From where to stay to where to play, we’ve teed up our favorites in Central Oregon this year
By Brian Beaky
About 40 miles southwest of Bend, Oregon, Little Lava Lake sits quietly among Cascade Mountain peaks.
Only 20 feet at its deepest point, and less than a quarter-mile square, it’s barely one-fourth the size of Seattle’s Lake Union, hardly a prime candidate to shape the cultural and economic development of the Pacific Northwest.
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Central Oregon Golf Trail
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Central Oregon Golf Association
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Yet, that’s precisely what it has done.
For, from Little Lava Lake flow the headwaters of the Deschutes River, which makes its way lazily east through the mountains, building in size and strength as it collects rainwater and snow runoff from the mountains and reservoirs before turning north past Sunriver, Bend and Redmond on its way to merge with the mighty Columbia.
The river defines the climate and the lifestyle of the wide swath of Central Oregon through which it cuts, carving deep gorges in the landscape and providing the basis of life for the elk, salmon and bald eagles who populate the river valley, and the descendants of the Native Americans and pioneers who made their homes along its life-sustaining banks.
Travelers on the Oregon Trail would often follow the river north to the Columbia to bypass the Cascade Mountains, or ford the river at a key bend just east of Mount Bachelor — a point that soon became known as the “Farewell Bend,” and later, Bend.
Just as it did 150 years ago, the river’s northeasterly course still serves as a guide for Central Oregon travelers — only, today’s adventure-seekers come in search of birdies and eagles of a different sort.
Between the Sunriver Resort on the Deschutes’ southeastern flank, north through Bend to Redmond and Sisters sit more than two dozen incredible golf courses and world-class resorts that have turned the Deschutes River Valley from a pioneering outpost to one of the top golf destinations in the world.
“We get everything from groups of golfers who want to play 36 holes a day for a week, and never play the same course twice, to families who want to play in the morning, then have the afternoons off to go shopping, hiking, mountain biking, river rafting, you name it,” says Tommy Berg, concierge and manager of the Central Oregon Golf Trail, which helps book golf, lodging and recreational activities for Central Oregon visitors.
“Golf is a major draw, but it’s just one of many opportunities to get out and enjoy the outdoors.”
Indeed, the sheer volume of golf and lodging options can make planning a visit to Central Oregon overwhelming for even the most experienced golf traveler. Furthermore, each area of the valley offers a unique experience, ranging from the bustling hub of Bend to the quaint downtown of Sisters, to the full-service family resorts of Sunriver, Eagle Crest and Black Butte Ranch.
That’s where Berg comes in. A PGA professional, longtime Bend-area resident and expert on the region’s many courses, he can help plan a Central Oregon vacation that is the perfect fit for a golfer’s budget and interests.
Want to play only the “best of the best”? Berg will set you up with tee times at Brasada Canyons, Tetherow, Pronghorn and Sunriver’s Crosswater course.
Want to stretch your golf dollar as far as it can go, playing courses that offer a world-class experience at a more budget-conscious rate? Berg has you covered there, too, with rounds at Black Butte Ranch, Aspen Lakes, Widgi Creek, Quail Run and other great tracks with mid-range greens fees — and can help you save even more with twilight and early-bird tee times.
To help narrow your choices this summer, we’ve identified a few our favorite Central Oregon hotspots — from the Sirens-like allure of the beautiful but challenging holes at Tetherow, to the all-new waterpark at Sunriver Resort, and every eye-popping, mind-blowing spot in between.
“Up at Crooked River, you’re standing in a mountain gorge, looking down over the river in all its beauty,” Berg says, “while up in Sisters, you feel like you can practically reach out and touch the mountains.
“It’s truly a world-class destination.”