The vital data
Quail Valley was an 18-hole golf course in Banks, Oregon, about 30 minutes west of Portland. In February, it closed down permanently after being sold to a developer to build housing.
Far from downtown, it may not have felt like a core part of the Portland golf scene. But Quail was a gem – an affordable public course that was typically in excellent condition. And to me and many others who grew up playing golf in the area as teenagers, it played a special part in our golfing life.
A memorable venue for high school golf
I helped found the golf team at my high school. The first tournament we ever played was held at Quail Valley. (I don't think I even broke 100.)
High school golf was amazing. I met some of my best friends through the golf team, and we're still close almost 20 years later. Our tournaments were usually on Mondays, with tee times starting around 10:30am. So about six times a year, we'd get leave school after first period to go play golf the rest of the day.
Quail hosted the district championships each year, where the top two teams (and top five individuals) would qualify for the state championship. Districts was the peak of our golf season – partly because of the stakes, and partly because it was a two-day tournament so we got to miss twice as much school.
I remember rolling up to Quail Valley's parking lot in our school's Suburban, our coach at the wheel, windows down, with Genesis by Justice blaring on max volume to announce our arrival. We had so much fun. After the round, we'd stop by Helvetia Tavern for burgers, fries, and RC Colas.
For most of high school, our team wasn't very good. But my senior year, we finished second at the district tournament and qualified for state. It was the first time we'd won anything or found any success as a team in four years.
I'll never forget that year at Districts, especially Day 2, where I saw one of my playing partners hit the flagstick on his approach into 14 only to have the ball ricochet back into the lake (just like Tiger at Augusta). He ended up making a triple bogey and failed to qualify for state by only a couple of shots. As bad as I felt, I was just as proud of myself for finishing in the top 5 and for our team for making State.
In more recent years, Quail went on to host the state tournament for a variety of high school divisions. Someone I know from my old high school even made a hole-in-one during State on the 13th hole.
So it's not just me – hundreds of Oregon high schoolers grew up playing some of the biggest tournament golf of their life at Quail Valley.
Tradition and nostalgia
After graduating college, my friends from the golf team had the idea to hold a tournament for old times' sake. We decided on a 36-hole format: we'd play the first day at Quail, since we'd played so many high-stakes rounds there, and the second day on the Great Blue course at Heron Lakes (a championship-level track).
That first year, I wasn't prepared for the nerves I felt on the first tee at Quail. I showed up ready for a fun round, but as I stepped up to the box, the pressure instantly cranked up and it felt just like a real tournament. Until that moment, I hadn't realized how much I loved tournament golf, and how much I missed playing on my high school team.
I eventually lost by one after my friend drained a 20-footer on the 36th hole. But fortunately, that first year started a tradition. Each year I'd fly back to Portland as we got the gang back together and played our tournament. And each year, we'd start our tournament by driving out to Quail.
For the last decade now, I've been making the pilgrimage back to Banks to go back to a place I love, and feel the passion I remember from those high school tournaments. My last round at Quail was in the most recent edition of our tournament, when I shot a 9-over 81 on my way to a wire-to-wire victory. I couldn't ask for a better memory to finish. It's just too bad I won't have the chance to make any more.
Moving forward
I'm deeply saddened that Quail Valley is closed. Even though I no longer live in Portland, I know that course better than almost any other. I remember the signs they had on the hill in front of the clubhouse that said 'Slippery When Wet', which always made me think of Bon Jovi. I remember the drive in before a tournament, eagerly looking to see where the pins were set on 17, 2, 1, and 7 on the way to the parking lot. I can picture all the slopes on the practice green, and where they usually had the cups cut. But mostly I remember all the good days I spent there with my friends.
The reality is that Quail won't be the last course I love to shut down. Even popular and historic courses like Lions in Austin, TX have been at risk of being sold to use the land for other purposes. And eventually, I'll play every course I love for the last time, one way or another.
I suppose it's a good reminder to treasure the rounds I get to play at the courses I love. Even the days that feel average or when I play my worst golf add up to a lifetime of memories. I'll never forget Quail, but I'll try to remember to enjoy the moments I have at the new courses I am growing to love, too.
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