Portland
with Great Golf Nearby
On the banks of the Willamette
River lies Portland, Ore., a booming city with an abundance of cultural options. The
city has undergone tremendous change over the past couple of decades with a
profusion of corporate growth. Added are new luxurious hotel and restaurant
options and the area is also home to many great golf courses. The Hotel Monaco
is a great spot to stay at when visiting the downtown area. A nice golf side trip from here would be The
Resort at the Mountain, just 45 minutes east of downtown and close to Mount Hood.
The Hotel Monaco is part of the
Kimpton Hotels chain and is a luxury boutique hotel in the heart of downtown Portland. The hotel is closely connected to the nearby Portland
Art Museum. A private art collection featuring Pacific Northwest
artists can be found on each of the hotel’s floors. A guided tour of the Art
Museum or local galleries is available on request. Hotel Monaco has brought new
meaning to the term “pet friendly.” Art, who is a very friendly golden lab,
greets all guests in the lobby and assures them that if they bring their own
friend, they will be welcome. The hotel will provide everything your pet might
need or want, including a pet masseuse. There is also a nightly wine reception
hosted by the hotel.
The Red Star Tavern and Roast
House are located just off the lobby and worth a visit. I dined on the wild
salmon, which was excellent and tasted as though the fish had been caught that
day. The Red Star features grills and wood ovens as well as great service. It
is very popular with local residents for dining and cocktails. For more
information on Hotel Monaco, visit www.monaco-portland.com.
When I visit cities, I like to
get out and take long exploratory walks. I guess this comes from walking so
many golf courses over the years. If you really want to stretch your legs, try
heading up the famous Portland’s Rose Gardens. It will take about an hour from the Hotel Monaco and you
will be rewarded with great views of the city. The Portland Zoo is located
close to the Rose Gardens as well. For a shorter walk, try heading down the popular
Riverplace Marina on the banks of the Willamette where you will find parks, shops and restaurants hugging
the riverbank. A great restaurant option here would be the original McCormick
& Schmick’s. The company is actually headquartered in Portland. They have an extensive fresh seafood menu and the best
location in the Riverplace Marina. You can dine indoor or outdoor and the
service is excellent as well. I had Idaho trout crusted with almonds that was so delicious I can
still taste it. For more information, visit www.mccormickandschmicks.com.
The Resort at The Mountain
The golf in the Pacific Northwest
is among the best in the United States, especially during the summer months. The combination of
good soil and plenty of rains mixed with some sun make for beautifully
manicured greens at many of the courses. The Resort at the Mountain is just a
45-minute drive from Portland and features 27 holes to choose from. The setting is very
scenic and the golf course is a certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary. The Mount Hood
National Forest frames the layout and offers spectacular views. The Salmon River
runs through the property and can be heard throughout the Foxglove nine course. The Pine nine is one of
the oldest layouts in Oregon and was built in 1928. The Thistle completes this golf complex,
which can easily be walked. These three nines are classic in style and I found
them to be quite enjoyable. With 27 holes, there is always a nine available,
the routing allows for speedy play and the several large putting greens allow
you to practice your short game. I found the course and greens to be in
excellent shape.
The resort features 160
tastefully decorated rooms and suites with a Scottish flare. We stayed in a
golf villa, which was brand new with all the comforts necessary. The property
has a small village feel to it and is reminiscent of the Scottish Highlands. We
enjoyed dining at Tartan’s Pub and Steakhouse overlooking the first fairway of
the Pine course. The views of the dramatic mountains and the pastoral golf
scene make this a must to experience and the food was also excellent. Mount Hood’s
famous Timberline Lodge is about 15 minutes up the hill from the resort and
there was still enough snow to keep the snowboarders happy even in July. For
more information, visit www.theresort.com.
