King City Golf Course, King City
Drive from downtown Portland: 25 minutes

This short course—mostly par 3s, a few par 4s, and one par 5—lies in the backyard of a senior-living community and is relatively flat, giving hackers cause for concern if the ball travels through a window. Rental clubs are available, but save the woods for another course. From $14

Eastmoreland Golf Course, Portland
Drive from downtown Portland: 15 minutes

A fixture of the Portland golf scene since 1918 and minutes from downtown, Eastmoreland is home to long par 4 holes, groves of large firs and sequoias, and the occasional Canada goose waddling across the green. The front nine is replete with tree-lined doglegs, so feel free to take a mulligan or two. From $19

Claremont Golf Club, Portland 
Drive from downtown Portland: 20 minutes

Claremont Golf Club in Southwest Portland promises a laid-back nine-hole experience. Although bordered by houses, the fairways are expansive and have only a few bodies of water scattered about, making it a good option for those without the Tiger Woods gene. From $19

RedTail Golf Center, Beaverton
Drive from downtown Portland: 20 minutes

RedTail’s beauty hides its difficulty. The lush course’s rolling hills, steep sides, and deep bunkers make the front nine notoriously challenging. Your best option: take the whole afternoon off to work out the kinks in your game at RedTail’s double-decker driving range and chipping green. From $22

Eagle Landing, Happy Valley
Drive from downtown Portland: 25 minutes

Nested on a lavish 25 acres, Eagle Landing offers an idyllic spot to work on your short game with 27 par-3 holes—an 18-hole course and a separate nine-hole side, the longest of which reaches just 90 yards. And the 36-hole miniature golf course (don’t expect any gaudy clowns; it’s as refined as the regular course) inspires work on your really short game. From $10