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3.4
77 Reviews (77)
5 Stars
29
4 Stars
38
3 Stars
9
2 Stars
1
1 Stars
0
Conditions
3.1
Value
3.4
Layout
3.1
Friendliness
4.1
Pace
1.7
Amenities
3.4
98.9%
Recommend this course
74 out of 77 reviews
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0
5 Stars
0
4 Stars
0
3 Stars
0
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
0
Value
0
Layout
0
Friendliness
0
Pace
0
Amenities
0
0%
Recommend this course
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Average Rating
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0
5 Stars
0
4 Stars
0
3 Stars
0
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
0
Value
0
Layout
0
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Recommend this course
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About

Holes 18
Type Semi-Private
Par 72
Length 6236 yards
Slope 116
Rating 69.3

Course Details

Year Built 1928
Golf Season Year round
Architect Ercel Kay

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes
Clubs Yes
GPS No
Pull-carts Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Bunker Yes
Caddies No
Golf School Academy No
Golf Simulator No
Teaching Pro Yes
Pitching/Chipping Area Yes
Putting Green Yes
Practice Hole No

Policies

Credit Cards Accepted VISA, MasterCard Welcomed
Metal Spikes Allowed Yes
Walking Allowed Yes

Accolades

  • Golf Advisor: Top Courses in Oregon (2015 #14)

Reviews

3.4
77 Reviews (77)

What Golfers Are Saying

The 19th Hole is Great For:
Drinks 6
Course Challenges Include:
Bunkers 6
Elevation Changes 6
Forced Carries 6
This course/club is great for:
Walkers 13
Locals 12
Wildlife/ Scenic Views 9
This Course's Location is:
Convenient to the City 16
Worth the Drive 6

Numbers based on reviews tagged with attribute.

Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 9
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Walked

Manage Expectations

Pros- Beautiful Tree lined golf course that has an old school feel to it. It is not a very long course, and most holes are pretty straightforward, very few blind shots. Good course if it is hot out as the tall trees gives you some protection. Driving range has grass and heated covered stalls. If you keep the ball in pay and out of the tree you can score on this course. Staff is friendly. It is a quiet course with no other noise than golfers.

Cons- It is a muni that does have membership even though it is open to the public. Beware of the members that have reserved times on both Tuesday and Thursday mornings. They are entitled, and will NOT let you play through. The club allows fivesomes for their members, if you get stuck behind the morning members it will be a long day. They play slow and do not care about anyone behind them. They play gambling games which takes up more time. The overall course is in average shape for a muni, some tee boxes are a mess, most of the greens are in decent shape and fairways are good. Green speed is average.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Poor
Amenities Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 72
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Top 500 Contributor
Colorado Advisor
First Time Playing
Hot weather
Walked

Classic Old Muni / Country Club

Played just 9 holes due to the massive heat wave hottest ever in Oregon history. Course was in amazing shape, green and thick despite drought going on. Pro shop staff very friendly and engaging. Did not hit balls on range due to heat and it's a bit of a hike although they'll lend you a cart even if you are walking. Walked 9 and layout was fun and variety of holes and looks. Fairways and greens good condition, rough not too bad. Enough trees to get in trouble but fairways are wide enough. Layout a bit confusing after #1 green you revert back to #2 tee, pro shop explained this and asked if new to course, APPRECIATE THAT! Par 5s are gettable birdies from blue tees. Clubhouse and adjacent restaurant look like classic old clapboard whitewash buildings, did not have time to dine there but looks like nice patio and apres-golf atmosphere. Right in heart of Salem, will play here again enroute between Portland and Eugene.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 335
Handicap 0-4
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Golf Advisor
First Time Playing
Wet weather
Walked

Charming, well-loved course

It's increasingly rare to find a golf facility where as soon as you arrive, it's clear you're in a well-loved place. But all you have to do is walk around the clubhouse of Salem Golf Club to get . the sense that generations of golfers have adored it for nearly a century. The walls have all sorts of memorabilia and other items, from decades-old club trophies to yellowed newspaper clippings touting the competitive exploits of men's group members, or obituaries for members of the family that designed and have operated the course since inception.

At a place like Salem, the course - flattish but pleasant Pacific Northwest parkland; a bit narrow and short but with some fun shots and holes, though nothing particularly memorable - is actually secondary. It's good enough to have given the people who play it years of pleasure and memories. It's worth stopping by to feel the love.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 10
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played

Great walking course.

Salem golf club is an older course but well kept. The view down the 18th will make you feel like you are at old school southern course, with the architecture of the club house.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 25
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
2.0
Oregon Advisor
Previously Played
Excellent weather
Used cart

Major Let-down

Salem Golf club used to be one of my old favorites, started playing here 20 years ago in high school and usually go back at least once a year.

Unfortunately it has never been in worse shape than it is right now. It's mid September and the course should be firm and green, instead it's desert fairways or swampy near the greens. Irrigation is a joke there, obviously no one is checking anything.

The greens were plugged about a week before we played, that is okay, it happens twice a year. But the greens were still obviously diseased or burnt out in places. Poor efforts on the greens.

Maybe the most pathetic part of the round was each tee box. Hadn't been mowed in weeks, massive divots that don't get sanded or seeded ever. Hitting driver out of the rough basically.

