Off Course with Run Oregon: Cross Creek Golf Course

There are a lot of things I know very little about. Golf is currently pretty high on that list.

But that’s kind of the point of Off Course with Run Oregon. We spend a lot of time talking about running, trails, races and all the other things that get us outside. But every once in a while, it’s fun to step a little bit off the beaten path — or, in this case, off the running trail — and try something else.

So, as I’m trying my hand at golf, I figured I might as well bring you along for the ride. First up: Cross Creek Golf Course near Dallas.

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Before You Tee Off

Because this is still Run Oregon, we’re obviously going to start with the running.

Cross Creek is just about a 15- to 20-minute drive from one of the Mid-Valley’s most underrated and quietest trails: the Ellendale Creek Loop.

It’s a little difficult to find on Google Maps, but there is a good map on AllTrails that will get you there. The loop is just shy of five miles. If you run it counterclockwise, you get some climbing in the first half followed by some fairly steady downhill in the second half.

Depending on the time of year, there are some pretty decent views along the way, and the forested sections are incredibly quiet.

A single loop makes for a solid run before or after a round of golf. If you want something longer, double it and you’re getting close to 10 miles. There are also a couple of other offshoots I haven’t explored yet that could make the run a little longer.

So if you’re looking to make an entire day out of being outside, there’s your first (or last) stop.

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The Main Event

Cross Creek Golf Course sits just off Highway 22 near Dallas, on the way to the Oregon Coast from Salem.

I have probably driven past this course no less than 50 times in my life. Every time I passed it, I thought it looked pretty cool and, importantly for someone just getting into golf, accessible.

Now that I’ve actually played it, I can confirm that first impression was pretty accurate. For a course that is somewhat out in the middle of nowhere, Cross Creek is surprisingly nice and reasonably priced. An 18-hole round with a cart, depending on the day and time, can come in at less than $70. And you’re getting a nicely manicured course for that price.

Honestly, I think I was expecting something a little more rundown and homespun when I first showed up. Instead, I found what I would consider one of the better-looking courses in the area.

The wide fairways are probably one of my favorite parts of the course, particularly as someone who is still figuring out how to make a golf ball go where I actually want it to go. There are hazards, as you would expect, but they never felt particularly out of place or unnecessarily unforgiving.

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The Experience

The views here are absolutely Oregon.

You’re surrounded by green trees, rolling hills and wide-open stretches of fairway. There are holes that give you some pretty impressive distances to look across, along with views of hills, farmland, and  vineyards in the distance.

Honestly, to me, this feels like what golf is supposed to be. Nice, but without the pretentiousness. Accessible, yet challenging. And most importantly, an opportunity to just be outside and enjoy some scenery and quiet.

There’s something pretty great about standing on a tee box and looking around to see trees, hills and green grass instead of houses and traffic. It feels peaceful. And for someone coming from running, that part works for me.

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Finding My Stride

As a first-time golfer — or, more accurately, a delayed first-time golfer who has finally started taking some friends up on their offers to play — I’ve avoided some of the more private neighborhood-style courses.

Mostly because I knew my shots weren’t going to be nearly as straight as I had hoped. The thought of bombarding someone’s house with errant golf balls has done little to make me more willing to play. Cross Creek has none of that.

You’re looking at a large swath of green fairways that run up against each other, which makes errant shots still relatively playable from other fairways. I know this from experience. There are hazards, obviously, but they don’t seem out of place or overly punishing.

From a completely novice point of view, that makes Cross Creek a great course for someone just trying their hand at the game. You can make a bad shot without feeling like you’ve completely ruined the hole.

Basically, Cross Creek gives beginners a little breathing room while still giving more experienced golfers plenty to work with.

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Fun Course Note

The first time I played Cross Creek, I was partnered with a group of guys who had played the course quite a bit. At some point, they warned us to watch out for the crows because they apparently steal food from golfers. They told us the crows were pretty infamous for it.

We chuckled.

Not one hole later, the crows had stolen my brother’s bag of trail mix and another player’s sandwich.

So, consider yourself warned. The crows at Cross Creek are apparently not messing around.

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Crossing the Finish Line

Cross Creek is a pretty easy course to recommend.

If you’re just trying your hand at golf, the wide-open layout and lack of houses make it feel considerably less intimidating than some of the other courses I’ve been around. You have room to make mistakes, figure things out and, hopefully, occasionally hit the ball where you intended.

If you’re a more seasoned golfer, there’s still enough challenge to keep things interesting, along with a really beautiful setting and a well-manicured course. For me, though, the biggest selling point might simply be how comfortable the whole experience feels.

Cross Creek feels like a place where you can show up, play some golf, enjoy the scenery, spend a few hours outside and not feel like you need to shoot 90.

And for a guy who is still very much learning what he’s doing, that’s exactly what I’m looking for. And maybe keep an eye on the crows.