b'A quick nine on Oregons North CoastThree 9-holers not to miss BY CRAI S. BOWERi ts a gorgeous fall day on Oregons North Coast, and youre itching to play golf. But wait, youre on a family vacation or a romantic holiday, a time to put away your obsession and concentrate on Cannon Beach walks beside the sea stacks, cycling on Seasides Prom and the like. No worries.Its as though the courses at Manzanita, Seaside and Highlands were designed with you in mind. They play fast, theyre relatively cheap, and every level of golfer can enjoy them. Whats their secret? Nine holes. I recently traveled with my partner to Seaside to delve into 9-hole golf and, yes, beach walks and forest hikes. I encountered only two par 5s out of 27 holes, but these arent executive courses. I mostly hit my driver on the par 4s which, unscientifically, average about 240 yards. Nor does the trio of layouts present a series of ho-hum parallel fairways. No, what they lack in distance, they make up in FUNkiness. I woke early to get off first at Manzanita Links. A tight 2,129 yards from the tips, I drive my first ball directlyFinishing hole at the Highlands in Gearhart, Ore.Continued on page 28Walking through the dunes to the beach.26 PACIFIC NORTHWEST GOLFER|MAR 2025'