A Great Day for Golf – Tokatee Golf Club

October 29, 2007

By Larry Moran


It’s a beautiful Sunday morning in mid-October. The choices are to organize the workshop after the summer projects, or go GOLFING! After weighing the options for about a second, this past Sunday I drove from Eugene up Hwy 126, along the McKenzie River, to play golf at Tokatee Golf Club. It was a lovely clear morning after a couple of days of rain, and I was early enough to catch the sunrise as I arrived at the course.

Tokatee has often been described as the most beautiful place to play golf in Oregon, and I couldn’t agree more. The course is set in lightly rolling terrain in the Cascade Foothills, with The Three Sisters mountains overlooking the valley. At this time of year there is an abundance of fall colors – yellows and reds – and the light is perfect for golf. I was lucky enough to have the course to myself for the first few holes, and really enjoyed sharing it with a variety of birds, many of which seemed not to care that there was someone knocking small balls at them apparently at random.


Tokatee’s course is enjoyable for pretty much any golfer. It presents a challenge to both low-handicappers and less-accomplished golfers (such as myself). Fairways range from wide-open vistas to narrow trails among established fir trees, sometimes with overpowering views of the Three Sisters to distract you from your swing. Some holes allow you to smash the ball off the tee, while others discourage such macho activities with hidden difficulties such as lakes and sand traps waiting the unwary golfer. Greens are gently undulating, and even at this late time of the season are in very good condition.

The course as a whole is well-maintained, and all the staff I had contact with – from the head pro to a groundskeeper blowing pine needles off the greens – were helpful and friendly. Even after the rain we’d had the previous week, the course was very playable, with only a few wet spots (mostly where I shouldn’t have hit the ball anyway). Fees are very reasonable (listed by Golf Magazine in 2004 as one of the 50 Best Courses for $50 or less), there are a good driving range and two practice greens, and a well-stocked pro shop and café – with free coffee thrown in!


I highly recommend Tokatee for autumn golf. But you’d better hurry, as Tokatee is scheduled to close for the winter after November 15. I guess even Oregon golfers have trouble finding those little white balls in the snow!

My thanks to Mark Giustina and Head Pro Dan King for their hospitality and assistance. I look forward to playing at Tokatee again when they re-open in the Spring. In the meantime, I’ll be playing some more Lane County courses over the coming months, and reporting on my experiences here. Stay tuned for another Great Day for Golf!

Larry Moran works in Visitor Services at the Convention & Visitors Association of Lane County (CVALCO), where he spends his time answering the phone, greeting visitors, and helping people on vacation enjoy their visit to Lane County. Tune in for Larry's next golfing adventure!

For more information on Oregon's beautiful golf courses, please visit our Outdoor Recreation section.

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