Hood River

Getting To Know: Hood River Golf & Country Club

An Insightful Interview With Amy McCormack, PGA Head Professional

By Brian Weis

Whether you have played a course 20+ times a year or looking to play the course for the first time, insights from an insider can help enhance your golf experience. Below is an interview with Amy McCormack who shares some valuable tidbits about the course, memorable holes and must eats and treats at the 19th.

Give Our Readers An Overview of the Golf Course/Property
The golf course is spread over 300 wooded acres in the northern shadow of Mt.Hood with views of the surrounding pear and apple orchards. Established in 1923, with the original farmhouse and barn on property, this course presents a unique and nostalgic experience.

If Someone Was Looking To Golf In The Area, Why Should They Play Your Course?
This course is set up for beginners to have fun and more experienced players to push themselves. The front 9 is open, allowing more aggressive play while the back 9 winds up and down through the hills and trees giving you more of a challenge with amazing rewards!

What Tips or Local Knowledge Would You Provide To Help Them Score Better At Your Course?
The wind is often a factor on any course in the Gorge. I always recommend teeing the ball down just a bit and just swing easy.

Recent Awards or What You Are Most Proud About The Course?
We are proud to say the greens have never looked better than they do right now. We are also proud recipients of the 2011 "Best of The Gorge" Award for Best Golf Course in the Columbia Gorge.

What Is The Signature, Most Talked About, or Most Photographed Hole?
Hole #15, 168 Par 3. This intimidating par 3 has you carry a canyon to a large kidney shaped green with a forest backdrop. The canyon is the intimidating part, although it's only 168 yards from the back tees. When you stand on the tee box, you get to take in a 360 degree view absolutely breathtaking beauty!

What Is Your Favorite Hole? Any Tips to Play It?
My favorite hole is hole #18. From the tee you can see the Hood River valley and if the wind is at your back, you can "get home" in 2 shots! I keep the ball left on that hole (gives you a better angle at the green) and just go for it!

Must Have Dish or Drink after the round at the 19th Hole?
Walking Man IPA or any of the local brews we offer. A local beer is always a great way to end a round at Hood River. For the wine drinkers, Phelps Creek Winery Tasting Room shares a space in the Clubhouse too!

Back Tee Stats
Par: 71
Yardage: 6109
Slope: 135
Rating: 70.7

More Information
Hood River Golf & Country Club
1850 Country Club Road
Hood River, Oregon, 97031
541-386-3009
www.hoodrivergolf.net

Article Tags: Hood River Golf & Country Club

Revised: 04/27/2012 - Article Viewed 30,977 Times - View Course Profile

About: Brian Weis

Brian Weis is the Publisher of GolfTrips.com, a network of golf travel and directory sites including GolfWisconsin.com, GolfMichigan.com, ArizonaGolfer.com, GolfAlabama.com, etc. Professionally, Brian is a member of the Golf Writers Association of America (GWAA), International Network of Golf (ING), Golf Travel Writers of America (GTWA), International Golf Travel Writers Association (IGTWA) and The Society of Hickory Golfers (SoHG). In 2016, Brian won The Shaheen Cup, an award given to a golf travel writer by his peers.

All of his life, Brian has been around the game of golf. As a youngster, Brian competed at all levels in junior and high school golf. Brian had a zero chance for a college golf scholarship, so he worked on the grounds crew at West Bend Country Club to pay for his University of Wisconsin education. In his adult years, his passion for the game collided with his entrepreneurial spirit and in 2004 launched GolfWisconsin.com. In 2007, the idea for a network of local golf directory sites formed and GolfTrips.com was born. Today, the network consists of a site in all 50 states supported by national sites like GolfTrips.com, GolfGuide.com and GolfPackages.com. It is an understatement to say, Brian is passionate about promoting golf and golf travel on a local, regional, national and international level.

On the golf course, Brian is known as a fierce weekend warrior that fluctuates between a 5-9 handicap. With a soft fade, known as "The Weis Slice", and booming 300+ drives, he can blast it out of bounds with the best of them.