Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club in North Plains, Oregon is home to two world-class golf courses. The Witch Hollow and Ghost Creek golf courses have both received high accolades since they opened in 1992. The Ghost Creek Golf Course is the public access course at this facility. This course was used to host the 1993 and 1994 Nike Tour Championship.

Although not a long golf course by modern standards, at only slightly over 6,800 yards, Ghost Creek forces the player to think around the golf course - you simply cannot overpower this track. This course was designed by Robert Cupp and he has used the natural terrain to craft a short but demanding layout. The Pumpkin Ridge facility is located about 25 minutes from downtown Portland, Oregon.

Pumpkin Ridge prides itself on the condition of the golf courses. The fairways, tees and greens are all seeded with bent grass and the roughs use a rye/fescue mix. Ryan Clemens, Head Golf Professional, says, "One of the best features of the golf course are the greens. Many of the grounds crew have been here since we opened and they take a special pride in keeping the greens in top condition." Generally, players can expect the greens to run between 10-10 1/2 on the stempmeter.

This golf course has a good mix of short and long holes. One of the most impressive holes on the golf course is the 6th hole. This short par-4, only 371 yards from the back tee, is a great opportunity to take a chance at birdie from the tee. The longer hitters have the option of driving the green and walking away with a confidence boosting birdie. For the average golfer the best bet is to find the middle of the fairway.

There is plenty of trouble on this signature hole at the Ghost Creek Golf Course. Down the right side, players will have to contend with Ghost Creek. This narrow creek will whisk away any shot hit right, so be sure you get fully to your left side off of this tee. The hole plays slightly downhill which helps the longer players get closer to the hole. There are four bunkers that line the left side of the fairway and must be avoided.

From the fairway, players will be left with a wedge into this narrow green. Expect this green to be more difficult than the others as the hole is so short. One of the features that Bob Cupp uses is building the green based on the difficulty and length of the hole. The longer holes generally have more generous greens and the shorter ones are more difficult.

Don't let the length of this layout fool you - you will definitely need to bring your "A" game to Ghost Creek. One of the reasons this golf course has such a high slope rating is the length of the rough. The golf course tends to keep the rough longer because of the shorter distance of the golf course.

In order to enhance the country club feel of the golf course, the club employs a 10-minute tee time interval. This greatly improves the pace of play and allows the golfers to play the golf course at a comfortable pace. There is no GPS system but the golf course is very well marked with 150 poles in the middle of the fairways.

The clubhouse is built in a traditional style and offers both a restaurant and banquet facilities. Also in the clubhouse is an indoor teaching facility were the PGA instructors can record your swing and help you shave some strokes off your game.

The best time of year to visit the Ghost Creek golf club is between June and September, although during the fall months the trees change color and the landscape is set ablaze with reds and oranges. The golf course is only a short drive from both the Pacific coast and the famous wine country of Oregon.

Currently the Ghost Creek Golf Course at Pumpkin Ridge is ranked #37 on the Golf Digest "Top 100 Golf Courses You can Play" list. If you are looking for some incredible golf in Oregon you need to take the opportunity to play this wonderful golf course.

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