Highlands Golf Club

Gearhart sits at the northern tip of Oregon's coast, a quiet town that predates the resort crowds of Seaside just to its south and carries the unhurried character of a place that has never needed to try too hard. The Pacific sets the mood here — marine layer, salt air, shifting winds off the dunes — and golf along this stretch of the coast has a low-key authenticity that the bigger destination towns have largely lost.

A par 62 tells you something important before you ever arrive: Highlands is a shorter, executive-style layout built for enjoyment over ordeal. Courses like this reward shot-making and scoring instincts rather than raw power, and the relaxed format makes them genuinely welcoming for mixed groups, beginners finding their footing, or experienced players who want a quick, fun round without a full day's commitment.

The Oregon coast's natural landscape — wind-sculpted terrain, coastal grasses, the ever-present sense of the ocean nearby — gives even a modest layout real atmosphere. Highlands offers a way into that setting at an approachable level.