By Vinnie Manginelli, PGA
Colwood Golf Center has a rich history in Portland, Oregon’s golfing community. Once a privately owned public golf course, Colwood was most recently redesigned to its current layout in 2014 and is a five-time Golf Range Association of America (GRAA) Top 50 Public Facility that is now owned by the City of Portland and managed by KemperSports.
Colwood Golf Center is one of four golf facilities under the Portland Parks Golf umbrella. The others are Heron Lakes Golf Club, a 36-hole championship course, Eastmoreland Golf Course, an 18-hole course and Rose City, another 18-hole layout.
Colwood is comprised of a full practice driving range with 26 hitting stalls, 12 of which are covered for protection from the elements. With high-quality mats, balls and targets, they add music on the range to provide a stellar practice session for golfers and a fun social experience for families and friends. With more than half a dozen green complexes, there are plenty of targets to help golfers of all skill levels improve and enjoy. Yardages to each green are listed at each hitting bay. Also, there are several bullseye targets that make a resonating sound when golfers hit their mark, turning heads, drawing attention and reinforcing the fun and a sense of accomplishment for the golfer.
Jarred Gomez, the Sales & Marketing Manager at KemperSports and Portland Parks Golf says, “The range is a social experience as well as a practice facility. We get a lot of groups, friends and families coming out to take target practice and see who can hit the ball closer to each target.”
With a large putting green, golfers can also hone their short game and putting skills to improve their scores from tee to green until the last putt is holed.
There’s also a nine-hole Par-3 golf course designed to accommodate golfers of all skill levels. It features two sets of tees to challenge golfers and provides an opportunity for all guests to learn the game.
In addition, Colwood has a four-acre practice course that gives new golfers a pressure-free place to practice and learn. Kids are free to use this area with a paid adult, and at just $10 for that adult, the Colwood team is truly growing the game of golf in the City of Portland. Some golfers play it as a pitch and putt course, while others take a couple dozen golf balls to practice their pitches and various other shots that might be giving them trouble in their continuous pursuit of game improvement. Not far from the practice course is a popular nine-hole foot golf course that gets a lot of play.
Colwood’s player development programming is led by PGA of America Director of Player Development Jake Bader, a three-time GRAA Top 100 Growth of the Game Teaching Professional who we have highlighted briefly in the past. Bader, and PGA of America Teaching Professional Tom Mueller, a 30-year PGA member, facilitate junior programs that include Drive, Chip & Putt, PGA Jr. League, PGA Family Golf and weekly summer camps. They also run ladies’ clinics, open clinics and an Intro to Golf program for small adult groups that get them started in the game and help them grow in their knowledge and skill level. In addition to the dozens of clinics held, they facilitate one-credit learn-to-golf classes through Portland Community College.
Gomez and Director of Operations Joe Crook host many golf outings – some that provide valued networking opportunities for local businesses, and others that help local non-profit organizations and charities raise needed funds to continue their philanthropic endeavors.
The golf shop at Colwood Golf Center offers free clubs for guests to use on the property. They also sell boxed sets that are ideal for the many new golfers we’ve welcomed to the game since the pandemic and T-shirts and hoodies that fit right in with the casual vibe that Colwood portrays. They also sell snacks and drinks to fuel their eager golfers for a nice long practice session and hours of fun.
For more information on Colwood Golf Center and all Portland Parks Golf facilities, log on to their website today!
