Golf courses are disappearing in Clark County.
Green Mountain Golf Course closed in 2015 to make room for a housing development.
The same fate greeted The Cedars on Salmon Creek in 2021.
It has left many high school golf teams to scramble to find places to play.
And that’s why Michael Minnis considers himself lucky.
The Washougal High School golf program has had a longstanding partnership with Orchard Hills Golf and Country Club that dates back more than 70 years, giving the Panthers a home course and practice facility that most prep teams don’t enjoy.
“I think for years I feel like it’s been overlooked,” Minnis said. “But in the last few years, we’ve really taken advantage of it. And we really want to honor the membership and thank them for their generosity for having us out here.”
This fall, Washougal’s boys team will host three 2A Greater St. Helens League matches at Orchard Hills as well as an 18-hole tournament in October.
The other days of the week, the Panthers make use of the practice facilities at Orchard Hills, which is located just down the street from Washougal High School.
“We have a great opportunity,” senior Trenton Maddox said. “I know a lot of the schools that have played matches here play at some courses where they don’t have as much practice options as we do. So the ability to just walk down here after class and hit some balls … is pretty awesome.”
The Washougal boys program has been able to use Orchard Hills to build a successful program. The Panthers have been the 2A state team runner-up each of the past two seasons. Maddox tied for second in the individual standings last spring with teammate Mason Acker.
“We understand that it is a leg up to have this practice facility,” Minnis said. “We’re not having to battle other schools for tee times. And the support of the pro staff has been amazing. I don’t know if we would be where we are right now if it wasn’t for their support.”
And that support goes beyond just having a place to practice and play, Minnis said.
“A lot of the players and membership that are around, they see our guys,” Minnis said. “They’re always wanting to take them around the course and show them the ropes. And our players improve pretty quickly.”
Orchard Hills also offers an affordable junior program to get players started early. Minnis said this year’s team includes a couple of freshmen who are already making an impact on the varsity squad.
And he mentioned there are more middle school players coming up.
Last year, Minnis wanted to celebrate the team’s relationship with its home course by asking course superintendent Shane Hadwick if it would be OK if the team put in pin flags and tee markers with the Washougal High “W” on them.
“He was all for it,” Minnis said. “He was like ‘Absolutely. The only thing is you put them up and you take them down.’ … It takes a little bit extra effort, but our team moms are amazing. They put all of these up. Last year, I did it. But this year, they volunteered to do it.
“And then after we’re done, we’ll run out there and take them down and put the other ones back out.”
And while other golf programs struggle to fill out their rosters, Minnis has had to limit the size of his roster.
“We’ve had a great showing the last few years,” he said. “We did make some cuts this year to 18. And a lot of that was due to making sure we’re honoring our relationship with the club and not overrunning their practice facilities and making room for their folks to practice.”
And while his home course is Royal Oaks Country Club, Maddox appreciates what the Panthers have in their home at Orchard Hills.
“This course is definitely beautiful,” Maddox said. “It’s definitely one of the top ones that we play at in the district. And I’m very happy that we have this opportunity.”
