Local links beckon

POLK COUNTY HAS THREE GOLFING OPTIONS

The Center for Disease Control has updated its COVID safety guidelines, saying it’s safe to return to great outdoors without a mask. So now is the perfect time to return to the links to recapture your golf swing. Even if you’re still concerned about maintaining your socially-distanced safe space as the pandemic winds down, golf offers the perfect non-contact sport.

And if you’ve never played golf before, now is the time to start as the weather warms and transitions from spring to summer.

Polk County boasts three golf courses: Oak Knoll near Independence, the Dallas Golf Club and Cross Creek Golf Course, also located in Dallas.

Oak Knoll, opened in 1926 as the first golf course in the Willamette Valley, measures 6,208 yards from the longest tees and has a slope rating of 113 and a 68.6 United States Golf Association rating. The course features three sets of tees for different skill levels, and is home base for the Central High School Panthers golf team.

Oak Knoll offers a full, 18-hole course, an enclosed driving range, a complete proshop, both chipping and putting areas, private and group lessons, tournaments and a restaurant and lounge.

Cross Creek, opened in 1998 and was awarded first place in the Willamette Valley for 2012 and 2013 by nwgolfguys.com. Cross Creek is another 18-hole golf course, located 13 miles west of Salem on Highway 22. Known for its challenging layout, Cross Creek has 6,900 yards of playing surface, from fairways to greens. It is also home to the Dallas High School Dragons golf team.

The course offers group or solo lessons and has carts and clubs to rent year round.

Dallas Golf Club is a 2,250 yard, 9-hole executive golf course with five par threes and four par fours.

The course has challenges enough for serious golfers, but is accessible for newbies, too. The Dallas Golf Club offers Men’s Club Play on Thursdays and Saturdays in Gross and Net Divisions.

Calling ahead for tee times on weekends and holidays is encouraged

Get back into the swing of golf

What: Oak Knoll Golf Course Where: 6335 OR-22, Independence, OR 97351 Contact: (503) 378-0344 Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday and 7 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, call for rates, specials and more.

What: Cross Creek Golf Course Where: 13935 OR-22, Dallas, OR 97338 Contact: (503) 623-6666 Hours: 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., 7 days a week, call for rates, specials and more.

What: Dallas Golf Club Where: 11875 Orrs Corner Road, Dallas, OR 97338 Contact: (503) 623-6832 Hours: Dawn to dusk, 7 days a week

And if you’ve never played golf before, now is the time to start as the weather warms and transitions from Spring to Summer.