Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club
Encyclopedia
Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club is a golf club near Portland
, Oregon
, located just north of North Plains
in Washington County
. The award-winning 36-hole club opened in 1992 and has hosted several major golf tournaments, including the U.S. Women's Open
in both 1997
and 2003
. Since 2009
, it has hosted the annual Safeway Classic
on the LPGA Tour
. The Witch Hollow course is private, and the Ghost Creek is public.
In August 1990, construction of the course began with American Golf Construction Company as the general contractor. The club opened on April 1, 1992, with the Ghost Creek course in operation. When Pumpkin Ridge opened, membership cost $37,500. The first hole-in-one recorded was by Bob Staab of Portland in June 1992. In September 1997 National Golf Properties purchased a 50 percent stake in the golf club and then leased the property to American Golf Corporation.
In 2003, the club had three of the top six best holes in Portland area, including the best overall hole. LPGA hall of fame golfer Nancy Lopez
named the 18th hole at Pumpkin Ridge in 1997’s Women’s U.S. Open her favorite hole in the world in 2005.
won his unprecedented third consecutive title on the Witch Hollow course and then turned professional, with Nike
founder Phil Knight
on hand. This event had the highest attendance in the history of the U.S. Amateur, with attendance for the week at 65,353 to watch Woods rally and win the final over Steve Scott on the 38th hole. The U.S. Women's Open
was played at Witch Hollow in 1997
and again in 2003
.
The U.S. Junior Amateur (boys') and Girls' Junior Championships were held at Pumpkin Ridge in 2000, contested on both courses with the finals at Ghost Creek. And in 2006, Witch Hollow hosted the U.S. Women's Amateur
, where Kimberly Kim
won the title as the youngest winner ever for that tournament.
Since 2009
, the Ghost Creek course has been the home of the Safeway Classic
on the LPGA Tour
, currently played in mid-August.
designed golf course
is 6,839 yards long. In Zagat's "2006/07 Guide To America's Top Golf Courses", the club’s Ghost Creek course was named fourth most popular in the Northwest. On that same course the 14th hole was named one of the 100 toughest holes in golf in the book "Golf's 100 Toughest Holes."
selected it as the second best new private course of the year. This 18 hole course was designed by Robert E. Cupp. The par 72, 7,017 yard design has a rating of 75.1 and had two of the top 500 holes in the world in 2000 as rated by Golf Magazine
. Golf Magazine in 2005 and 2006 rated it as one of the 100 best modern course in America.
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
, Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, located just north of North Plains
North Plains, Oregon
North Plains is a city in Washington County, Oregon, United States, off U.S. 26 on the northwest outskirts of the Portland metropolitan area. The population was 1,605 at the 2000 census; by July 2007 the population was estimated to be 1,813.-Geography:...
in Washington County
Washington County, Oregon
- Major highways :* Interstate 5* Interstate 205* U.S. Route 26* Oregon Route 6* Oregon Route 8* Oregon Route 10* Oregon Route 47* Oregon Route 99W* Oregon Route 210* Oregon Route 217* Oregon Route 219-Demographics:...
. The award-winning 36-hole club opened in 1992 and has hosted several major golf tournaments, including the U.S. Women's Open
United States Women's Open Championship (golf)
The United States Women's Open Golf Championship, one of thirteen national championships conducted by the United States Golf Association , is one of the LPGA's major championships along with the LPGA Championship, the Women's British Open, and the Kraft Nabisco Championship...
in both 1997
1997 LPGA Tour
The 1997 LPGA Tour was the 48th season since the LPGA Tour officially began in 1950. The season ran from January 9 to November 23. The season consisted of 38 official money events. Annika Sörenstam won the most tournaments, six...
and 2003
2003 LPGA Tour
The 2003 LPGA Tour was the 54th season since the LPGA Tour officially began in 1950. The season ran from March 13 to November 23. The season consisted of 31 official money events. Annika Sörenstam won the most tournaments, six...
. Since 2009
2009 LPGA Tour
The 2009 LPGA Tour was a series of weekly golf tournaments for elite female golfers from around the world that took place from February through November 2009. The tournaments were sanctioned by the United States based Ladies Professional Golf Association ....
