Golf in Cedar Mill

Tall nets surround Sunset Golf Center’s driving range, their forgiving springiness easing wayward balls back toward the range's lush green. Here, golfers launch balls from the center’s 50 practice stalls, more than half of which are sheltered from the elements. Artificial-grass mats carpet each stall with blades soft enough to mimic real fairways but short enough to avoid attracting artificial cows, and across the grounds, a stone Statue of Liberty oversees play atop the 18-hole miniature-golf course. From his post at the center, golf instructor Sandy Sutherland helps both juniors and adults to hone their links prowess.

The nine-hole golf course zigzags across former farmland and crosses McKay Creek twice, showcasing bucolic scenery and water hazards that come into play on numerous holes. Split evenly into par 3s, 4s, and 5s, the par 36 course stretches 2,761 yards and presents a gauntlet of greenside bunkers and hoarding tree boughs hoping to add golf balls to their collections of eggs. Prior to a round, players can conduct swing experiments by sending Nike range balls toward target greens on the driving range. Players take shots in one of 22 covered, heated stalls, and can continue bombardment under the cover of night thanks to the overhead lights that stay illuminated until 9 p.m.

Course at a Glance:

• 9-hole, par 36 course
• Total length of 2,761 yards from the back tees
• Course rating of 66 from the back tees
• Course slope of 111 from the back tees
• Two sets of tees per hole

Today's Groupon is valid for three 30-minute private lessons at Eastmoreland Golf Course. During the one-on-one lessons, Michael will help improve overall technique and swing mechanics. Learn the fundamentals on the range, in a bunker, on the putting green, or from a tee clenched in an enemy's teeth, just like in the movies. Each lesson is customized to address weaknesses and turn them into birdie-sinking strengths. Michael Charles can help refine the golf game of anyone, from bogeying beginners to full-time aces.

The XGolf simulator at BirdieFinish Golf virtually transports players to 93 golf courses worldwide, where they can play and practice while enjoying the comfort of the indoors. The apparatus faithfully re-creates playing conditions at the chosen course, even adjusting the hitting surface to mimic lie angles, and improves upon them by canceling out the possibility of rain, excessive heat, and pelicans that perpetually hum "Happy Birthday to You" in a mocking tone. When not whisking foursomes off to imitations of exotic international courses, the simulator can also be used for club fitting and lessons under the expert guidance of golf coach Jari Hakonen. Repair services are also available for clubs that refuse to play on anything other than tangible courses.

It’s fitting that Brian Nosler’s hobbies include both golf and fly fishing. Both sports require concentration, appreciation for the outdoors, and a fluid backstroke to hit a specific target. But when he’s not intentionally wading in streams, the 2009 Oregon PGA champion does his best to avoid water at all costs. During professional golf-instruction sessions, Nosler guides students with a simple approach to swing fundamentals, teaching both full-swing mechanics and short-game techniques—his personal specialty. In addition to helping students master the art of reading greens' dense instruction manuals, Nosler provides club-repair services and personal club-fitting sessions.

I & G Golf Range gives golfers ample space to address holes in their golf game and develop consistent, dependable swings at a driving range with flagstick targets marked with distances. Visitors collect their allotment of range balls and tee them up on one of the covered mat stalls or, when weather permits, on one of the grass tee stations. Sending golf balls into lower orbit or toward flagsticks scattered at various distances about the range helps players master distance control and understand why ships fly flags to hinder the aim of nervous cannoneers.