The bright spotlight caused by the magnificent cluster of courses in Bandon not only casts shadows over other layouts in the USA but truly impacts the roster of quality layouts found in the Beaver State.

Case in point -- Oregon Golf Club.

I have played the course on a few occasions over the years -- often on my way to Bandon. The comments provided by Jack are quite accurate,

The main downside for Oregon GC is how the routing is used for such a hilly piece of terrain. A good example being the awkward nature of the 1st hole. Climbing upwards for each of it 500+ yards the hole is an unrelenting slog for most players. The good news is that such a hole is gotten out of the way from the get-go.

The rest of the outward side then provided a quality mixture of holes. As Jack rightly pointed out the nature of the terrain makes for ongoing changing lies. The only assured level areas is the teeing grounds. After that it's more than likely you will encounter the full gambit of outcomes and players need to be prepared to make adjustments constantly given that assured reality.

The key to scoring rests on being able to place one's tee shots in the prime area for one's approach play. Being out of position only adds to the pressure in being able to find the lowest possible score.

Jack mentioned the qualities of the final three holes on the front -- most notably with the approach at the demanding 9th. They are all fun to play and worthy challenges.

The inward side starts with a daring drive option at the dog-leg right 10th. The rest of the nine has towering pines serving as one's fairway border -- fortunately -- these pines are not placed in a suffocating manner as one finds at Sahalee.

Shaping tee shots is a mandatory skillset one must have on holes 14-16.

The closing hole at 449 yards is a rigorous test. One drives over a barranca and then the approach is played to an elevated target that mandates proper club selection. A pesky creek awaits any hapless plays to the left. For some the climb to the green may be a most demanding chore.

When a course is located on a difficult site it's more than likely you will get a few holes that are off putting. Oregon GC has a few of these but they constitute a minor deviation from the bulk of the other holes which are very good. Abruptly hilly sites face hard choices for any architect to ponder and often many architects will pass on doing work on them for that reason.

Jack's comments on turf quality is spot on. To my amazement when I have mentioned Oregon GC to people who have been to the State on more than a few occasions -- usually in their quest to get to Bandon -- they usually never mention Oregon GC. That' too bad. No question the caliber of courses in Oregon is far deeper than it was prior to the emergence of Bandon. Oregon GC is worth checking out if the opportunity arises. Not everything there resonates at a supreme high level but there's certainly enough present to savor.