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Golf and the Graduate
It's time to start visiting campuses with your graduating senior, and campus tours are par for course! Sure, it"s stressful for the young ones heading off to college, but what about the parental units? Shouldn't you have some fun while traveling hither and yon in pursuit of higher education? When you make your campus visit to the University of Oregon, you will have ample opportunity for some much-needed R & R for you and yours. While choosing a college can be tough, choosing from the area's wealth of memorable courses will be a challenge that is nothing but fun. Spend the time at tee talking about future plans, or plan only as far as the next 18 holes. You'll be glad you did!Day 1 - Fly into the Eugene Airport, pick up your rental car, and drive a short 10 minutes to Fiddler's Green, the "Golfer's Candy Store" of the Pacific Northwest. The Whalen Family purchased Fiddler's Green in 1976, and since that time have turned it into one of the finest golf shops in America. All the newest top brand name golf equipment and the knowledgeable staff of experts assure that you will receive the best in service and attention. When you leave, you're sure to be fully equipped to enjoy your next few days on the green. Check into your hotel, unpack, and still have time for a quick 9 holes at one of two handsome courses in the cities of Eugene and Springfield. Laurelwood Golf Course (541-687-5321) is just a few blocks from the U of O, and was opened in 1928 as a Country Club. It was the first golf course built in Eugene, and is currently owned by the City of Eugene. A unique characteristic of this course is the three extra greens that can be used to form a total of twelve holes. There are additional sets of tees that can be used when playing an eighteen hole round. Another "close-in" option is in neighboring Springfield, where you can play at the beautiful McKenzie River Golf Course (541-896-3454.) This gem of a nine hole course is nestled in the trees and bordered by the Mckenzie River. Known as "The Jewel on the River," this course was built on flat terrain with tree lined fairways and mounding. There is water that comes into play on four holes. This is a great nearby place to play, and only a short drive from the city center.
Day 2 - Today you will be able to blend the "play" of discovering all the U of O offers with the "work" of deciding which fabulous course to explore. In the morning you might choose to take advantage of a student-led campus tour and possibly a personal meeting with an admission counselor. Meeting professors, sitting in on a class, having lunch in a campus cafeteria are all good ways to truly get a feel for the campus.
If your student is a budding naturalist, be sure to venture out to the RiverRidge golf course (www.riverridgeor.com) Course designers have embraced the natural landscape, encouraging not only challenging opportunities for golfers, but habitats rich in local plants and wildlife. The Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary System is designed to "Link Together" cooperative sanctuary areas, to form a nation-wide system that benefits wildlife and the environment during all seasons of the year. RiverRidge is the 210th golf course in the world to receive this designation. This achievement encompasses turf management, water management and integrated pest control. Over 120 varieties of trees selected for a variety of colors, textures and shapes, as well as the 1,300 additional plantings cultivated over14 years, makes RiverRidge a unique property; golf course and arboretum. The trees were planted in clumps or groves (nature's way) as opposed to straight lines. Nesting platforms, bat houses, birdhouses, and natural areas all contribute to natures housing plan for wildlife. If you're pressed for time you might choose to try RiverRidge's "Sutton Ridge," considered to be the ultimate executive golf course experience. Easily played in under two hours, the challenging target golf layout tests veteran players to score-accuracy is the premium. Newer players have a reasonable expectation of success without the pressure of "the big course." The "ShortRidge" could be an option selected by the whole family, as this par 3 course is a beautiful blend of challenge and playability. The experienced player will learn to score from 110 yards, while the recreational player has fun making par. Every one in the family will enjoy the nine holes together in under one hour, as well as the business person that wants to squeeze a round of golf in at lunch time.
This evening, return to the University for a different view of the grounds than the one you experienced during the day. Perhaps you will want to visit the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art or the Museum of Natural History - both are newly reopened after extensive renovation. After you've explored to your heart's content, consider attending a sporting or cultural event. Chances are good that something fun will be happening right on campus or just a few blocks away. For the "lowdown" on current events, peruse the CVALCO website, or check out the Eugene Weekly "What's Happening" section.
Day 3 - If you can build a bit of extra time into your visit, consider heading to points East or West to give your family a true taste of what the area has to offer. If you choose to head "up river," you will drive scenic Highway 126 just an hour from Eugene. Situated in the beautiful McKenzie River Valley within eye-shot of the rugged Three Sisters Mountains, Tokatee Golf Club boasts championship golf with unparallelled natural surroundings. Tokatee is the perfect name for this exceptional course, as it is derived from the Chinook Indian word meaning "A Place of Restful Beauty."
Created by well-known architect Ted Robinson in 1966, this 18-hole green is enhanced by a creative use of the native ponds and local streams. Tokatee consistently ranks as one of the "Best Courses in Oregon" and "America's Top 25 Public Golf Courses" by Golf Digest (visit www.tokatee.com)
The McKenzie River Valley not only features great golf, it is a hub for camping, fishing, boating, whitewater rafting, hiking, and other outdoor recreational adventures.
If you choose to drive West, you will find the charming town of Florence on the rugged Oregon Coast. The Old Town area is especially picturesque, with fine lodgings, restaurants, and galleries.
