Local Favorite: Golf Course at Birch Creek is always in great shape

Just south of Wildhorse Resort & Casino in Eastern Oregon sits a local golf favorite, formerly known as Pendleton Country Club. Acquired by the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation in 2019 and quickly re-established as the Golf Course at Birch Creek, the 248-acre course has been a staple of the local golf community since 1957.

Set amid gentle rolling wheat fields and divided by Birch Creek, a tributary of the Umatilla River, the 18-hole, par-72 course plays from 6,100 to 6,394 yards and offers scenic views with frequent sightings of native fish and roaming deer.

During the Treaty of 1855, Birch Creek served as a landmark that defined a portion of the border between the new Indian reservation and the lands claimed by the government, and this course lies near the site of one of the historic encampments of the Cayuse Indians.

Bringing the land and operations back into tribal ownership presents an opportunity to preserve valuable local resources while growing the game of golf.

So, what will golfers notice when they visit the Golf Course at Birch Creek for the first time (or even their 100th round)?

The most immediate improvement is impossible to miss: a newly paved network of golf cart paths winding throughout the course. Replacing 40 to 50 years of gravel driving surfaces became a top priority, creating a smoother, more comfortable ride for golfers and enhancing the overall playing experience. More than half of the cart path network has been repaved, with the goal of completing the entire course by late summer 2026.

Three of the par-3 holes got new tee boxes. The project included removing the existing turf before laser grading the surface to create a level foundation. Once leveled, the tee boxes were seeded and grown in, in time for this summer’s golf season.

Golfers will also notice faster putting surfaces. Through consistent maintenance, the grounds crew focused on an aerification program to remove excess organic matter, relieve soil compaction, and allow air, water, and nutrients to reach the roots. The result is healthier turf and firmer, smoother greens that putt faster and more consistently.

Ask a landscaper, an arborist, or an avid golfer, and they’ll all tell you the same thing: proper tree maintenance is a long-term investment. Birch Creek’s crews continue to prune and manage healthy trees while also maintaining shrubs and other vegetation to improve the course’s appearance, playability, and overall health.

Local golfers and regional fairway adventurers will continue to notice the course’s evolution each time they return.