The Central Oregon Golf Trail Awaits
Central Oregon has become more than a destination for Pacific Northwest golfers—it’s a pilgrimage. With nearly 30 courses carved into the High Desert landscapes, forests, and ancient lava flows, the region is where golf meets pure, untamed beauty. Whether you’re drawn to the fescue-covered heathlands of Tetherow, the pristine mountain meadows of Sunriver’s Crosswater, the Juniper and lava-framed fairways of Pronghorn’s Jack Nicklaus Signature Course, or the stunning Cascade views at Black Butte Ranch, every round offers a new adventure.
Designed by legends like Bob Cupp Jr., Tom Fazio, David McLay Kidd, Jack Nicklaus, and Robert Trent Jones Jr., Central Oregon’s courses offer a playing experience as diverse as the terrain itself. But golf is just the beginning—300 days of sunshine, craft breweries, outdoor adventure, and world-class resorts make it the perfect golf escape.
Whether you’re chasing birdies or just soaking in the scenery, the Central Oregon Golf Trail is calling.
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Crosswater Club at Sunriver Resort
The crown jewel at Sunriver Resort, Crosswater is a quintessential Central Oregon golf experience. Robert E. Cupp Jr.’s design seamlessly melds with the surrounding natural meadows and wetlands, bringing into play the Deschutes and Little Deschutes rivers that converge on nearly every hole.
Currently ranked No. 54 on Golf Digest’s list of America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses, Crosswater—which is open to members and resort guests—is also a stern enough test of golf to be named host of four USGA championships over the next decade. But it is also one of golf’s most serene settings. Case in point: The par-3 13th hole, aptly named “Osprey,” features a nest frequented by Osprey and Bald Eagles perched atop an old-growth Ponderosa pine, symbolizing the harmonious relationship between the course and its native wildlife.
Tetherow
Set just minutes from downtown Bend, Tetherow Golf Club has long captivated golfers with David McLay Kidd’s innovative Scottish heathland-inspired design, seamlessly blending traditional elements of the game with Central Oregon’s rugged High Desert terrain. The course’s fescue-lined fairways and undulating greens offer an exhilarating experience, reflecting Kidd’s commitment to strategic play and natural aesthetics.
This dedication has earned Tetherow a prominent place among the nation’s elite courses, securing the No. 57 spot in Golf Digest’s current ranking of America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses. Tetherow has never been afraid to embrace change to increase the enjoyment of the experience, either, including offering the largest fleet of Finn Scooters in the West.
The result is a golf thrill ride like no other.
Pronghorn Club’s Jack Nicklaus Signature Course at Juniper Preserve
Set 20 minutes east of Bend in an ancient Juniper forest, Pronghorn’s Jack Nicklaus Signature Course offers what has become a bucket-list High Desert golf experience.
Stretching up to 7,400 yards, the legendary golfer and architect who bears the course’s name challenges golfers with a strategic design, requiring a variety of shot shapes to navigate the rugged terrain. The course boasts panoramic vistas of the Cascade Range, Smith Rock, and surrounding buttes, enhancing its visual appeal.
One of two courses at the luxurious Juniper Preserve resort—including the private Tom Fazio Championship Course—the Nicklaus Signature Course currently ranks No. 42 on Golf Digest’s list of America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses. The ranking is well-earned.
Black Butte Ranch
Framed by towering Ponderosa pines and Aspen groves and punctuated by breathtaking views of the surrounding Cascade Range, Black Butte Ranch’s 36 holes of championship golf and Little Meadow putting course are unquestionably beautiful and undeniably playable.
Big Meadow, a Robert Muir Graves design fresh off a recent bunker renovation, has been a Central Oregon staple since 1970, captivating players with its straightforward, fair layout. Meanwhile, Glaze Meadow, redesigned by John Fought in 2012, offers a throwback challenge inspired by the golden age of golf design, including turtleback greens and grass-faced bunkers. To round out the experience, Fought returned to design the Little Meadow putting course, which welcomes all ages for a sun-drenched, fun-for-all experience.
No golf resort in the Northwest comes in a more family-friendly package.
