Bend Oregon 2024

[Wardonation]

On 3/31/2024 at 10:37 AM, Seamus_MacDuff said:

Do you have access to private courses, or are you just looking at public access?  If a member at a private club, you can likely access private clubs through your club pro, especially in April when they aren’t as busy. If that’s the case, look at Brasada, Broken Top, Bend G&CC and Pronghorn (Fazio).  For public/resort, I’d be looking at Tetherow, Pronghorn (Nicklaus), and Juniper.  Crosswater and the Sunriver courses are at higher elevation and so conditions often aren’t as good early in the season. I doubt Crosswater and Sunriver (Woodlands) are even open yet. 

 

This is the season when courses are aerating greens, so you may not be able to avoid it no matter where you go. 
 

All things being equal, here’s my order of preference of those I listed:

 

Pronghorn (Fazio)

Pronghorn (Nicklaus)

Brasada

Tetherow

Broken Top

Bend G&CC

Juniper

wow this is so wrong 

[Seamus_MacDuff]

23 hours ago, Wardonation said:

wow this is so wrong 

I'll bite.  Explain why you disagree.

[Wardonation]

11 minutes ago, Seamus_MacDuff said:

I'll bite.  Explain why you disagree.

Well as I stated before I have lived in Bend for over 25+ years. Here is my list now granted I was a member at Bend for 15+ years..

FAZIO (BEST LAYOUT IN CENTRAL OREGON) WHEN IT FIRST OPENED IT WAS THE PUREST TRACK IN OREGON)

BEND (BEST SHAPE & GREENS IN CENTRAL OREGON PERIOD) THE REMODEL OVER THE YEARS HAS MADE IT A GREAT LAYOUT)

XWATER (FUN TRACK BEAUTIFUL LAYOUT)

BRASADA (FUN TRACK, RESORT STYLE (EASY)

NICKLAUS (GOOFY LAYOUT BUT STILL SOLID)

GLAZE (SINCE REMODEL ONE OF THE BETTER LAYOUTS)

BIG ( JUST A CLASSIC EVEN THOUGH COURSE CONDITIONS HAVE GONE DOWN A LOT)

BROKEN TOP ( GOOD SOLID PRIVATE TRACK GREENS SOLID, BORING AT TIMES)

TETHEROW (WORST COURSE THAT KIDD HAS EVER DONE AND HE WILL TELL YOU THAT) GOOGLE IT.. MICKEY MOUSE GREENS SOME GOOD HOLES NOT MANY THOUGH

JUNI.. ( WHEN IT FIRST OPENED UP I WOULD HAVE HAD IT 5. GREAT SHAPE PURE GREENS)

[jpdx]

Anyone headed there tonight or tomorrow from Portland Metro and playing pronghorn nicklaus?

 

 

[puttnforthe8]

On 5/21/2024 at 9:51 AM, Wardonation said:

Well as I stated before I have lived in Bend for over 25+ years. Here is my list now granted I was a member at Bend for 15+ years..

FAZIO (BEST LAYOUT IN CENTRAL OREGON) WHEN IT FIRST OPENED IT WAS THE PUREST TRACK IN OREGON)

BEND (BEST SHAPE & GREENS IN CENTRAL OREGON PERIOD) THE REMODEL OVER THE YEARS HAS MADE IT A GREAT LAYOUT)

XWATER (FUN TRACK BEAUTIFUL LAYOUT)

BRASADA (FUN TRACK, RESORT STYLE (EASY)

NICKLAUS (GOOFY LAYOUT BUT STILL SOLID)

GLAZE (SINCE REMODEL ONE OF THE BETTER LAYOUTS)

BIG ( JUST A CLASSIC EVEN THOUGH COURSE CONDITIONS HAVE GONE DOWN A LOT)

BROKEN TOP ( GOOD SOLID PRIVATE TRACK GREENS SOLID, BORING AT TIMES)

TETHEROW (WORST COURSE THAT KIDD HAS EVER DONE AND HE WILL TELL YOU THAT) GOOGLE IT.. MICKEY MOUSE GREENS SOME GOOD HOLES NOT MANY THOUGH

JUNI.. ( WHEN IT FIRST OPENED UP I WOULD HAVE HAD IT 5. GREAT SHAPE PURE GREENS)

 

I would agree in general, preference of course moves some a position.  Where is Widgi and Awbry in the list?  

[Wardonation]

32 minutes ago, puttnforthe8 said:

 

I would agree in general, preference of course moves some a position.  Where is Widgi and Awbry in the list?  

