In 1891, a group of Scotsmen bewildered the residents of Gearhart, Oregon by burying tin cans in the local coastal sand dunes.
Golf, though a cherished tradition to these immigrants, was relatively unknown in the American West, and when Gearhart Golf Links opened its doors a year later, it became the first golf course west of the Mississippi.
As visitors poured into the bustling resort town, they were instantly captured with the excitement of the game and the beauty of the course.
Now celebrating its 125th year, Gearhart Golf Links maintains its authentic, link-style roots, while keeping a clear eye to the future through extensive renovation and innovation. In celebration of their storied history, Gearhart opened several new amenities this year:
- The Annex is a new building which houses 16 additional hotel rooms (total of 34 now), “The Swingers Lounge Golf and Fitness Center” (small gym and virtual golf room), and upgraded cart storage.
- The Fore Deck is a new 1500 sq. foot patio overlooking the 1st and 10th tees where players can enjoy the views, add up their scores, and tip a pint.
- The Clam Bed is a new 22,000 sq.foot putting course, complete with the “Sand Bar” which is the latest small bar from McMenamins. Here you’ll find 500 sq.feet of cozy, with a bull bar and special treats like Elk Sausage sandwiches and specialty cocktails like the Time Out and local craft beers.
They also returned to Gearhart’s origi
nal roots by removing select trees and expanding the view corridors. The putting greens are firm and fast, and the open sight lines to the surrounding mountains offer spectacular views.
Gearhart Golf Links is a public resort course with 18 holes of links-style golf located in the town of Gearhart on the beautiful North Oregon Coast. Memberships are also available, and they are open for play 365 days a year. They are even open for “Free Golf” on Christmas Day, with a donation of canned goods for their local food bank.
We have fallen in love with Gearhart Golf Links and hope you do too.
Want to be featured?
If you are a foreUP client, we’d be happy to feature your course in a blog like this. If you’re interested, send an email to Amy Lavange at press@foreup.com