Manzanita Golf Course is not trying to be Bandon Dunes, and that is exactly why we like it. It's nine holes, tucked between the beach and Nehalem Bay State Park, with the kind of pace where nobody minds if your dog waits in the car with the windows down and your kid takes three practice swings.
The basics
Nine holes, par 32 or so depending on the tees, and short enough that you can walk it in under two hours. Most of the fairways are flat, lined with shore pines that swallow anything sliced too hard. The greens are small and honest. There's a little pro shop, rental clubs, pull carts, and a snack situation that is mostly beer and candy bars.
You can usually just show up. Weekends in July and August get busier, so call ahead if you've got a foursome and a firm schedule. Otherwise, wander over, pay your green fee, and go.
What to bring (and what to skip)
- A light rain shell. Even on sunny days the marine layer likes to sneak back in around 3pm.
- Fewer clubs than you think. A driver is optional here. A 7-iron, a wedge, and a putter would get you through most of the course.
- Extra balls. The pines do not give them back.
- Skip the spikes. Soft soles are fine, and you'll want to walk to Laneda Ave for lunch after.
Playing it twice
Most people go around twice to make 18. The second lap plays differently once you know which trees are actually in play. Our unscientific tip: play conservative off the tee the first time, then swing free the second. Also, the wind almost always comes from the northwest in summer, so anything heading toward the bay gets pushed. Aim left of where you think.
Stay right on the course
Our house Puffin Lane backs onto the golf course, which means your morning coffee comes with a view of the third fairway and the occasional stray ball in the yard (we keep a bucket by the door, help yourself). It sleeps seven, has a cedar hot tub for after your round, and the beach is two blocks the other direction. It's also dog-friendly, because this is Manzanita and the dogs outnumber the golfers.
If golf is the whole point of your trip, we wrote up beach houses near golf on the Oregon Coast with a wider look at courses up and down 101.
After the round
Walk to Laneda Avenue. It's the one main street, and it has everything: fish tacos, a decent bookstore, a wine bar, and a bakery that sells out of morning buns by 10. Then go put your feet in the ocean. Seven miles of sand, dogs off leash, and Neahkahnie Mountain looming at the north end like it's keeping an eye on you.
If you've got energy left, Nehalem Bay State Park is right next to the course. You can rent a kayak, bike the paved loop, or drop a crab ring off the dock. More ideas on our Manzanita things-to-do page.
Off-season golf
Honestly, October through April is our favorite time to play here. The course is empty, the greens are soft, and a round in a light drizzle followed by a hot tub is a very specific kind of Oregon happiness. Storm days are a no-go (the wind will take your hat and your dignity), but the in-between days are gold. Check the forecast the morning of and decide over breakfast.
It's a small course in a small town, and it knows what it is. Play it, laugh at your slice, then go get a taco.