Central Oregon Golf – Unparalleled Variety

Introduction

Most golf destinations are closely tied to a particular style of golf.  Head to Arizona, and you’re going to play desert golf.  Scotland is famous for its links.  But if you’re looking for a golf destination that can deliver unparalleled variety, head to central Oregon.  It has every flavor of golf you could ask for and much more.

Bold & Daunting

My trip started with one of the most polarizing courses in the area – and maybe the country – Tetherow Golf Club.  Players that love it – like me – would describe it with words like big, bold, audacious, wild, and unapologetic.  The haters might use the word sadistic.  Objectively, the course is wide off the tee, firm and fast, with massive, undulating greens.  Whether you love it or not, it’s a clear one-of-one and a must play.

Full review of Tetherow Golf Club HERE

Tranquil & Meditative

Our next round, played at Black Butte Ranch’s Glaze Meadow course, showed Central Oregon’s range.  This course is a perfect match for its serene surroundings, offering a mix of challenge and scoring opportunities at a gentle pace.  This is resort golf in the best way – beautiful, straightforward, and welcoming.

Full review of Black Butte Ranch Glaze Meadow HERE

Strategic & Testing

The Jack Nicklaus Course at Pronghorn looks like nothing I’ve ever seen before.  The mix of high desert and juniper forest seems like something out of a sci-fi novel.  But you can’t be distracted by the unique beauty because this course requires precision off the tee and into the green.

Full review of Pronghorn’s Jack Nicklaus Course HERE

A Beautiful Beast

Our trip ended at Crosswater Golf Club, one of the most inarguably beautiful courses I’ve ever visited.  The combination of the Deschutes River and Cascade Mountains form postcard views on nearly every hole.  The course has a litany of college and pro championships under its belt, and its not hard to see why.  From tee to green, the level of variety will keep all types of players on their toes.

Full review of Crosswater Golf Club HERE

Drink It Off

There is a lot of great craft beer across America, but the scene in Bend is hard to top.  With 30 different independent breweries, you can drink something – and someplace – different every night of the month.  Many beer aficionados are familiar with Deschutes Brewery and their excellent IPAs.  If you want some eye candy to go with your beer, check out Crux Fermentation Project which is famous for its sunset views.

Central Oregon has plenty to offer if you prefer other spirits, too.  Wine lovers know that Oregon is loaded with wineries, so you can find plenty to taste.  There are also local distilleries for people that lean toward the harder stuff.  If you want that liquor crafted into a world-class cocktail, the new Hawkeye & Huckleberry Lounge is where you need to go.

Eat

Speaking of the Hawkeye & Huckleberry Lounge, this new restaurant by chef Brian Malarkey was the site of the best meal I’ve had in recent memory.  The term “farm-to-table” is fairly common these days, but Hawkeye & Huckleberry is ranch-to-plate, raising their own beef and chickens on Malarkey’s ranch.  They also grow much of their own produce and source the rest locally.  These incredibly fresh ingredients are put into creative dishes and served in a warm, comfortable setting that also has the capacity to host live music.

To get your day started, the breakfast sandwich at The Row at Tetherow is hard to top.  If you wake at a more leisurely pace, you can find plenty of brunch options in Bend.

Beyond Golf

While the amount and quality of golf is mind boggling, Central Oregon has so much to offer beyond the course.  If you enjoy spending time outdoors, you will love it here.  Hiking, camping, mountain biking, and skiing are all major parts of the culture in this area.  The Deschutes River adds another layer of options: canoeing, surfing, kayaking, and tubing are all available.

While my itinerary was golf-centric, I did get the opportunity to walk the Deschutes River Trail through Bend.  It was a fantastic way to start the day, observing the wildlife and the mix of solitude and community with the other people enjoying the trail.

Conclusion

Many golfers think of Bandon Dunes when they hear the word, “Oregon.”  There’s no shame in it: I was in that group for a long time, and no Oregonian that I met had a bad word to say about Bandon.  But there’s much, much more for the passionate golfer to find in Oregon, and, regardless of your taste in courses, you can find it near Bend.

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Matt Saternus

Editor In Chief at Plugged In Golf

Matt has worked in nearly every job in the golf industry from club fitting to instruction to writing and speaking.

He founded Plugged In Golf in 2013 with the goal of helping all golfers play better and enjoy the game more.

Matt lives in the northwest suburbs of Chicago with his wife and two daughters.

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