Golfers of all skill levels have plenty of options

For more information on life in Clark County, visit www.columbian.com/portrait.

Beacon Rock, North Bonneville, 800-428-5730, http://beaconrockgolf.com, Milepost 37 on state Highway 14.

Camas Meadows, Camas, 360-833-2000, http://camasmeadows.com, 4105 N.W. Camas Meadows Drive.

Carson Hot Springs, Carson, 509-427-5150, http://carsonhotspringsresort.com, 1 Saint Martin Road.

Fairway Village, Vancouver, 360-254-9325, http://ourfairwayvillage.org, 15509 S.E. Fernwood Drive.

Green Mountain, Vancouver, 360-833-8463, http://golfgreenmountain.com, 2817 N.E. Ingle Road.

Husum Hills, Husum, 509-493-1211, 820 Highway 14.

Lewis River, Woodland, 360-225-8254, http://lewisrivergolf.com, 3209 Lewis River Road.

Skamania Lodge, Stevenson, 509-427-2540, http://skamania.com, 1131 Skamania Lodge Way.

The Cedars on Salmon Creek, Brush Prairie, 360-687-4233, http://golfcedars.com, 15001 N.E. 181st St.

Tri-Mountain, Ridgefield, 360-887-3004, http://trimountaingolf.com, 170 N.E. 199th St.

Private courses

Club Green Meadows, Vancouver, 360-256-1510, http://clubgreenmeadows.com, 7703 N.E. 72nd Ave.

Orchard Hills Country Club, Washougal, 360-835-5889, http://ohgcc.com, 605 39th St.

Royal Oaks Country Club, Vancouver, 360-256-1350, http://royaloaks.net, 8917 N.E. Fourth Plain Blvd.

Par-3 golf courses

Hartwood Golf Course, Brush Prairie, 360-896-6041, 12506 N.E. 152nd. Ave.

Lakeview Par-3 Golf Challenge, Vancouver, 360-693-9116, 2425 N.W. 69th St.

Pine Crest Golf Course, Vancouver, 360-573-2051, http://www.pinecrestgc.net, 2415 N.W. 143rd St.

Fore!

No need to look up for an errant golf ball on the way to your vicinity.

Instead, that Fore! was just to remind you that golf season is right around the corner.

And it is never too early to think about golf.

Sure, in the winter in the Northwest, only the hard-core golfers trek to the courses. They are prepared with their clubs, towels, umbrellas, and rain gear.

But for a lot of us, the courses in Southwest Washington are best enjoyed in the spring, summer, and fall. Fortunately for us, all that rain in the winter makes our courses look great when it is time to play.

Don’t believe us? Check out what the websites have to say about their courses.

Camas Meadows Golf Club describes itself as “naturally placed adjacent to Lacamas Lake amid preserved wetlands and the beautiful towering evergreens of Southwest Washington.”

Just a little way up the road from Camas Meadows is Green Mountain Golf Course. It’s site challenges golfers to “Conquer The Mountain.” The course also is “consistently exceeding expectations.”

The region’s golf courses, depending on where you go, are challenging and engaging.

While the PGA Tour might not stop in Clark County, there is at least one course that attracts some of the finest amateur players in the country. The Royal Oaks Invitational is a must-play event for several college players every summer.

Skamania Lodge in Stevenson attracts tourists from all over, as well, many who bring their clubs.

It is easy to see why. Skamania’s website says golfers will find “breath-taking and tranquil views” on a “challenging course tucked into the resort’s 175 wooded acres.” That’s a lot of woods, by the way, so if you are a little wild with your tee shots, you might want to bring an extra sleeve of balls.

There are 10 public courses in the region, three private, and three par-3 courses easily accessible. In other words, the region offers opportunities for the skilled players, the average players, and the beginners.

Many of the courses also provide a community service by allowing golfers associated with high school teams the opportunity to play and practice at a discounted rate.

The courses are also always changing. Lewis River in Woodland provides a history of the course on its website, detailing the improvements made since the course opened in 1967.

The course’s philosophy, according to the site, is one of “continuous investment” to keep the Lewis River experience “fresh for years to come.”

The Cedars on Salmon Creek has made several changes, too, and not just its name. The course in Brush Prairie invites golfers to escape the city’s hustle and enjoy a serene setting.

At Tri-Mountain Golf Course in Ridgefield golfers now encounter 11 lakes and 64 sand bunkers, according to its site, and “offers a picturesque vista and unmatched natural beauty.”

On the private side of golf courses, Club Green Meadows in Vancouver offers a quality course. That is a big draw, but so, too, is its athletic club that features basketball, swimming, bowling, tennis, and other sports and activities.

Royal Oaks has “consistently been ranked” among the top five of courses in the state, and the top 100 in the country by Golf Digest Magazine, according to its site.

While most courses in the region stay open all year, some do close. Plus, during the busy season, courses often host tournaments. It is always advised to call the pro shop to reserve a tee time prior to heading out to the course.Clark County area golf courses