Central Oregon Golf

[mallrat]

> @spud3 said:

> Sad to hear about Juniper. I haven't played there for a few years, but it was a solid part of our rota when we were doing the Central Oregon annual trip.

 

 

It was still a fun course and not horrible but not what it was.

[Matt J]

> @mallrat said:

> Between Widgi and Aspen is a difficult choice but depends on what you’re looking for. Aspen is a MUCH stiffer test of golf but Widgi is a more relaxed and possibly more fun round of golf. If you are heading back to the valley I would do Aspen. The only downfall to Aspen, IMO, is I play with my old back up wedges because those crushed lava rock sand traps will chew them up.

 

Last I played Aspen, May of last year maybe? The condition was pretty rough. I've always heard Widgi is in pretty good shape. Haven't played it yet, but hope to next Bend trip.

[mallrat]

I haven’t played Aspen for a couple years but I can see the conditions going downhill. I believe the course is up for sale and has already gone through 2 or 3 bankruptcies.

[jigglelow]

 

My vote would be for Aspen Lakes. They’re both pretty good courses. Widgi’s greens roll truer but they are slow. Aspen Lakes has a much better layout and feels like a more unique experience whereas Widgi feels more like an everyday type of public course experience. Widgi also has the potential to have pace of play issues, even on weekdays. On the other hand, it is less expensive than Aspen Lakes and you know won’t have bad conditions there.

 

> @puttnforthe8 said:

> Like the site....Will be there in July and need to decide btw. Widgi or Aspen Lakes for the final course?

 

 

[haakzilla]

...and remember, if you're playing Aspen Lakes in the morning then be sure to prepare for wet shoe conditions (they always seem to be "wetter" than most courses -- especially in the AM rounds -- which is surprising for the relatively "dry" climate for the area)

 

 

[mallrat]

Played Tetherow today. Not in the best shape but greens were smooth but slow. Forget how much that course frustrates me. I have never had a good bounce or break there.

[haakzilla]

Played Widgi Creek a couple days ago -- overall decent condition (only some snow mold patches in the fairways) but the greens were slow and inconsistent still since they did micro aeration about a week ago -- we did luck out and get in a twilight round in 3.5 hours so that was nice!

[Manbearpig13]

Just returned from a 5 day golf trip to Bend, and I can't say enough good things about it as a golf destination. We played Crosswater x2, Tetherow, Pronghorn x2, and Juniper, and really enjoyed the variety that these courses provide. I always love it when you can visit the same area and get totally different course layouts and playing conditions.

 

Crosswater is a beautiful layout that I really loved. Some of the tee shots there are stunning and intimidating all at the same time, and I really love the incorporation of all the wetlands and rivers that zig-zag through the property. Course conditions were exceptional given the early season; greens were running great.

 

Everything I have read regarding Tetherow I agree with. There are aspects of the course that I love and parts of it I hate. Off the tee, the course has few peers, and I think it is very unique and fun, especially compared to other courses in the area. In that sense, I think it was my favorite. The greens are a different story; some of them just don't make sense. Some of them only seem to have about 2-3 usable pin positions, yet the greens crew appear to try and place them in some pretty extreme locations. All that being said, definitely enjoyed the round there and will return on future visits.

 

Pronghorn is easily one of the best conditioned courses I've ever played, as the fairways felt like carpet. I think we were one of the only people on the course that so we decided to play 36 since we got around the first time so quick. 5 and 6 are par 4s, especially from the tips, and the stretch of 12-16 I found to be off the charts. Probably my overall favorite from the trip, and next time I will try to get on the Fazio course to experience that.

 

Juniper was a fun muni, and probably the track I would play the most if I were a Bend resident. The value given the $50 price tag I think is exceptional. Not really any "wow" holes but no boring stretches either IMO. Read some comments about course conditions dipping in recent years, and while I have no frame of reference having never played it prior, I found them to be fine. Greens were rolling nicely and didn't really have any issues with weird or patchy lies in the fairways or rough.

 

Overall, I really like Bend and will definitely be back on future golf trips! Weather was sunny everyday, and while the wind was blowing pretty hard at times, was still quite pleasant.

