Riverside Golf & Country Club

Riverside Golf & Country Club sits along the Willamette River in Portland's Dunthorpe neighborhood, occupying a wooded riverside site that has hosted golf since the club's founding in the 1920s. James Henderson, a Pacific Northwest architect active in the early twentieth century, designed the course during an era when many Portland-area clubs were establishing themselves on naturally rolling terrain near the city's waterways. The property features mature trees, elevation changes, and proximity to the river, characteristics typical of older Portland courses that predate modern residential development. The routing takes advantage of the site's natural contours and tree-lined corridors, with holes moving through stands of Douglas fir and other native vegetation. The Willamette River influences the setting and occasionally comes into play, though the course primarily occupies higher ground above the floodplain. Henderson's design reflects the strategic principles common to his generation, emphasizing placement off the tee and approach angles rather than excessive length. Riverside functions as a traditional private club serving Portland's established families and business community. The club maintains a low public profile, focusing on member golf and social activities rather than tournament hosting. Its location in Dunthorpe, one of Portland's more affluent residential areas, and its longevity contribute to its role as one of the city's older member-owned clubs, though it operates without the national recognition of some Pacific Northwest contemporaries.