, it has hosted the annual Safeway Classic
Safeway Classic
The Safeway Classic is an annual golf tournament for professional female golfers on the LPGA Tour. Founded in 1972, the 54-hole event takes place every year in the Portland, Oregon area and is the oldest continuous event on the LPGA Tour. Tournament Golf Foundation has managed the tournament since...
on the LPGA Tour
LPGA
The LPGA, in full the Ladies Professional Golf Association, is an American organization for female professional golfers. The organization, whose headquarters is in Daytona Beach, Florida, is best known for running the LPGA Tour, a series of weekly golf tournaments for elite female golfers from...
. The Witch Hollow course is private, and the Ghost Creek is public.
History
In 1986, Gay Davis and Marv French were shown 350 acres (1.4 km²) of farmland in rural Washington County just north of North Plains. The same day they looked at the property they made an offer and by late in 1987 they had an option for the property. Then in 1989 Pumpkin Ridge Partners was formed with French, Davis, and Barney Hyde. Next, in 1991 the group secured additional financing by bringing in Shigeru Ito as a 50-50 partner. The Japanese investor from Nagoya financed the $20 million golf club.In August 1990, construction of the course began with American Golf Construction Company as the general contractor. The club opened on April 1, 1992, with the Ghost Creek course in operation. When Pumpkin Ridge opened, membership cost $37,500. The first hole-in-one recorded was by Bob Staab of Portland in June 1992. In September 1997 National Golf Properties purchased a 50 percent stake in the golf club and then leased the property to American Golf Corporation.
In 2003, the club had three of the top six best holes in Portland area, including the best overall hole. LPGA hall of fame golfer Nancy Lopez
Nancy Lopez
Nancy Marie Lopez is an American professional golfer. She became a member of the LPGA Tour in 1977 and won 48 LPGA Tour events during her LPGA career, including three major championships.-Amateur career:...
named the 18th hole at Pumpkin Ridge in 1997’s Women’s U.S. Open her favorite hole in the world in 2005.
Tournaments
Since 1993, Pumpkin Ridge has hosted nationally significant tournaments, which started with the Nike Tour Championship that year and again in 1994 at Ghost Creek. In 1996, Pumpkin Ridge hosted the men’s U.S. Amateur, where 20 year-old Tiger WoodsTiger Woods
Eldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods is an American professional golfer whose achievements to date rank him among the most successful golfers of all time. Formerly the World No...
won his unprecedented third consecutive title on the Witch Hollow course and then turned professional, with Nike
Nike, Inc.
Nike, Inc. is a major publicly traded sportswear and equipment supplier based in the United States. The company is headquartered near Beaverton, Oregon, which is part of the Portland metropolitan area...
founder Phil Knight
Phil Knight
Philip Hampson "Phil" Knight is an American business magnate. He is the co-founder and Chairman of Nike, Inc. He resigned as the company's chief executive officer in 2004, while retaining the position of chairman of the board...
on hand. This event had the highest attendance in the history of the U.S. Amateur, with attendance for the week at 65,353 to watch Woods rally and win the final over Steve Scott on the 38th hole. The U.S. Women's Open
United States Women's Open Championship (golf)
The United States Women's Open Golf Championship, one of thirteen national championships conducted by the United States Golf Association , is one of the LPGA's major championships along with the LPGA Championship, the Women's British Open, and the Kraft Nabisco Championship...
was played at Witch Hollow in 1997
1997 U.S. Women's Open Golf Championship
The 1997 U.S. Women's Open Golf Championship was contested from July 10 to July 13 at the Witch Hollow course of Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club, near North Plains, Oregon. It was the 52nd edition of the U.S. Women's Open....
and again in 2003
2003 U.S. Women's Open Golf Championship
The 2003 U.S. Women's Open Golf Championship was contested from July 3 to July 7 at the Witch Hollow course of Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club, near North Plains, Oregon. It was the 58th edition of the U.S. Women's Open....
.
