You’re driving out toward Aloha, Oregon, just west of Portland, and the landscape starts to shift. The suburban sprawl of the tech corridor—Intel, Nike, the usual suspects—begins to bleed into something greener. More expansive. This is where you find The Reserve Vineyards and Golf Club. Most people think they know the place. They think it’s just another high-end course where the greens fees are steep and the dress code is stiff.
They’re wrong.
Actually, they're only half right. The Reserve is a weird, beautiful hybrid. It’s a place that manages to be two things at once: a private sanctuary for the local elite and a public playground for the weekend warrior. It’s one of the few spots in the Pacific Northwest that successfully pulls off a rotating course schedule. One day you’re on the South Course; the next, it’s member-only, and you’re pushed to the North. Or vice versa. It’s a bit like a dance. If you don't know the steps, you might end up showing up on a Tuesday only to realize the track you wanted to play is locked behind a membership card.
Why the Two Courses Actually Feel Like Different Worlds
The Reserve Vineyards and Golf Club isn't just "36 holes." It is two distinct philosophies of golf.
Let’s talk about the South Course first. This is the Bob Cupp design. If you follow professional golf, you know the name. It’s traditional. It feels like it’s been there forever, even though the club only opened in 1997. The South is characterized by those massive, sweeping bunkers and greens that feel like they’re defended by a fortress. It hosted the PGA Tour Champions’ JELD-WEN Tradition for years. When you play here, you’re walking the same grass where Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson battled. It’s heavy. It’s storied.
Then you have the North Course. Designed by John Fought, it’s a completely different animal.
It’s "prairie-style." Honestly, it feels like someone took a slice of a Scottish links course and dropped it into the Willamette Valley. There are fewer trees to bail you out. The wind rips across the fescue. It’s more about the ground game—bumping and running the ball rather than flying it high into a soft green. If the South Course is a tuxedo, the North Course is a high-quality flannel shirt. Both are expensive, but they serve different moods.
Most golfers have a favorite. I’ve talked to locals who swear the North is the superior test of skill because you have to think three shots ahead. Others won't touch anything but the South because they want that "Championship" feel.
💡 You might also like: December 12 Birthdays: What the Sagittarius-Capricorn Cusp Really Means for Success
The Logistics of the Rotation
Here is where it gets slightly confusing for the uninitiated. The Reserve Vineyards and Golf Club operates on a monthly rotation.
- During one month, the North Course is the "Public" course, and the South is "Private."
- The next month, they flip.
This is brilliant for the members because they never get bored. They get two world-class experiences for one initiation fee. For the public, it means you have to check the calendar. Don’t just book a tee time and assume. If you have your heart set on the bunkers of the South, make sure it’s a "public" month for that side.
It’s Not Just About the Grass
We need to talk about the clubhouse. It’s a 40,000-square-foot chateau-style monster. It’s impressive, sure, but it can be intimidating.
The Vintage Room is the restaurant inside, and it’s surprisingly approachable. You’d expect white tablecloths and hushed whispers. Instead, you get a pretty solid burger and a wine list that actually honors the "Vineyards" part of the club’s name. This is Oregon, after all. You can’t put "Vineyards" in your title and then serve mediocre Pinot Noir. They source heavily from the surrounding Willamette Valley, which is arguably the best region in the world for cool-climate grapes right now.
Is it "country club" fancy? Yes. But it’s Oregon fancy. That means you’ll see guys in $200 golf polos sitting next to someone in a fleece vest who just finished a hike. There’s a lack of pretension that you don’t always find at clubs of this caliber in places like Scottsdale or Palm Springs.
The Reality of the "Vineyards" Label
Let’s clear something up. People often ask, "Where are the grapes?"
If you’re expecting to be teeing off over rows of Cabernet, you might be a little disappointed. The Reserve Vineyards and Golf Club is situated in a wine-growing region, and there are vines nearby, but the course itself isn't literally a vineyard. The name is more of a nod to the terroir and the lifestyle of the area. It's about the aesthetic—the rolling hills, the mist in the morning, and the culture of the Tualatin Valley.
