Gearhart Links 125

This year is a special year for Gearhart Golf Links, it is the course’s 125th anniversary. That is certainly is a long time. To help bring this into perspective, in the 1892 here were some of the things that were happening in America: Thomas Edison received a patent for the two-way telegraph; Rudolf Diesel patented the diesel engine; First public basketball game was held; Grover Cleveland was president; Charles Durya takes the first American-made auto for a spin and the The civil war ended just 27 years ago.

Gearhart Golf Links opened with just three holes strewn across the sand dunes. The front nine was opened in 1892 and the second nine in 1913 and the course has been in continual operation since 1892, making it the oldest course west of the Mississippi River. Between 2013 and 2015 the course underwent a renovation removing many trees and improving all of the playing surfaces returning the links-style identity. Today the course has five sets of tees and plays from 6,501 yards from “The Stones” to 5,157 yards from the forward Green Tees.

The Gearhart Hotel, an 18-room boutique hotel, is managed by McMenamins who have a portfolio of historic hotels in Oregon and Washington. The Gearhart Hotel has 18 guest rooms and the Sand Trap Pub. In September, the team at Gearhart will break ground on a new building that will house the new cart barn, a virtual golf academy and fitness center, and 15 additional hotel rooms.

From it Scottish roots, Gearhart Golf Links offers a variety of link-style holes with small fast greens. Modern day conditioning and great drainage makes Gearhart always playable, even in the wet Northwest winters.

The 18th hole is a standout at 640 yards, winding uphill, it can be a brute if the wind is blowing, which can be pretty often due to the close proximity to the ocean. Surprisingly, the toughest hole under 400 yards is the fifth with a twisting fairway and a well-placed water hazard.
Golf packages are available from three hotels: The Gearhart Hotel (on property), Gearhart by the Sea (across the street) and the Gearhart Ocean Inn (steps from the 15th green). See www.gearhartgolflinks.com for more.