I'm tired of the lack of effort, starting from ownership being too cheap to hire the right people.

I doubt I'll be playing here on my own dime unless something changes drastically.

PS this wasn't a one time deal. The last 3 years have been the same experience in August/Sept.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Fair
Friendliness Fair
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Fairly Easy
Default User Avatar
Commented on 09/27/2016

Thank you for your feedback regarding your recent visit at Salem. We are always striving to improve customer and course experience. We hope you can visit the course in the future to give it another chance. Have a great day.

Played On
Reviews 6
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Excellent weather
Used cart

Great Course

The course is a mature course with well established trees and is very well maintained. The weather was perfect and the course played well. There are several challenging holes with beautiful scenery on every hole.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played

Beautiful and surprisingly challenging

For a course that "seems" straightforward, the beautiful setting with verdant green trees and water requires careful placement of shots or your game quickly goes astray. Fun!! The staff in the pro shop were terrific and helpful. Lunch in the old school club house bar was yummy.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Fun course

Course in excellent condition, not extremely long, but mature trees line the fairways and require accuracy. Potential for low and high score for short and long hitters alike.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great trees

Nice course always enjoy Salem if pace not to slow. Beautiful big trees. Greens were in good shape

Conditions Average
Value Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 15
Handicap 0-4
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing
Excellent weather
Walked

Great place to play

This is a wonderful golf course!! I will play here again!! Course is good shape and the green were good. Pace was a bit slow but on a narrow course like that it will happen.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Featured
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great layout

Pace of play was slow. The course was in good shape. Overall it was great

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 2
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Excellent weather
Used cart

Great golf

Couldn't have been any better. course has a nice layout. weather was perfect. played it in feb. and was dry enough to drive the cart anywhere on the course. nice people.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 13
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Excellent weather
Walked

A perfect day for golf

Upon arrival, we were told that the ft. nine was closed. But since we hadn't been notifiedof this before hand, the course gave us a very reasonable reduced rate to play the back twice. Very decent of them. The course was in nice shape.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 5
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Good weather
Walked

Golf on Saturday

Course was a little dry in spots. Pace of play was a little slow.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Good weather
Walked

Great Morning of Golf

Course was in good shape. We got off early and played 18 in just over 3 hours which totally changes the enjoyment of the game at Salem Golf Club. SGC play is so slow normally.

Love to play there when the pace is reasonable.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 25
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Oregon Advisor
Previously Played
Excellent weather
Walked

Decent old Course, but no Course Management

Let me just start by saying I have a soft spot for Salem Golf Club. I grew up playing here, I have a lot of great memories. But I am a little shocked at everything that went on with round yesterday.

The course: it has been hot and dry in this area for weeks now, so I understand the course drying out somewhat. But there were some big time dead spots all over the fairways, even on some of the greens. Then on the flip side many of the green fronts and shaded areas were sopping wet and muddy. Most holes if you hit 5 feet in front of the green you plugged and your ball spun back. The greens rolled okay but the cups and greens take a beating from poor etiquette players who play here. Back tee boxes were beat up pretty bad too, overall the course is in below average condition right now.

Pace of Play: We teed off at 9:30 yesterday and the round took 5:15. Mind you this is a 6300 yard course with hardly any walking from green to tee. It felt like 6 hours. The groups in front of us 2-3-4-5 groups out were not even trying to move along. They drank beer, heckled each other, took their sweet time and at one point we watched the group in front of us look for their ball for 15 minutes. Where were the marshals? None to be found. The management at SGC does not care about pace of play. It was brutal and made the round far less enjoyable.

Overall: I can't realistically play here again. It takes too much of the day and the course is not even worth $50 right now. It's a bit sad as I was nostalgic and excited about coming back to play. Play at your own risk, even 9am tee times don't guarantee any sort of pace of play.

Conditions Fair
Value Average
Friendliness Fair
Pace Poor
Amenities Average
Difficulty Fairly Easy
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Great course

I loves the course! Greens roled smooth fairways good condition some under repair. Didn't effect the course at all... Great staff. I did overpay for food at the turn :( 11 bucks for a soda and 3 chicken strips.... But overall I will continually return!

Conditions Good
Value Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Average weather
Walked

Course is great for walkers with wonderful scenery

When I arrived they did not have the reserved tee time in their system. Our tee time was delayed by 25 min. because it was their women's day and we had to wait for 8 women to tee off. It was lucky I not only brought my confirmation, but also my receipt that proved I had paid in advance and nothing was owed to the course. Kind of a hassle.

Conditions Average
Value Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 25+
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Excellent weather
Used cart

Quiet, peaceful,

Good value for the money. This was the first time I used GolfNow.com

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 21
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played
Excellent weather
Used cart

beat the heat

With the forecast for 90's, we took a early time to beat the heat. The fairways and greens are excellent. We made the turn before saw our first other golfer. SGC is a very nice place with a wonderful restaurant although today we did not stop in as we had to return home for a later BBQ. The only flaw we noticed is the bunker care and maintenance ( or lack of). The greens were the fastest we have played since Springhill. We played as a twosome in 3 hrs. Could have been less but I was in the trees a lot.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
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