Emerald Valley Golf & Resort

As a resort layout, Emerald Valley is built to welcome a wide range of players — the kind of course where a family reunion weekend and a serious stroke-play outing can coexist on the same Saturday. The Willamette Valley's mild, wet winters and warm summers mean the grass stays lush for much of the year, though fall and spring rounds will often be played on softened, receptive turf.

Without firsthand course knowledge, what's clear is the setting itself is the draw: big sky, agricultural surroundings, and that distinctly Pacific Northwest quality of green that photographs can't quite capture honestly.