Pros:
Nice quiet out of the way setting, large trees make up the bulk of the obstacles.
some diversity of shot-making, some holes force shots left or right.
Discatcher baskets catch well.
Excellent beginners park, not daunting but still providing some serious challenge for new players.
Usually not too crowded.
Cons:
No elevation changes.
No real opportunity for more advanced players to air out big drives.
Very easy to score very low once you know the course.
Rubber tee pads don't work so well in the Portland area downpour.
Course gets very soggy in the winter.
Other Thoughts:
Champoeg is a very nice simple course, it's kept up fairly well for a course of its general difficulty making it a great beginner course, easy to navigate and challenging while not being daunting for a first time player. Experienced players will most likely find Champoeg exciting if played once or twice a year, resistance to scoring is very low. One nice aspect that makes this course more attractive to someone in Portland is its proximity to the two Newberg courses, Hoover and Ewing Young, playing the three makes a nice 36 hole day. For someone travelling through Portland I would reccomend skipping Champoeg in favor of other courses like Pier Park or Milo Mciver, but if you're living in Portland it's worth a day trip in the summer.