This course is interesting and challenging yet easy enough providing you are hitting your normal ball which you are able to play close to your handicap The first hole reminds you more of a links style design with the hole being very open Starting with the second hole you will find the remains of a Filbert orchard along the sides of the fairways which will come into play if you hook or slice your ball On the back nine you will find more of the open or link style designed holes The front nine has three par 3 s and three par 5 s with a total par for the course of 72 Some of the fairways are quite narrow and the greens vary in size There is some change of elevation on the course such as hole 7 where a downhill tee shot is needed and then an uphill approach shot There is water in play on several holes and several environmental sensitive or marsh areas which you will find on the sides of the fairways or which become part of the design of the hole requiring you to cross them on your way to the green A good example of this is hole 14 which is one of their signature holes This hole a 500 yard par 5 has a dogleg left fairway that calls for an approach shot over one of the environmental areas to an elevated green There are two more signature type holes 4 and 17 Hole 4 a 491 yard par 5 starts off with water on the right and the tee shot is straight ahead towards a fluffy light green tree You have a lot more room to the tree than it appears at least 250 yards From there your second shot is uphill over a creek towards the 150 yard marker Straight shots on this hole are important for there are trees on the left and a lateral hazard area on the right Hole 17 a 149 yard par 3 plays downhill to a long but narrow green with three large sand bunkers in the back and a large deep St Andrews type crater in the front right The most difficult hole is 12 a 413 yard par 4 requiring a tee shot to a fairway protected by ponds on the right and left then an approach shot to a well bunkered green The front nine was opened in 1994 and the back nine opened in April 1996 Bill Robinson designed both nines with some of the original design concept being by Bob Cupp Golf Digest selected this course 9th in the category of Best New Affordable Courses for 1996 Silver Creek Falls on Mount Angel is approximately ten miles from Woodburn The 6,010 yard men s tee also has a ladies course rating of 74.5 and a slope of 133