The U.S. Junior Amateur (boys') and Girls' Junior Championships were held at Pumpkin Ridge in 2000, contested on both courses with the finals at Ghost Creek. And in 2006, Witch Hollow hosted the U.S. Women's Amateur
United States Women's Amateur Golf Championship
The U.S. Women's Amateur is the leading golf tournament in the United States for female amateur golfers. It is played annually and is one of the 13 United States national golf championships organized by the United States Golf Association . Female amateurs from all nations are eligible to compete...
, where Kimberly Kim
Kimberly Kim
Kimberly Kim is an American professional golfer who plays on the LPGA Tour.-Amateur career:Kim was born in Hilo, Hawaii. She attended the University of Denver in 2009-10, leading the team with a 73.67 scoring average and winning the 2009-10 SBC Golf Tournament.At age 14, she became the youngest...
won the title as the youngest winner ever for that tournament.
Since 2009
2009 LPGA Tour
The 2009 LPGA Tour was a series of weekly golf tournaments for elite female golfers from around the world that took place from February through November 2009. The tournaments were sanctioned by the United States based Ladies Professional Golf Association ....
, the Ghost Creek course has been the home of the Safeway Classic
Safeway Classic
The Safeway Classic is an annual golf tournament for professional female golfers on the LPGA Tour. Founded in 1972, the 54-hole event takes place every year in the Portland, Oregon area and is the oldest continuous event on the LPGA Tour. Tournament Golf Foundation has managed the tournament since...
on the LPGA Tour
LPGA
The LPGA, in full the Ladies Professional Golf Association, is an American organization for female professional golfers. The organization, whose headquarters is in Daytona Beach, Florida, is best known for running the LPGA Tour, a series of weekly golf tournaments for elite female golfers from...
, currently played in mid-August.
Ghost Creek Golf Course
The Ghost Creek course was the first course to open, with play starting April 1, 1992. It was then named the best new public course in the country for the year by Golf Digest. Later it was named as the fifth best public course by Golf magazine in 1996. For 2007-08 Golf Digest ranked it 68th in the country public golf courses. The par 71 Ghost Creek Course has won several other national awards. This Robert E. Cupp and John FoughtJohn Fought
John Fought III is an American golf course architect and professional golfer who has played on the PGA Tour, Nationwide Tour and Champions Tour....
designed golf course
Golf course
A golf course comprises a series of holes, each consisting of a teeing ground, fairway, rough and other hazards, and a green with a flagstick and cup, all designed for the game of golf. A standard round of golf consists of playing 18 holes, thus most golf courses have this number of holes...
is 6,839 yards long. In Zagat's "2006/07 Guide To America's Top Golf Courses", the club’s Ghost Creek course was named fourth most popular in the Northwest. On that same course the 14th hole was named one of the 100 toughest holes in golf in the book "Golf's 100 Toughest Holes."
Witch Hollow Golf Course
In 1992 when the Witch Hollow course opened, Golf DigestGolf Digest
Golf Digest is a monthly golf magazine published by Condé Nast Publications in the United States. It is a generalist golf publication covering recreational golf and men's and women's competitive golf. Condé Nast Publications also publishes the more specialized , and Golf World Business. The...
selected it as the second best new private course of the year. This 18 hole course was designed by Robert E. Cupp. The par 72, 7,017 yard design has a rating of 75.1 and had two of the top 500 holes in the world in 2000 as rated by Golf Magazine
Golf Magazine
Golf Magazine is a monthly golf magazine owned by Time Inc.. It was started in 1960 by Universal Publishing and Distributing, who sold it to Times Mirror in 1972. Time Inc. acquired it in 2000. It was the world's most widely read golf publication from August 2006 to January 2007. The magazine is...
. Golf Magazine in 2005 and 2006 rated it as one of the 100 best modern course in America.
See also
- Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2006Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2006Tiger Woods PGA Tour 06 is a golf video game in the Tiger Woods PGA Tour series available for PlayStation Portable, PlayStation 2, Xbox, Xbox 360, GameCube, Mobile phones, and PC....
- Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07 is the fourth-to-latest golfing video game in the Tiger Woods PGA Tour series from Electronic Arts. It was released on October 12, 2006 for PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, Xbox, Xbox 360, and PC. It was released on March 13, 2007 for the Wii...