Central Oregon has a lot of quality golf. While the best Oregon golf is in Bandon, the plethora of solid to very good golf is worthy of spending a few days exploring.
Top Tier
Crosswater Club
Pronghorn - Nicklaus
Tetherow
People tend to like the Nicklaus course at Pronghorn the best. It's a very good design, challenging but not excessively difficult, and in excellent shape.
If you're into "golf architecture," try Tetherow. It's linksy and difficult, but interesting and a good test to see how much is too much design
Crosswater is a "championship design." It's what you might consider a "fair test" of golf, if you can hit the ball solidly in the air. It's a fairly wide course and has less slope in the greens but if you can't carry the ball consistently 100 to 150 yards in the air, either play the white tees or choose another course.
One added bonus of these courses is that the practice areas for these three courses are spectacular.
Second tier
Aspen Lakes
Black Butte - Big Meadow and Glaze Meadow
Brasada Canyons
Juniper
Tokatee (Midway between Bend and Eugene)
Brasada Canyons is a fun course that plays up and down near Powell Butte. Often described as a resort course, there are many decent holes but lacks the beguiling element seen in many great courses. The front nine provides a better golfing experience with fewer houses encroaching on the holes. In addition, by the middle of the second nine, the constant up and down nature of the course starts to become tiresome. Some may put this course in the top tier but in my opinion, the top three courses provide a better golfing experience, especially for the architectuarially minded golfer.
Tokatee is a fun Ted Robinson design. There are a few doglegs and a couple of oddly placed water hazards, but the course is surprisingly enjoyable.
Aspen Lakes is surprisingly tight and has some excessively long tee to green walks. However, there are no bad holes and is solid.
While I've played both Black Butte courses, my rounds at Big Meadow were before the redesign. Glaze Meadow has a surprising amount of elevation change while my memory of Big Meadow was a flatter golf course. While I don't remember any bad holes on either course, very few stood out but overall they were good golf courses. One concern is that my recent round at Glaze Meadow had some very tall, thick rough relatively close to the fairways and greens where you might be searching or lose balls on shots that might have been found on other golf courses.
Juniper is another playable course with a good mix of long and short, easy and difficult golf holes. Unlike many of the courses in the area, there is little out-of-bounds and short tee to green walks. There is some elevation change and interior undulation.
Third tier
Crooked River Ranch
Eagle Crest - Challenge
Eagle Crest - Resort
Eagle Crest - Ridge
Lost Tracks
Meadow Lakes
Quail Run
River's Edge
Sunriver - Meadows
Sunriver - Woodlands
Widgi Creek
Eagle Crest - Ridge, Lost Tracks, and Sunriver - Woodlands are similar golf courses set in slightly different settings. The courses have a lot of OB, are bordered by houses, and have doglegs that turn a bit shorter than you might expect. Lost Tracks has the signature hole with the island green and train car bridge, Woodlands has one funky hole that's maybe the one I've disliked the most in the area, and the Ridge is a bit bland and has fairways that end at odd distances. Woodlands is the best of this lot but you will pay more.
Meadow Lakes is a fun, compact golf course with little OB but has a bit too many water hazards on the outside of doglegs.
Quail Run is worth a play if you're looking for a solid golf course that's enjoyable. The greens are relatively bland, however, you're unlikely to complain unless the hole is located just below a ridge. Like many in the area, the course is tree lined with a few doglegs that turn a bit quickly. Also, there are limited forced carries and minimal out-of-bounds.
River's Edge front nine is a bit too quirky but is much more playable on the back. The signature 16th hole is probably the worst on the back nine.
Sunriver - Meadows is a difficult course, and can get a bit windy. Like other Fought designed courses I've played, although the holes are solid, the designs can get a bit repetitious and dull.
Widgi Creek is pretty tight and has a couple of greens that defy explanations. However, there are other holes that redeem the course.
If you're staying at Eagle Crest, you could play the Resort course. Otherwise I don't recommend going out of your way to play there.
Crooked River Ranch is a noticeable departure from pretty much every other course in the Bend area. One of, if not the oldest public courses, the course is under 6,000 yards from the back, has few hazards and isn't pretentious. Some of the holes can be a bit bland, and the back nine is more modern than the front (which feels like it's still in the 70s), but if you're looking for a relaxing, enjoyable round of golf with great views of the Crooked River, this is your course. A nice place to play if you're not expecting Championship golf.
Eagle Crest - Challenge Course is nice for a change of pace. I wouldn't recommend it as a lone round of golf but if you have limited time, there are some challenging approaches to TPC style greens. The course does lack variety and has lengthy walks.
In this tier, depending on what you're looking for, I'd recommend Meadow Lakes, Quail Run, and Widgi Creek as the most enjoyable and providing the best value.
Some ostensibly private golf courses that can be accessed via hotel accommodations include Bend Golf Club and the Fazio course at Pronghorn. Bend GC is a good golf course, essentially a classic country club feel in a high desert setting with small greens and some blind shots. They take pride in how well their greens roll and it shows. Overall it is probably near the top of the second tier, depending on whether you enjoy tree lined golf courses or more of an open feel, like Juniper.
The Fazio course at Pronghorn is a very nice, challenging, but not overly difficult golf course. Wider off the tee than the Nicklaus course, it provides a pleasant golfing experience, with the chance to make a few birdies if you are striking the ball well. While it is the nicest Fazio course I have played, I have not played many, including the most highly ranked courses. Also, there are a few holes or design features that Fazio has used elsewhere, including a double green on 17, and the Nicklaus course uses the lava in a more interesting way.
Awbrey Glen and Broken Top are two other private courses that you might consider playing if you have access and want to spend a bit of cash. Both are decent courses with a little bit of funkiness. While you might want to play both for the sake of completeness, Bend GC and Pronghorn - Fazio are better options if you want that private course experience. I'd place both Awbrey Glen and Broken Top in the 2nd tier of courses. The Fazio course at Pronghorn would slot in the first tier of Bend courses but also would maybe be #1 in highest greens fees as well. For an extra expense, take a caddy.
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