Heron Lakes Golf Club

Green Back is one of two 18-hole courses at Heron Lakes Golf Club, a municipal facility operated by the City of Portland in the Columbia Edgewater neighborhood on the north side of the city. Designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr. and opened in 1992, the course occupies relatively flat terrain that was formerly part of the Columbia River floodplain. The layout winds through wetlands and natural areas that provide habitat for the great blue herons that give the property its name, and water features come into play on several holes throughout the round. Jones routed the course to take advantage of the site's natural characteristics while creating strategic interest on what is fundamentally level ground. The design incorporates the architect's signature elements from this period, including large, contoured greens and bunkering that frames landing areas and green complexes. The wetland corridors and stands of mature trees help define individual holes and create a sense of separation despite the open topography. As a municipal course in Oregon's largest city, Green Back serves a broad range of golfers and provides an accessible option for public play in the Portland metro area. The course is walkable given the flat terrain, though the layout stretches over considerable acreage. Heron Lakes' two courses together form one of the more substantial public golf facilities in the Pacific Northwest, offering daily-fee play in a naturalistic setting within city limits.