamette's main stem is long, lying entirely in northwestern Oregon in the United States...
.
History
The Emerald Valley Golf Club was begun in 1966 by Eugene Russell, James Russell, and Marv Ruby. It was built on the site of a 160 acre (0.6474976 km²) dairy farm northeast of Creswell. Before the course opened, Ruby purchased the Orenco Woods golf course in Hillsboro, OregonHillsboro, Oregon
Hillsboro is the fifth-largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and is the county seat of Washington County. Lying in the Tualatin Valley on the west side of the Portland metropolitan area, the city is home to many high-technology companies, such as Intel, that compose what has become known as the...
from the Russell brothers and left the partnership. The first nine holes were opened in 1967. The site’s original dairy barn was remodeled and converted into a clubhouse and was opened along with the first nine holes. The second nine holes were opened in 1968, making Emerald Valley the first regulation-length public golf course in the Eugene
Eugene, Oregon
Eugene is the second largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and the seat of Lane County. It is located at the south end of the Willamette Valley, at the confluence of the McKenzie and Willamette rivers, about east of the Oregon Coast.As of the 2010 U.S...
-Springfield
Springfield, Oregon
Springfield is a city in Lane County, Oregon, United States. Located in the Southern Willamette Valley, it is within the Eugene-Springfield Metropolitan Statistical Area. Separated from Eugene to the west, mainly by Interstate 5, Springfield is the second-most populous city in the metropolitan area...
metropolitan area.
In 1974, the Russell brothers sold the golf course to Peter Murphy, owner of the Murphy logging company. Over the next four years, Murphy installed a new drainage system and made other improvements. In 1978, Murphy sold the golf course to the Mazama Timber Products Company, which was owned by the Forrest Solomon family. Mazama planned to build a modern clubhouse and health spa as well as homes and condominiums adjacent to the golf course.
Mazama began construction of a clubhouse, restaurant, and health spa complex in 1979. The 46000 square feet (4,273.5 m²) facility was finished a year later at a cost of $4.5 million. In addition, Mazama invested over $200,000 in course improvements. The company also applied for zoning changes to allow residential development on the property around the golf course. The city of Creswell approved building permits for 54 homes and a 250 unit motel on the Emerald Valley property, but financial problem delayed construction.
The Oregon Bank took over the golf course in 1984 after Mazama went bankrupt. In 1987, the bank offer to sell the Emerald Valley golf course and sports complex to Lane County
Lane County, Oregon
-National protected areas:*Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge *Siuslaw National Forest *Umpqua National Forest *Willamette National Forest -Government:...
, but the county decided not to purchase the property. A year later, the bank sold the golf course to a group of investor headed by Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
businessman Steven Klemen. The Klemen group bought 150 acre (0.607029 km²) adjacent to the golf course where they planned to develop 360 homes; however, they built less than a dozen.
In 1993, the golf course was sold separately from the rest of the property to the Paloma Golf Group. This formally separated the golf course from the troubled resort and housing developments. Paloma invested in some course upgrade that improved the general aesthetics of the course and increased the operation’s revenue. Paloma sold the golf course to Arnold Palmer
Arnold Palmer
Arnold Daniel Palmer is an American professional golfer, who is generally regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of men's professional golf. He has won numerous events on both the PGA Tour and Champions Tour, dating back to 1955...
Golf Management Company in 1997.
In 2002, the Palmer group sold the Emerald Valley golf course to Jim Pliska, a Portland
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
area businessman and former member of the University of Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
golf team. Pliska restored the course and added a new driving range
Driving range
A driving range is an area where golfers can practice their swing. It can also be a recreational activity itself for amateur golfers or when enough time for a full game is not available. Many golf courses have a driving range attached and they are also found as stand-alone facilities, especially...
and practice facility on 25 acres (101,171.5 m²) of undeveloped land at the northeast corner of the property. A new irrigation system was installed in 2005. Today, Emerald Valley is one of the best golf courses in the state and is the home of the University of Oregon golf team.
Course
Emerald Valley Golf Club is one of Oregon’s premier public golf courses. It is located is on 170 acre (0.6879662 km²) along the west bank of the Willamette River's Coast Fork northeast of Creswell. It is known for its tree-lined fairways, well groomed greens, and excellent course conditions. Emerald Valley was built on a flat tract of land along the river so the course gets its character from meandering doglegs and the tree-lines fairways. Well placed sand traps help narrow the approaches to greens. The greens are nicely contoured with some tricky slopes.The original course was laid out in 1966 by Bob E. Baldock. In 2002, parts of the course were redesigned by Dan Hixon, a Portland golf course designer who had player at Emerald Valley when he was at college. The redesign added elevated tee boxes for the 2nd and 3rd holes, providing a view of the Willamette River from the 3rd tee. The redesign project also enlarged the pond in front of the 2nd green, added new bunkers near the 3rd and 8th greens, and expanded the 9th green.
The course challenges golfers of all abilities. There are four tees settings, Gold being the longest. The first nine holes are a par 36, measuring 3431 yards (3,137.3 m) from the Gold tees. The second nine holes are also a par 36 and measure 3712 yards (3,394.3 m) from the Gold tees. The total length of the par 72 championship course is 7143 yards (6,531.6 m). The shortest course is 5421 yards (4,957 m).
Membership
The Emerald Valley Golf Club offers a variety of membership option. There are seven day and week day memberships for both individuals and families. There is also a special membership rate for golfers under 17 years old. Daily rates for 18 holes of play range from $40 to $50. The fee for a 9-hole round is between $24 and $30. The course offers discount for students, seniors, and players under 17.Over 200 golfers, play in the Emerald Valley Men's Club program. Club competitions are held on Saturday and Sunday from March to October, except for weekends when the golf course is hosting a special event. The club hosts the Emerald Valley Amateur in June, the Firecracker Open on the 4th of July
Independence Day (United States)
Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain...
, the Club Championship in August, and the Ray Davis Memorial tournament in September. The club also sends a team to the Oregon Golf Association team championships as well as individual players to the association’s Net Championship.
The Emerald Valley Women's Club is open to golfers of all abilities regardless of handicap. The women’s club hosts weekly competition and an annual club championship. During the summer months, there is a junior golf program as well. The junior program includes instruction from Emerald Valley’s professional teaching staff every Thursday from July though August. There is also a junior club championship tournament and a parent/youth ice cream social tournament at the end of August.
Location
The Emerald Valley golf course is located in Creswell, Oregon at the southern end of the Willamette ValleyWillamette Valley
The Willamette Valley is the most populated region in the state of Oregon of the United States. Located in the state's northwest, the region is surrounded by tall mountain ranges to the east, west and south and the valley's floor is broad, flat and fertile because of Ice Age conditions...
. To get to the Emerald Valley Golf Club from Interstate 5
Interstate 5
Interstate 5 is the main Interstate Highway on the West Coast of the United States, running largely parallel to the Pacific Ocean coastline from Canada to Mexico . It serves some of the largest cities on the U.S...
, take exit 182. Turn onto the Emerald Parkway heading east and go about one quarter of a mile; make a left turn onto Dale Kuni Road. The Emerald Valley Golf Club parking lot is on the right side of the road about one hundred yards from the junction.