[R4haehl]

Heading to Bend this weekend. I have played Tetherow, both Pronghorn courses & Lost Tracks before. Neither Tetherow or Pronghorn are in the cards this trip. Currently have Widgi Creek booked for Friday afternoon and Aspen Lakes booked for Saturday morning.

 

I'd love to hear about current course conditions or other recommendations if we should look elsewhere. Thanks in advance!

[haakzilla]

> @R4haehl said:

> Heading to Bend this weekend. I have played Tetherow, both Pronghorn courses & Lost Tracks before. Neither Tetherow or Pronghorn are in the cards this trip. Currently have Widgi Creek booked for Friday afternoon and Aspen Lakes booked for Saturday morning.

>

> I'd love to hear about current course conditions or other recommendations if we should look elsewhere. Thanks in advance!

 

Had the pleasure of playing Crosswater this past weekend and it was outstanding. I have yet to play as much this season due to birth of my first born (July 2nd), but I always enjoy the following in no particular order:

* [Juniper](https://centraloregon.golf/listings/juniper-golf-course/ "Juniper") (was in great shape as of June 24th)

* [Quail Run](https://centraloregon.golf/listings/quail-run-golf-course/ "Quali Run")

* [Crooked River Ranch](https://centraloregon.golf/listings/crooked-river-ranch-golf-course/ "Crooked River Ranch")

* [Eagle Crest Challenge Course](https://centraloregon.golf/listings/eagle-crest-resort-challenge-golf-course/ "Eagle Crest Challenge Course") (Executive Layout)

* [Greens at Redmond](https://centraloregon.golf/listings/the-greens-at-redmond/ "Greens at Redmond (Executive Layout)") (Executive Layout - was in good shape as of June 13th)

[R4haehl]

Thank you for the reply @haakzilla - Congrats on your first born! Also, I definitely referenced your site when figuring out where to play.

[haakzilla]

> @R4haehl said:

> Thank you for the reply @haakzilla - Congrats on your first born! Also, I definitely referenced your site when figuring out where to play.

 

Nice, thank you thank you!! Will be pushing to get more and more on-course reviews going as I am able to redirect my focus back to my side projects.

[jigglelow]

 

> @R4haehl said:

> Heading to Bend this weekend. I have played Tetherow, both Pronghorn courses & Lost Tracks before. Neither Tetherow or Pronghorn are in the cards this trip. Currently have Widgi Creek booked for Friday afternoon and Aspen Lakes booked for Saturday morning.

>

> I'd love to hear about current course conditions or other recommendations if we should look elsewhere. Thanks in advance!

 

I’ve played Widgi and Aspen Lakes this year, both about a month or so ago. Aspen was in good condition, but the greens were much slower than their usual speed. Widgi was in terrible shape. Maybe it’s improved since then but I think the snowy winter was pretty rough on that course. Let me know how it is... I’m an Eagle Crest member but I like to play a few rounds a year at Widgi as it’s so close to my house.

 

Other course recommendations: Quail run and Meadow Lakes. Juniper is good. All of the resort courses are decent to good- Eagle Crest (avoid the exec course there though and the value just isn’t there for a single round IMO), sunriver, black butte.

[mallrat]

I think Quail Run is kind of a hidden gem. It’s cheap and a very fun layout. The new super last year did a great job. Before I moved back to Portland, word was that Widgi got hammered by that late snow and really hurt the course.

 

Not sure what it is but I can’t get into Aspen Lakes. Maybe because I played it a couple times the 1st 2 years it opened and have seen it steadily go downhill. I love Juniper and good to hear the condition is getting better.

[R4haehl]

Back from the quick weekend in Bend. Widgi Creek on Friday afternoon was fun, although a slow round. I can't get too mad at that because it was a Friday afternoon. I think we walked off 18 after 5.5hrs - brutal. I enjoyed the course and thought it was in good shape. Greens rolled great.

 

Saturday morning we played Aspen Lakes and got off early and were done in about 3hrs. The red sand/lava rock bunkers are super cool looking and memorable, as are some of the mountain views. Thankfully I managed to stay out of all of them. I enjoyed the variance of length across all of the holes. Course was in good condition overall. Greens were fine, slower than Widgi but I attribute some of that to morning dew.

 

Fun to see some other public options in the area and definitely more to play next time I am in town!!!