Widgi good layout shape just ok always way too crowded. Awbrey great shape horrible layout and I lived on hole 9 for 20+ years.

[Jeff58]

22 hours ago, Wardonation said:

Widgi good layout shape just ok always way too crowded. Awbrey great shape horrible layout and I lived on hole 9 for 20+ years.

I think we looked at your house when you sold it. It’s very close to the fairway and several groups walked past and waved, apparently thinking that you were still there.

[Seasonsgolf]

Does anyone have any good information on good courses to work in Bend, Tip wise? 

[mallrat]

18 hours ago, Seasonsgolf said:

Does anyone have any good information on good courses to work in Bend, Tip wise? 

are you looking at player/outside services? Bev cart?

[Seasonsgolf]

Player services would be great. Good timing course

[Seasonsgolf]

Just now, Seasonsgolf said:

Player services would be great. Good timing course

Tipping *

[rpina77]

What are conditions looking like this summer.  I am headed up for a couple of weeks.  I stay at BBR but travel for golf.  Interested in hearing about Juniper, Pronghorn, Aspen Lakes, and Tokatee.

[Jeff58]

20 hours ago, rpina77 said:

What are conditions looking like this summer.  I am headed up for a couple of weeks.  I stay at BBR but travel for golf.  Interested in hearing about Juniper, Pronghorn, Aspen Lakes, and Tokatee.

Pretty much everything in the area is in excellent condition. Aspen Lakes I don’t know personally. There have been very mixed reports of its overall upkeep and conditions and I’m not that motivated to find out. Consider Eagle Crest’s Ridge and Challenge courses as well if you haven’t already. The Challenge is a great warmup or quicker play. There are now some schemes at Pronghorn (now officially Juniper Preserve) that allow access to the Fazio side as well.

[ThermalDan]

Friend played Aspen Lakes a couple weeks ago for Oregon Open and it was in embarrassingly bad condition.

[kaschreiber]

2 hours ago, Jeff58 said:

Pretty much everything in the area is in excellent condition. Aspen Lakes I don’t know personally. There have been very mixed reports of its overall upkeep and conditions and I’m not that motivated to find out. Consider Eagle Crest’s Ridge and Challenge courses as well if you haven’t already. The Challenge is a great warmup or quicker play. There are now some schemes at Pronghorn (now officially Juniper Preserve) that allow access to the Fazio side as well.

We were able to get our entire group of 16 onto the Fazio side a couple years back with a single email from my head pro at our club if that's an option you want to look into. 

[Jeff58]

9 hours ago, kaschreiber said:

We were able to get our entire group of 16 onto the Fazio side a couple years back with a single email from my head pro at our club if that's an option you want to look into. 

The Fazio is no longer *entirely* private. If you stay on property and indulge in a package deal, a note from Mom is no longer required.

[jpdx]

1 hour ago, Jeff58 said:

The Fazio is no longer *entirely* private. If you stay on property and indulge in a package deal, a note from Mom is no longer required.

Dont even need to stay on property to get on. May be time of year dependent as my cousin had never played it, i have many times and we were staying in Bend when he and I played it together. 

Edited July 11 by jpdx

[mallrat]

2 hours ago, jpdx said:

Dont even need to stay on property to get on. May be time of year dependent as my cousin had never played it, i have many times and we were staying in Bend when he and I played it together. 

Might be the result of 3 bankruptcies. When I was there they often had under 20 rounds booked member wise for the whole day. 

[Wardonation]

6 hours ago, mallrat said:

Might be the result of 3 bankruptcies. When I was there they often had under 20 rounds booked member wise for the whole day. 

This right here. The Fazio is my second favorite track in Bend for sure. The Nicklaus track is OK but has some really goofy holes to it. When Pronhorn first opened it is the purest track in state bar none. Sh#$ the tee boxes rolled at an 8 on the stimp.

[Wardonation]

21 hours ago, ThermalDan said:

Friend played Aspen Lakes a couple weeks ago for Oregon Open and it was in embarrassingly bad condition.

Yep it is for sale the farmers let it go to trash lost their butt on the huge pro shop building. 

[jpdx]

6 hours ago, mallrat said:

Might be the result of 3 bankruptcies. When I was there they often had under 20 rounds booked member wise for the whole day. 

I remember you telling me that. Now that I’ve played it a number of times, I think i prefer Nicklaus side anyways. 

