Oregon golf has received a lot of publicity the past few years because of the acclaimed Bandon Dunes Golf Resort that adds to its stature every few years with new offerings. But the Beaver State has more than 230 courses in a variety of settings that make use of the region’s divergent landscape that includes the Pacific Ocean, mountains, rolling hills, canyons, farmland, high desert and lush forests. Here are a few of the sites worth seeing.
Bandon Dunes Golf Resort
Bandon
(888) 345-6008 • bandondunesgolf.com
This southern Oregon gem has five courses enhanced by marvelous terrain and views of the Pacific Ocean. The original 6,732-yard Bandon Dunes was designed by Scotsman David McLay Kidd to play like a true links course through natural vegetation and often windy conditions, whereas the 6,633-yard Tom Doak-designed Pacific Dunes tests the accuracy and shot-making ability of players of all skill levels. Bandon Trails takes players on a 6,765-yard tour of massive sand dunes, gorgeous meadows and coastal forests, while the C.B. Macdonald-inspired Old Macdonald plays longer than any course on the property at 6,978 yards. The 13-hole, 1,468-yard Bandon Preserve course is the latest addition and provides a scenic, beach experience with proceeds going to The Wild Rivers Coast Alliance.
Tetherow Golf Club
Bend
(541) 388-2582 • tetherow.com
This beauty of a beast in Bend stretches 7,298 yards from the tips and has an elevation of nearly 4,000 feet. Majestic views of Oregon’s Central Cascade Mountains and the high desert highlight each hole of the David McLay Kidd design. The semi-private course is offering a Tetherow Unlimited! stay-and-play package through September. For $549 for individuals or $399 per person for groups, the package includes two nights of lodging in Bend and two days of unlimited golf at Tetherow.
Langdon Farms Golf Club
Aurora
(503) 678-4653 • langdonfarms.com
One of the more popular courses in the Portland area is the par-71, 6,931-yard Langdon Farms. The course designed by John Fought and Robert Cupp has received numerous honors since opening to the public in 1995. “We are extremely proud to be recognized as ‘the best course to host a golf tournament or corporate event in Oregon’ (Portland Business Journal 2005-2010),” said general manager David Stead. “We also feel privileged to have a large group of loyalty card members who choose to play their golf with us regularly.”
Sunriver Resort
Sunriver
(800) 801-8765 • sunriver-resort.com
Sunriver is home to four of the most dynamic courses in central Oregon. The Robert Trent Jones Jr.-designed Woodlands forces golfers to focus on accuracy as water hazards are prevalent throughout, while the John Fought-designed Meadows has a multitude of bunkers that challenge even the most skilled players. Robert Cupp was the architect behind both Crosswater and the nine-hole Caldera Links, with the former layout taking advantage of the Deschutes and Little Deschutes rivers and the latter providing an excellent setting for newcomers and families.
Centennial Golf Club
Medford
(877) 893-4653 • centennialgolfclub.com
The John Fought-designed Centennial plays 7,309 yards from the tips. Opened in 2006, the course has 73 bunkers and four lakes spread over 400 acres of gorgeous topography. Centennial ranked in the top 10 in six categories of the 2010 Golf World Readers Choice Awards, including best public courses in the country, condition, quality, pace of play, customer service and overall value. The facility also has been selected as the best course in southern Oregon by Southern Oregon Magazine for four consecutive years.
Heron Lakes Golf Club
Portland
(503) 289-1818 • heronlakesgolf.com
This 36-hole facility just north of downtown Portland provides golfers with two distinct Robert Trent Jones Jr. designs. The 6,902 Great Blue Course consists of a collection of fantastic risk-reward holes with fairways that snake between Scottish-style mounds. It also has four sets of tees to accommodate all skill levels. The 6,615-yard Greenback Course is a beautiful contrast with a layout that features elevated greens and a mostly relaxing journey. The parkland-style course also has six ponds and 86 bunkers to provide a bit of a challenge.
Quail Point Golf Course
Medford
(541) 857-7000 • quailpointgolf.com
Quail Point is a nine-hole course designed to go easy on your scorecard and wallet, with 18 holes costing $25 for Quail Point cardholders and $28 for non-members. The par-35, 3,034-yard course in southern Oregon is laid out through 75 acres of lush fairways and well-manicured greens. Quail Point also recently opened up an 18-hole putting course that is well-suited for family events, birthday parties and other festive occasions.
– BY ALEX SMOLINSKI