While in Florence, you will probably want to spend some time playing golf at Ocean Dunes Golf Links. Ocean Dunes was built by noted architect William Robinson to be fair, yet challenging under a variety of conditions. Emerald fairways wind over, around, and through wild dunes bordered by Gorse, Heather, Shore Pines and native Sea Grasses. Built on top of the Oregon Dunes, Ocean Dunes Golf Links is a truly singular golfing experience. The course is not long, but it was built on a sand dune base, and the fairways are firm and narrow; putting a premium on your shot selection. If you want to try a truly unusual sport while you're at the coast, take advantage of Sand Master Park (www.sandmasterpark.com) the worlds first sandboard park. Here you'll find beginner to advanced slopes, bowls, cliffs, jumps and rail slides on 40 acres of private sand dunes surrounded by 200 acres of public dunes and forest. Instruction is available for beginning to advanced boarders. Many other attractions such as the Sea Lion Caves, Heceta Head Lighthouse, guided dune buggy rides and hiking trails are just minutes away, as is one of the most dramatic sections of the entire Oregon Coastline.
You will also want to check out the "2 for 1" Greens Fee Card that is available locally. This is a fabulous fund raiser which allows significant discounts at many area courses. For more information call (541) 822-3397, or check out the details on the website (www.golforegon.com) An added benefit of this program is that your purchase helps send other students to college. Enjoy!
Driving Directions for Golf and the Graduate
From the Eugene Airport to Fiddler's Green: Start out going EAST on LOCKHEED DR toward NORTHROP DR. (0.1 miles), Turn RIGHT onto NORTHROP DR. (0.2 miles), Stay STRAIGHT to go onto DOUGLAS DR. (0.2 miles), Turn LEFT onto AIRPORT RD. (0.4 miles), Turn LEFT onto GREEN HILL RD. (0.9 miles),Turn RIGHT onto AWBREY LN. (0.2 miles), Turn LEFT onto OR-99. (0.8 miles) End at 91292 Highway 99 N. Approximate Drive Time is 10 minutes.
From Fiddler's Green to U of O: Start out going SOUTHEAST on OR-99 toward AWBREY LN. (3.5 miles), Merge onto BELTLINE HWY E toward I-5 / SPRINGFIELD. (3.6 miles), Merge onto DELTA HWY S toward VALLEY R. CTR. / EUGENE (1.8 miles), Merge onto I-105 E / OR-126 E via the exit on the LEFT toward I-5 (0.8 miles), Take the COUNTRY CLUB RD. exit- EXIT 2- toward COBURG RD.(0.2 miles), Turn SLIGHT LEFT onto COUNTRY CLUB RD., then Turn SLIGHT RIGHT onto MARTIN LUTHER KING JR BLVD / CENTENNIAL BLVD., then Turn RIGHT onto COBURG RD. (0.5 miles). COBURG RD becomes a ramp, and you will Turn SLIGHT LEFT onto E BROADWAY /OR-99 /OR-126 BR. Continue to follow OR-99 S / OR-126 BR E. (0.8 miles). Turn RIGHT onto AGATE ST. (0.2 miles), Turn RIGHT onto E 15TH AVE. (0.2 miles), and Turn LEFT onto UNIVERSITY ST., the entrance to the University of Oregon Campus. Approximate Drive Time is 20 minutes.
From the U of O to Laurelwood Golf Course: Start out going SOUTH on UNIVERSITY ST toward E 18TH AVE., Turn LEFT onto E 18TH AVE. (0.2 miles), Turn RIGHT onto AGATE ST. (0.6 miles), Turn LEFT onto E 27TH AVE., and End at 2700 Columbia Street. Approximate Drive Time is 5 minutes.
From the U of O to Tokatee Golf Course: Start out going NORTH on UNIVERSITY ST toward E 15TH AVE., Turn RIGHT onto E 15TH AVE. (0.2 miles), Turn LEFT onto AGATE ST/CARSON/HAMILTON. Continue to follow AGATE ST. (0.2 miles). Turn RIGHT onto FRANKLIN BLVD/OR-99 S/OR-126 BR E. (0.7 miles). FRANKLIN BLVD / OR-99 S / OR-126 BR E becomes FRANKLIN BLVD / OR-126 BR. (0.6 miles). Turn RIGHT onto GLENWOOD BLVD. (0.6 miles), Merge onto I-5 N via the ramp on the LEFT toward PORTLAND. (1.8 miles), Merge onto OR-126 E via EXIT 194A toward SPRINGFIELD. (6.6 miles), Turn LEFT onto MAIN ST / MCKENZIE HWY / OR-126. Continue to follow MCKENZIE HWY. 41.0 miles, and End at 54947 Mckenzie Hwy, Blue River, Oregon. Approximate Drive Time is 1 hour.
From the U of O to Ocean Dunes Golf Course: Start out going SOUTH on UNIVERSITY ST toward E 18TH AVE., Turn RIGHT onto E 18TH AVE. (2.6 miles), Turn RIGHT onto CITY VIEW ST. (0.5 miles), Turn LEFT onto W 11TH AVE / OR-126. Continue to follow OR-126. (57.8 miles). Turn SLIGHT RIGHT onto US-101 / OREGON COAST HWY. (2.4 miles), Turn RIGHT onto MUNSEL LAKE RD. (0.3 miles), End at 3345 Munsel Lake Rd, Florence, Oregon. Approximate Drive Time is 1 hour, 25 minutes.
From Ocean Dunes to Sand Master Park: Start out going WEST on MUNSEL LAKE RD toward US-101 / OREGON COAST HWY. (0.3 miles), Turn RIGHT onto US-101 / OREGON COAST HWY. (0.2 miles), End at 87542 Highway 101. Approximate drive time is 5 minutes.
