
St. Helens Course
St. Helens Golf Course

About this course
St. Helens Golf Course sits in Warren, a small community in Columbia County along the lower Columbia River, roughly 30 miles northwest of Portland. The course was designed by Clarence and Gordon Johnson, a father-son team who contributed several layouts to the Pacific Northwest during the mid-20th century. The Johnsons typically worked within modest budgets for municipal and daily-fee facilities, creating straightforward designs that suited the rolling terrain and forested character common to the region. The layout occupies land typical of the Columbia River valley's southern banks—generally flat to gently rolling with stands of Douglas fir and other native vegetation framing the holes. Courses in this area often feature soft, receptive conditions due to the maritime climate, and routing tends to be uncomplicated, allowing golfers of varying abilities to navigate the property without severe elevation changes or forced carries. St. Helens likely follows this pattern, offering a traditional parkland experience with tree-lined fairways and modest greens. The course serves the local community and visitors exploring the Columbia River corridor. It provides a straightforward round in a quiet, rural setting removed from the busier Portland metro courses. While it does not host high-profile tournaments or appear on national rankings, St. Helens represents the kind of accessible, unpretentious golf that has long been a fixture in small Oregon towns, where the game is played for recreation rather than prestige.
Quick facts
- Location
- Warren, OR, USA
- Access
- Public
- Year built
- 1959
- Designer(s)
- Clarence, Gordon Johnson
- Holes
- 9
- Par
- 36
- Length
- 3,040 yards
- Difficulty
- 34/116
Getting there
The journey to St. Helens Golf Course begins at Portland International Airport (PDX), roughly forty-five minutes to the northwest, before turning north through the gentle farmland and river valleys of the Willamette Valley. The drive itself unfolds as a quiet transition from suburban Portland into the quieter precincts of Columbia County, where the landscape opens into pastoral rolling terrain dotted with small orchards and tree farms. As you approach Warren, the roads narrow and the Cascade foothills emerge softly on the eastern horizon, signaling your arrival at a course that sits comfortably between the metropolitan ease of Portland and the deeper solitude of rural Oregon's golf heritage.

FAQ
Common questions about St. Helens
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
St. Helens was designed by Clarence and Gordon Johnson.
Yes. St. Helens is listed as welcoming public or guest play on Course Vaults.
Par at St. Helens is 36.
St. Helens plays 3,040 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at St. Helens is 116.
St. Helens is a 9-hole course.