 

[Reidman]

I'll be in Bend Sep 1-6. Will Tetherow accept a single visitor without staying at the resort?

[haakzilla]

> @Reidman said:

> I'll be in Bend Sep 1-6. Will Tetherow accept a single visitor without staying at the resort?

 

...should be good, here is a link for their tee time booking policy https://tetherow.com/golf/rates-times-reservations/

[DPort]

I played Quail Run on Saturday as part of a bachelor party and was really impressed. The greens and fairways were in excellent shape.

 

There were 10 of us, so we played a mini scramble in three groups. When we got in, two groups were tied. My buddy walked up to the manager who was working on the back porch steps and explained the situation. "Hey sir, we're playing a little scramble for a bachelor party and two teams are tied for the lead." Before we could go any further he perked up and said, "Well it sounds like you guys need to get back out on #1 and settle this!"

 

It topped off an awesome day of golf.

[mallrat]

IMO, Quail is a hidden gem. They got a new super last year and he looks to be doing an amazing job. Fun layout and excellent price.

[Kernel]

Making my first Central Oregon golf trip the first weekend of October. Playing Aspen Lakes, Quail Run, Widgi Creek and Sunriver Meadows. Logistics and costs for the group bumped Tetherow off the list, so I am pleased to see all the positive reviews of QR and WC.

[haakzilla]

> @Kernel said:

> Making my first Central Oregon golf trip the first weekend of October. Playing Aspen Lakes, Quail Run, Widgi Creek and Sunriver Meadows. Logistics and costs for the group bumped Tetherow off the list, so I am pleased to see all the positive reviews of QR and WC.

 

...hoping the weather holds for you, it's been pretty incredible out here the last couple weeks (minus a few thunderstorms)!

[Reidman]

> @haakzilla said:

> > @Reidman said:

> > I'll be in Bend Sep 1-6. Will Tetherow accept a single visitor without staying at the resort?

>

> ...should be good, here is a link for their tee time booking policy https://tetherow.com/golf/rates-times-reservations/

 

Just got back from Bend....played Quail Run, Pronghorn Nicklaus, Tetherow and Ocean Dunes (on the coast). Not sure why Tetherow gets a bad rap...it is my favorite in the Bend area so far. So visually stunning, hole designs are awesome, and I've never seen a more picturesque driving range/short game area. Pronghorn was really good too, and fantastic green speed. Quail Run was good...just fairways and greens needed mowing....but big points for the coldest beer ever. Ocean Dunes is probably the least favorite course I've played in Oregon...fairways were over-watered, crazy layout and routing, and just not a good golfing experience.

 

Still need to play crosswater, but the must-plays for me in Bend are Tetherow, Pronghorn and Brasada. Bang-for-the-buck courses are Juniper and Aspen Lakes.

[haakzilla]

> > @haakzilla said:

> > > @Reidman said:

> > > I'll be in Bend Sep 1-6. Will Tetherow accept a single visitor without staying at the resort?

> >

> > ...should be good, here is a link for their tee time booking policy https://tetherow.com/golf/rates-times-reservations/

>

> Just got back from Bend....played Quail Run, Pronghorn Nicklaus, Tetherow and Ocean Dunes (on the coast). Not sure why Tetherow gets a bad rap...it is my favorite in the Bend area so far. So visually stunning, hole designs are awesome, and I've never seen a more picturesque driving range/short game area. Pronghorn was really good too, and fantastic green speed. Quail Run was good...just fairways and greens needed mowing....but big points for the coldest beer ever. Ocean Dunes is probably the least favorite course I've played in Oregon...fairways were over-watered, crazy layout and routing, and just not a good golfing experience.

>

> Still need to play crosswater, but the must-plays for me in Bend are Tetherow, Pronghorn and Brasada. Bang-for-the-buck courses are Juniper and Aspen Lakes.

 

Nice feedback! I agree with everything you've said, but why in the world was Ocean Dunes on this list? You played the wrong course in Florence, OR -- the best course on the whole central coastline is just a couple miles away at Sandpines Golf Course (*UPDATE* apparently they changed their name to [Florence Golf Links](http://florencegolflinks.com/ "Florence Golf Links"))

[Reidman]

I know...I know. I had played SandPines last time in the area. We had a room at Three Rivers Casino, and some time to kill before the A&M game at 12:30...so it was on a whim really. Ocean Dunes golf was better than no golf....but not by much.