[mallrat]

On 7/11/2025 at 5:36 AM, Wardonation said:

Yep it is for sale the farmers let it go to trash lost their butt on the huge pro shop building. 

Aren’t they on their 3rd bankruptcy as well? I’m not a fan of the layout but I think the course has some serious flaws too. Those bunkers, oof, hope you plan on switching out your wedges after the round. I heard they bet everything on the pro shop / clubhouse remodel but couldn’t imagine someone doing something so stupid. 

[Wardonation]

8 hours ago, mallrat said:

Aren’t they on their 3rd bankruptcy as well? I’m not a fan of the layout but I think the course has some serious flaws too. Those bunkers, oof, hope you plan on switching out your wedges after the round. I heard they bet everything on the pro shop / clubhouse remodel but couldn’t imagine someone doing something so stupid. 

Ya #2 or 3 for sure... That course has some really good holes on it and a few poor ones for sure...

[benkodi]

On 7/10/2025 at 10:35 PM, jpdx said:

Dont even need to stay on property to get on. May be time of year dependent as my cousin had never played it, i have many times and we were staying in Bend when he and I played it together. 

I just had a group of 24 guys on Fazio. We were not staying on property.

 

It’s in tremendous shape (if really, really green gas is your jam) as is the Nicklaus (we had 3 rounds there). However, the whole place is stuck in a time warp. It’s so far from civilization and the that windy entry road is deal breaker. 

 

We stayed at Tetherow and played 5+ rounds there. Just packed with people and vibing all week long. Tons of young, active members. 

[jpdx]

2 hours ago, benkodi said:

I just had a group of 24 guys on Fazio. We were not staying on property.

 

It’s in tremendous shape (if really, really green gas is your jam) as is the Nicklaus (we had 3 rounds there). However, the whole place is stuck in a time warp. It’s so far from civilization and the that windy entry road is deal breaker. 

 

We stayed at Tetherow and played 5+ rounds there. Just packed with people and vibing all week long. Tons of young, active members. 

 
if only i enjoyed the course at tetherow. Honestly, I should try it again and see if my opinion changes, it’s been a while. 

[soregongolfer]

11 hours ago, benkodi said:

I just had a group of 24 guys on Fazio. We were not staying on property.

 

It’s in tremendous shape (if really, really green gas is your jam) as is the Nicklaus (we had 3 rounds there). However, the whole place is stuck in a time warp. It’s so far from civilization and the that windy entry road is deal breaker. 

 

We stayed at Tetherow and played 5+ rounds there. Just packed with people and vibing all week long. Tons of young, active members. 

Thinking about that entry road always cracks me up.  Whoever laid that road was definitely high.  

[jpdx]

8 hours ago, soregongolfer said:

Thinking about that entry road always cracks me up.  Whoever laid that road was definitely high.  

Someone once told me there some historical significance to the why its winds around vs being straight. It was probably bs. One thing for sure, the paving sucks. 

[Jeff58]

20 hours ago, benkodi said:

It’s so far from civilization and the that windy entry road is deal breaker.

Wrong approach club.

 

[mallrat]

Inside info on Pronghorn, well at least stories. 
 

The swans in the pond of 18 on Fazio are rescues who have their wings clipped. They are on their 5th set, good meals for the coyotes. Cost $10k a pair. We used to have to go out there every morning to make sure they were still alive. 
 

One morning in the winter, no swans. So EVERYONE has to go out and look for them. Finally found them in the canal off that road in. Watching the 2 supers in their underwear in the canal trying to chase the swans while the swans are trying to alternate attacking them then run away was hilarious. 
 

Another story about the stupidity of kids. Had a kid flip his car on that road on the way to work. We hear it so a couple guys go out to check on him. He comes into the shop and starts making phone calls. Ask him who he’s calling, “Les Schwab, I need it towed and repaired.” Dude, Les Schwab isn’t gonna help buddy. Same guy like a week later stops in the middle of work. We are on hole 12 on Fazio and he just takes off running. One of us chases after him, “where are you going?” “I left my weed on my desk and my parents said if that found me smoking again they would kick me out of the house.”  Ran from 12 Fazio back to the shop. That’s past 12 on Nicklaus. Like a good mile and a half. 

[soregongolfer]

4 hours ago, jpdx said:

Someone once told me there some historical significance to the why its winds around vs being straight. It was probably bs. One thing for sure, the paving sucks. 

I'd love to know the real story behind that road.  Who puts hairpin turns in a road that's in the middle of the desert?  It reminds me of the tiny mountain roads in Europe.