ABOUT US
You won’t believe the “NEW” Gearhart Golf Links! We have restored the 126 year old Gem to its true Links identify by removing select trees and expanding the view corridors. The putting greens are firm and fast, and the now open sight lines to the surrounding mountains are spectacular.
In 1891, before any formal golf course existed west of the Mississippi River, a clatch of homesick Scotsmen confounded the locals by burying tin cans into the dunes and then knocking balls with sticks until they dropped into the cans. For these Scots, the landscape at Gearhart was strongly reminiscent of the native, ancient courses of St. Andrews and Montrose.
Gearhart Golf Links is a public resort course with 18 holes of spectacular, links-style golf located in the town of Gearhart on the beautiful North Oregon Coast. Memberships are also available, and we are open for play 365 days a year. We are even open for “Free Golf” on Christmas Day, with a donation of canned goods for our local food bank. We welcome all golfers, of all skill levels, for a golf experience you won’t soon forget!
COURSE VIDEO
Welcome to Gearhart Golf LinKS
COURSE HISTORY
The Sittin’ Seagulls – a silly little bit of history at Gearhart Golf Links.
The Sittin’ Seagulls Tournaments (1959-68) stand as the most unorthodox golf events held at Gearhart. It wasn’t really even about golf — it was about people coming together, having fun, doing silly (even surreal) things on and around the golf course. Each year, a different theme was selected and participants dressed accordingly: Hawaiian, pirate, kilt-wearing Scots, Spanish bullfighters, etc. Parties erupted in the Sand Trap and across the street at the grand, old Hotel Gearhart. Golf was played, sometimes of a high quality, more often a laughable one, prompted by trick holes, dummy flags and a refreshment-cart-toting mule named Egad! This festival of life, food, drink and golf was a huge hit…..and has been re-Established and is now part of our full Tournament Schedule!
UPCOMING EVENTS
The following are tournaments that may affect your tee times at Gearhart Golf Links. We always encourage you to call the Pro Shop, as tournament times, and the number of participants, can change quicker than we can update this list:
January 27th – The True Oregonian
COURSE LAYOUT
What can we expect at the first tee, Jason?
“The first hole is a welcoming start. A solid tee shot avoiding 4 fairway bunkers will leave you a short iron to an open fronted green.”
What is the best par-5 on the course?
“Number 18 is a great finishing hole and very fun to play — crazy long at 640 yards, it’s a winding, uphill hole with the beautiful Kelly House as the backdrop.”
What is the best par-3 on the course?
“Number 11 can stretch back to 262 yards, with an ominous complex of bunkers guarding the green on the right; 3 is a great score.”
What is the toughest hole on the golf course?
“Number 18 gets a lot of attention, but #5 is the toughest hole under 400 yards due to a perfectly-placed water hazard and twisting fairway. “Number 12 is the toughest par-4 over 400 yards for it’s tee shot out of a chute and well guarded, elevated green.”
Club Cultures:
Gearhart Golf Links is a 4-hour golf course. You will be asked to keep pace with the group in front of you, and allow faster groups to play through at the earliest opportunity. All alcoholic beverages must be purchased from The Sand Trap or Pot Bunker bars. (OLCC Law)
Most of all, have fun!
Does Gearhart Golf Links sound like the kind of course you’d like to be a member of? We’d sure like to have you! For membership information, click here or give us a call at (503) 738-3538.
THE OLDEST COURSE IN THE WEST
MCMENAMINS SAND TRAP
AND POT BUNKER PUBS
SCORECARD
RESTORATION 2013-2015
You won’t believe the “new” Gearhart Golf Links!
When Gearhart Golf Links first opened, there were no trees on the course at all. It resembled the treeless, gorse and heather-lined links courses of Scotland. Recently we’ve completed a program to restore GGL’s true links character and identity by removing the majority of the interior trees. The result is incredible. The Shore Pines on the course (90% of the trees), were planted after the Depression as a work relief program. This species has a 50 to 60 year life span. Now in their 7th decade, Gearhart’s trees were dead or dying. With each passing storm, we would lose limbs or entire trees, so in the interest of safety, we were happy to remove the trees. What we’ve been delighted to discover is how normal and natural Gearhart GL looks in its restored state.
The natural rolling dunescape is no longer disguised by trees marching in formation down the edges of the fairways. The views from the tees now take in not simply a single hole but the panorama of the golf course. Removing the trees has made the course seem larger. Without trees determining the playing corridors, players now have options off the tee, the prospect of finding different angles for approach shots, and a chance to use both ground and aerial tactics around the greens….the true essence of Links Golf. We are very excited! The fairway and collection area mow lines have been adjusted, as they are no longer bound by cart paths or trees.
As is the case with other golf courses that have taken on tree removal programs, the turf grass quality will improve from greater airflow and sun exposure, as well as from the removal of larger tree root systems. Areas that will need resurfacing will be seeded with Fescue, which will provide firm, fast surfaces. Most of all, the playing experience will go from that of a pretty little Parkland Course, to a fast, unique, interesting, and really fun Links Golf Course!
Special thanks the Keith Keranen Excavating for the terrific and efficient work with this extra large project! (pictured are Keith Keranan on the left, and former GGL Assistant Superintendent Jack Brock on the right)
DESIGN CONSULTANT – JOHN STRAWN

GEARHART GOLF LINKS & CARNE GOLF LINKS
NOTABLE ARTICLES
We have been fortunate to have some nice articles written about the Links over the last few years. Here are a few of our favorites:
Golf Digest Article: Click here
LINKS Magazine Article – Top 10 Courses you Can Play: Click here
Oregon Lifestyle and Home Article: Click here
Great Northwest Wine Article: Click here
Bellingham Golfer Article: Click here
LINKS Magazine Article 2018 – Polishing a Gem: Click here
Copyright
© 2017 Gearhart Golf Links All Rights Reserved.
Photography Thanks to
DonFrankPhotography.com
Contact Us
503-738-3538
1157 N. Marion Ave
Gearhart, OR 97138