[Kernel]

Just back from three days of golf in and around Bend. Great weather (though cold mornings) and great golf

 

Aspen Lakes - Really love the layout, but, as has been mentioned here the course seems to be trending down on the conditions front. It was just a little rough around the edges. The greens were just ok and there are quite a few areas where the attention to detail is lacking. I guess that's what multiple bankruptcies can do. But I definitely liked the course - interesting design and forces you to use all clubs in the bag.

 

Quail Run - This was the surprise hit of the weekend. Solid design with impeccable conditions. I can't recall a course with better fairways - just tight and pure. The greens were great as well. Loved the laid back atmosphere. I would be happy playing here regularly.

 

Sunriver Meadows - I wasn't expecting much here and ended up being impressed. The layout is good . . . nothing sensational. But course conditions were really good, including some of the best greens I can recall. They were lightening fast and smooth. The course has a good mix of open holes and tree-lined ones.

 

River's Edge - Perhaps the least enjoyable golf course I have ever played. It is utterly ridiculous - a tricked out, gimmicky shell of a course. The first hole requires you to draw a mid-to-long iron to a 15 yard-wide fairway about 75 below the tee box. And it gets worse from there. That someone looked at this piece land and decided it could hold a golf course is stupefying. And conditions were, by far, the worst of the weekend.

[haakzilla]

> @Kernel said:

> Just back from three days of golf in and around Bend. Great weather (though cold mornings) and great golf

>

> Aspen Lakes - Really love the layout, but, as has been mentioned here the course seems to be trending down on the conditions front. It was just a little rough around the edges. The greens were just ok and there are quite a few areas where the attention to detail is lacking. I guess that's what multiple bankruptcies can do. But I definitely liked the course - interesting design and forces you to use all clubs in the bag.

>

> Quail Run - This was the surprise hit of the weekend. Solid design with impeccable conditions. I can't recall a course with better fairways - just tight and pure. The greens were great as well. Loved the laid back atmosphere. I would be happy playing here regularly.

>

> Sunriver Meadows - I wasn't expecting much here and ended up being impressed. The layout is good . . . nothing sensational. But course conditions were really good, including some of the best greens I can recall. They were lightening fast and smooth. The course has a good mix of open holes and tree-lined ones.

>

> River's Edge - Perhaps the least enjoyable golf course I have ever played. It is utterly ridiculous - a tricked out, gimmicky shell of a course. The first hole requires you to draw a mid-to-long iron to a 15 yard-wide fairway about 75 below the tee box. And it gets worse from there. That someone looked at this piece land and decided it could hold a golf course is stupefying. And conditions were, by far, the worst of the weekend.

 

Awesome course report @Kernel !! Quail Run is definitely a winner and must play for anyone that hasn't already. Sad to hear Aspen is probably even worse than the last time I played it a year ago. Can't go wrong with any of the Sunriver courses so glad to hear Meadows is still rolling nicely. And your sentiments regarding River's Edge are spot on! What a disaster huh? It's worth playing once just for the experience I suppose, but be prepared to be extremely frustrated by hole #18 (especially if you decided to walk it LOL). The other shady thing about River's Edge is they use a fake photo-shopped image of Mt Jefferson as the backdrop of their featured marketing image on their scorecard, website, and social media accounts...if you look closely you will soon realize there is no possible way the course is THAT close to the mountain...who does this?!

[mallrat]

Love that Quail Run is getting some love. Some buddies and I went up there 2 weeks ago and I insisted on playing Quail and they had never heard of it. It ended up being their favorite track we played. Definitely a hidden gem

[Wardonation]

Hey dude I live in Bend and do not need anymore people flooding my town, it is too much already...

[haakzilla]

> @Wardonation said:

> Hey dude I live in Bend and do not need anymore people flooding my town, it is too much already...

 

...the good old days disappeared over a decade ago, I'm surprised you're not used to it by now!

[Wardonation]

Ya I agree but you have failed to mention the best course IMO in Bend and that is BGC.... Do you live here? If so, odds are we know eachother?