Camas Meadows
Local favorite inspires loyalty among staff
Perhaps not front and center in the minds of golf course developers is who will shepherd the fairways and reputation of a course for generations to come. On a rainy fall day at Camas Meadows Golf Club – a short drive east of Vancouver, Washington – this question is answered in the devoted employees and owners who have been there for years, even decades.
Nick Ross, the pro shop manager, has worked at Camas Meadows for 20 years, starting out as a “cart kid,” shortly after this full-amenity facility opened in 2000. Today, this father of three girls not only oversees the 80 new ProLink GPS Yamaha carts, but also a driving range, a well-inventoried pro shop and other duties attached to keeping this 18-hole course and numerous amenities rolling.
As Ross checks golfers in at the counter, an old friend shows up to play.
Ryan Yeh, now a software engineer living in New York, paid a visit to the course where he too, under the direction of Ross, once worked as a cart kid. Both men have witnessed major changes to the area since they played on the local high school golf team.
“The biggest is seeing the housing developments take over the open fields,” Ross said of the luxury homes lining the fairways dotted with towering cedars and evergreens.
Camas Meadows owner Matt Olson is a hands-on presence on the property, often working hand-in-hand with the staff in the day-to-day operations of the course and the Hickory Restaurant and Bar featuring seasonal and locally sourced foods.
“The menu changes with the seasons,” Ross said. “And the new porch renovations create ideal outdoor dining accommodations.”
Designed by Andy Raugust, this par 72, 6,518-yard course features ryegrass fairways and bentgrass greens. Winding through rolling terrain, the course itself is relatively flat. And walking it allows a player to slow down to enjoy an oasis of natural beauty only minutes from cosmopolitan centers.
Each hole is distinct and challenging in different ways. The par 3s offer lengths ranging from 100-200 yards. The front nine includes views of Mt. Hood. On the back nine, hole 10 has a narrow neck choking the green and is rightfully called The Gauntlet. Continuing on to hole 13 players cross a wetland over a bridge that was set down by a helicopter during the course’s construction. By the time golfers reach the double dogleg par-5 18th hole, flanked by a water hazard and bunkers, the clubhouse is a welcome site.
In addition to the 18-hole course, there is a driving range across the road from the clubhouse. During the summer season, 20 grass hitting stations are added to the 19 heated and covered mat hitting stations. There is a putting green next to the first tee.
The Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce notes that Camas Meadows has built a reputation for providing one of the best maintained and playable public golf courses in southwest Washington. It is also host to dozens of tournaments each year that support local nonprofit organizations. Men’s and women’s leagues, youth programs, lessons and special events round out the course’s offering to the general public and local community.
Open year-round, the 300-acre Camas Meadows Golf Club is a destination for challenging play in a friendly and supportive environment that makes players want to come back.