Creekside Golf Club

When visiting Salem I wasn't sure where to try to play, but I was fortunate enough to get an invitation from someone I knew from online to play Creekside.

I very much enjoyed my round, the course was in good condition and the pace of play was terrific, we were around all 18 in 2 hours and 39 minutes (according to my shot tracking app).

Creekside has a few quirky holes and isn't the longest course in the world (by a long shot), but I found it to be fun and just challenging enough to keep me honest. I hit 15 greens in regulation and had 24 putts with no sand or penalties so, yeah, it wasn't an overwhelming challenge.

Having said that, I thought it was fun... from a completely blind tee shot on hole 16 (one of the pics included in the review) to a great "just for fun" shot on the par 3 17th where you can take a driver or wood (I used a 3w) and try to bounce a ball off the stone wall behind the hole on to the green. I tried it after hitting my real shot and didn't fair so well, but it was fun trying.

Again, there are a lot of different looks, for example, the par 4 second hole where 5i was almost too much off the tee and the par 4 10th, which looks a bit intimidating crossing the creek twice on your way to the green... but in reality, is pretty straight forward and the creek doesn't really come into play without a pretty bad shot.

All in all I really enjoyed my round at Creekside (especially since I got it in well under three hours. I'd certainly play it again is in the Salem area, but probably wouldn't travel there to play it.

When your course is called "Creekside," it had better deliver some holes beside a creek. This semi-private layout on the outskirts of Salem does, with holes that use the aforementioned hazard to influence play on several holes in several ways.

There are some pedestrian holes, and a couple awkward ones, but overall Creekside is fun to play, and GM Danny Moore runs a tight ship, having completely turned the club's fortunes around in his three-year tenure. Non-members can score select tee times, and don't be surprised if your experience as a visitor makes you think about membership.

This is a challenging course which plays differently from each tee box due to the excellent layout done by Peter Jacobson. Well maintained greens along with great fairway drainage makes this course playable throughout the year. Several collegiate tournaments are held here along with US Open Qualifier last year due to the complexity but fairness of the course. Even though this is a private course it is worthwhile to call to see if a tee time is available when you are in the area.

Creekside Golf is a real players course set in the beautiful Willamette Valley. Its in great shape despite the extremely wet winter with plenty of trees, creeks, bunkers and hills to challenge even the lowest handicap golfer. It is a private plus club with some public tee times daily. Enjoy a local brew from a wide selection on tap in the pub and a little shopping in the pro shop. There is even track man simulator and club fitter indoors and out on the range.

It's still considered the "off season" but Creekside is very well maintained and drains well. Most courses this time of year have an issue with plugging, but not Creekside. Great to see a private club allow the public in. I'll be back again and again very soon! The staff and establishment are first class all the way!!!

I was excited to see this course on the App. This is normally a members only club. Have wanted to play this course for a while. Very well maintained and got it for a great deal. Can't wait to play again.