If there’s a city a city in the country with a better collection of city-owned courses than Portland, I haven’t heard of it. Even though this great city’s private clubs are steeped in history and something to behold, the city’s vibe exudes public golf and inclusion.
After spending our first few days playing the Portland’s best blue-blood establishments, we were ready for a taste of everything muni. Eastmoreland Golf Course is at the center of the urban, muni culture and we couldn’t have been happier than to have Max Reinland of Portland-based golf apparel and lifestyle company Muni Kids, join our group.
Referred to EasyMo by Portland’s muni hardcores, Eastmoreland Golf Course is as far away as you can get from the snooty country club culture that’s found only a few miles away in any direction.
We pulled into the parking lot and immediately noticed our rental car surrounded by decades old Honda Civics and work trucks from local contractors. As we made our way to the clubhouse, Max greeted us wearing a pair Jordan sneakers and a tank top that read “Always the Guest, Never the Member,” a guiding principle of the Muni Kids culture.
After we negotiated strokes and the game on the first tee, it quickly became clear that Max was at home on this course where hard pan stands in place of rough and the bunkers resemble bomb craters. Our writer and host for this trip had played this course many times before but he was still no match for Max.
Per our usual custom, we gathered around post-round beers and listened intently as Max spoke proudly of the muni culture and how some of the best players don’t learn the game on perfectly manicured fairways at country clubs. Instead, they tough it out on courses in less than perfect shape, with a cast of characters who like to play for money and aren’t afraid of talking a little trash.
Suffice it to say, EasyMo proved a welcome respite and is a must-play for a reasonable price when you’re in Portland.