📖 Related: Dave's Hot Chicken Waco: Why Everyone is Obsessing Over This Specific Spot
What It Costs (And Is It Worth It?)
Golf is getting expensive. There’s no way around it.
At The Reserve, you’re looking at triple digits for a prime weekend morning tee time. For some, that’s a "once a season" treat. For the tech execs in Hillsboro, it’s a Tuesday afternoon.
Is the value there?
If you value conditioning, then yes. The greens here are almost always faster and truer than anything else in the public sphere in Portland. The drainage is also remarkably good. If you’ve ever played golf in Oregon in November, you know that "drainage" is the most important word in the English language. Most courses turn into a swamp. The Reserve stays playable long after the others have become mud pits.
The Practice Facilities are a Secret Weapon
A lot of people skip the range and go straight to the first tee. Big mistake.
The practice facility at The Reserve Vineyards and Golf Club is one of the most comprehensive in the state. It’s got a massive grass tee area—none of that plastic mat nonsense during the peak season—and a short game area that actually lets you practice real-world chips and bunker shots. It’s where a lot of the local pros come to hone their game. If you’re struggling with your swing, spending two hours here is arguably a better investment than the round itself.
A Note on the Environment
Sustainability is a big buzzword, but in golf, it’s a logistical nightmare.
👉 See also: Dating for 5 Years: Why the Five-Year Itch is Real (and How to Fix It)
The Reserve has been a certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary for years. This isn't just a plaque on the wall. It means they have to manage water usage, bird nesting, and chemical runoff with extreme precision. When you’re playing, you’ll notice bird boxes and naturalized areas that are left "wild." This isn't because the greenskeeper got lazy; it's a deliberate choice to support the local ecosystem. You’ll see hawks, blue herons, and the occasional coyote. It adds a layer of "wild Oregon" to what is otherwise a very manicured experience.
Addressing the Membership Question
Membership here is a different beast than at a place like Portland Golf Club or Waverley. Those are old-money, "who do you know" kind of places.
The Reserve feels more like a modern business club. It’s social, it’s active, and it’s heavily focused on the experience rather than the heritage. If you’re looking for a place to network in the Silicon Forest, this is it. But if you’re just a guy who wants to play 18 holes without a membership, the public access ensures the club never feels like a gated community.
Common Pitfalls for First-Timers
- Walking vs. Riding: Both courses are walkable, but they are long. If you’re not used to 18 holes on foot with some elevation change, grab a cart. Your hamstrings will thank you by the 14th hole.
- The Wind: Especially on the North Course. It can turn a 7-iron shot into a 5-iron shot in a heartbeat. Pay attention to the tops of the trees, even if it feels calm on the tee box.
- Booking Window: Because of the rotation, popular times on the "public" course fill up incredibly fast. You can’t just roll up at 10:00 AM on a Saturday and expect to get out.
- The Greens: They are undulating. Don’t always aim for the pin. Sometimes the smart play is 20 feet away to avoid a downhill, triple-breaker putt.
Actionable Steps for Your Visit
If you're planning to head out to The Reserve Vineyards and Golf Club, don't just wing it.
First, check the calendar on their official website to see which course is open to the public for the month. If you want a traditional, parkland experience with tall trees and classic bunkers, wait for a South Course month. If you want to test your creativity and wind-management, go during a North Course month.
Second, arrive 45 minutes early. This isn't just about checking in. You want time to use the short-game area. The speed of the practice green almost perfectly matches the course, and getting your "speed feel" down is the difference between a 3-putt and a par.
Third, eat at the Vintage Room. Even if you aren't playing, it’s one of the better lunch spots in the area. Try the local Pinot—it’s the reason "Vineyards" is on the sign, after all.
Finally, keep an eye on the aerification schedule. Like all high-end courses, they punch their greens twice a year. Playing on freshly aerated greens is a bummer when you're paying top dollar, so call the pro shop or check the site to ensure you're getting the "true" greens experience.
The Reserve isn't just a place to hit a ball; it's a window into how Oregon does "luxury"—relaxed, green, and deeply connected to the land. Whether you're a scratch golfer or a high-handicapper just trying to keep it in the fairway, it's a required stop on any Pacific Northwest golf tour.