Camas Meadows

By
Updated: October 2, 2010

By Dan Johnson
Special to Inside Golf
Camas Meadows Golf Club in Camas, Washington has been treating its visitors to an amazing public golf course that has country club amenities since it opened in 2000. The golf course has received critical praise, but is affordable to just about anyone. The course is offering even hotter deals to warm up play during the fall and winter months.

Located just minutes from Portland, Oregon’s PDX airport, Camas Meadows is placed adjacent to Lacamas Lake and is surrounded by wetlands and towering evergreen trees. Wildlife, such as osprey, grey horned owls and red-tail hawks inhabit the course as well as rare flowers and plant life. The sights, noises and smells make the course a more natural golf experience and golfers can expect even more improvements to the aesthetics of Camas Meadows.

“Away from the natural habitat, the course is unique due to the improvements and updates that are continually made even in the times of a down economy,” said Jenny Duce, the Director of Operations at Camas Meadows.

The beauty of the course is what players first experience, but the golf course itself should not be overshadowed by its pleasant views and sights. The golf course at Camas Meadows has been decorated with several awards and high praise. Portland Business Journal readers rated it as The Best Public Golf Course in the Northwest and Golf Digest gave it a four star rating.

The par 72 course offers many challenges, including over 50 sand bunkers and narrow tree-lined fairways. The difficulty of the course can be offset by its four sets of tees, the shortest of which plays the course at just 4,859 yards. Camas Meadows takes pride in its golf course, but also takes pride in the fact that it can offer low enough green fees to keep players coming back, even during the fall and winter.

“We believe we have the best public golf course in the area and we just need to give them another reason to play here. In the winter months we have gotten as low as $20 walking Monday-Friday and $30 walking on Saturday and Sunday,” Duce said.

Other amenities at Camas Meadows include the Oaks Grille and Bar and the Camas Meadows Practice and Teaching facility, which has covered and uncovered stalls for range use. The area is heated and lit, adding some comfort to players’ practice sessions. With all of the perks that come with playing at Camas Meadows, many might be fooled into thinking that it is an exclusive country club, when it is actually a public golf course.

“The major challenge that we face is that some people think we are a private facility and others think that we are significantly more expensive than other courses. I focus on trying to educate people that we are a public facility and that we are a great value,” Duce said.

For more information on the course or to book a tee time, simply call the Camas Meadows Pro Shop at 360-833-2000 or visit the course website, camasmeadows.com.