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COLUMBIA EDGEWATER
Country Club
PAR 4 420 YARDS
Portland,OR
503.285.3676
www.cecc.com
The definition of a classic is: "something judged over a period of time to be of the
highest quality." The green on the eighth hole at Columbia Edgewater Country Club is
certainly a classic, but it's also an original, having been designed by the famed A.V.
Macan in 1925. It was Macan, a championship player who lost only two strokes on
his handicap after losing his foot in World War I, who implemented the same strategic
simplicity in the Northwest that Alister MacKenzie did in California. Columbia
Edgewater has its own grand history, having been 25 times the site of an LPGA tour
event and also a frequent and challenging host to the Oregon Open and, before that,
the Portland Open. Annika Sorenstam, twice a winner at Columbia Edgewater, called
the greens the best she'd ever played.
The eighth hole is a subtle but strong par 4, with a hidden lake adjacent to the fairway
that a long, errant shot can uncover. The best drives are to the left side of the fairway,
but the real challenge is in the tri-level green that has seen its fair share of three putts.
Neighboring the largest river in the Pacific Northwest on Portland's Marine Drive,
Columbia Edgewater is celebrated for its wonderful year-round playing conditions,
its bevy of single-digit handicap members, and the Short Game Practice Facility and
par-3 Mason Course designed by former head professional and nationally accredited
designer Dan Hixson and the legendary Bunny Mason.
As golf looks to its past to better prepare for its future, Macan's approach is being
revived in many circles. He placed hazards less to penalize players than to challenge
low handicappers. Another Macan trait was an uncanny ability to design greens with
drainage suitable for the Northwest's wet climate—something that is still showcased
today at Columbia Edgewater.
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Photograph by Dave Wilson
