Eugene, Oregon: College Football Golf Guide

In a new weekly series, we'll profile a college football town with tips on where to play golf, eat and drink.

The Utah Utes, undefeated champions of the 2009 Allstate Sugar Bowl and current holder of the nation's longest winning streak, bring their attack offense into Eugene this week to face the Oregon Ducks, whose 2009 season has been a mixed bag so far, to put it mildly. If you're in the area, bring your clubs and your appetite because football isn't all the area has to offer.

Play

If you're on a budget or pressed for time, check out Laurelwood Golf Course (541-484-4653, golflaurelwood.com; $25-$37.50), a rolling, wooded nine-holer that dates to 1929. Outsiders pay $15 to walk nine holes, $25 to walk 18.

The next step up is Emerald Valley (541-895-2174, emeraldvalleygolf.com; $40-$64) a 1964 Bob Baldock creation 10 miles south of Eugene that offers plenty of opportunities to flex your muscles in its 6,873-yard journey next to the Willamette River. A recent renovation by Dan Hixson improved things considerably.

If you're more ambitious, try Tokatee (541-822-3220, tokatee.com; $42-$57) in McKenzie Bridge, a scenic 47-mile drive up the McKenzie Highway east of Eugene. A favorite of former Duck star Peter Jacobsen, Tokatee is a heavily treed, 6,806-yard, par-72, 1966 Ted Robinson design that boasts breathtaking views of the Three Sisters Mountains and Wilderness Area. It's very walkable if you'd like to stretch the legs.

Bandon Dunes is a bit too far for a day journey, but the next best thing is Sandpines (541-997-1940, sandpines.com; $69-$105) in Florence, a 1993 Rees Jones design that sits 60 miles west of Eugene on the coast. The burly layout maxes out at 7,190 yards as it winds through a plethora of mounds, lakes, pines and coastal dunes.

Eat

Start with breakfast at the Glenwood on Alder Street (541-687-0355, glenwoodrestaurants.com), a throwback campus haunt that dishes out huge portions, great eggs Benedict and whole wheat waffles.

A remarkable fish and chips lunch can be had at Newman's Fish Market on Willamette Street (541-344-2371, newmansfish.com). For barbecue, slather on the sauce at Papa's Soul Food Kitchen, which recently moved to Eugene's eclectic Whiteaker neighborhood.