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Eastern Oregon’s wide variety of courses offer three seasons of exciting golf, lots of sunshine and fees that entice you to try them all! Seek out the challenging links-style Buffalo Peak Golf Course, 866.202.5950, near Union. This impressive course is receiving acclaim as a “must play” from the golf media. Spectacular views and well-maintained greens await at Quail Ridge Golf Course, 541.523.2358, near the base of the Elkhorn Mountains at Baker City. Tee off beside the mighty Columbia River, play the world-class course at Wildhorse Resort & Casino Golf Course near Pendleton or the challenging Echo Hills Golf Course overlooking the Umatilla River in Echo, 541.376.8244. Check the schedule for open teetimes and enjoy the beautifully landscaped course at the La Grande Country Club, 541.963.4241. There are plenty of activities off the course, as well. Explore the specialty shops and galleries. Visit the museums and venture out on the five connected scenic byways. Hike on easy day trails or strike off into Oregon’s largest wilderness area. Lodging opportunities ranging from historic hotels to quaint bed and breakfast inns round out the region’s family golf experience.
Let us put together a memorable vacation for the entire family, connecting our rural golf courses with train rides, gallery shopping, fossils, Native Americans and the Oregon Trail. To book your Eastern Oregon Memory, call 800.323.7330. For information on the 18 golf courses of Eastern Oregon and regional travel information, go to www.eova.com or call 800.848.9969 and ask for the Golf Eastern Oregon information packet. Learn more at these websites: www.BuffaloPeakGolf.com, www.VisitLaGrande.com, www.VisitBaker.com, and www.BakerCityGolf.com.
Wildhorse Resort & Casino
Make your golfing buddies green with envy. Play the course at Wildhorse Resort & Casino and score bragging rights as one ofthe first to play this exceptional course. A championship course in more than name alone, Wildhorsechallenges players’ skills, as well as their expectations of EasternOregon golf. The course at Wildhorse tees up the region’s bestgolf with pristine greens, deep bunkers and approaches designedto spoil golfers for other destinations.
Best of all, the Wildhorse course is just a few putts away from the Northwest’s highest-paying casino, featuring 850 slots, blackjack, poker, roulette and craps,and other entertaining activities. No wonder playing Wildhorse is considered a win-win.
Situated in the foothills of the Blue Mountains, Wildhorse’s 7,112-yard course is a blend of Scottish Links and Traditional American Resort design that mirrors the panoramic landscape. The par-72 layout features manicured tees and lush fairwaysleading up to smooth bentgrass greens. If the dozens of deepbunkers aren’t enough to get into your head, more than half ofthe holes feature water hazards. Playing the front tees can shorten the distance by nearly 1,500 yards and make the course easy enough for anyone. But you still might need a mulligan or two at the course’s signature 18th hole. A lake running along the right side of the fairway and white sand bunkers guarding the left-side approach make this par 4 one of the best finishing holes in golf. With challenging play and unique design, it’s no surprise that the course has hosted several prestigious regional PGA tournaments, including the OPGA Pro-Am and the PNWPGA’s Senior Oregon Open Invitational. If you’re looking to earn your Masters jacket—or just shave a few strokes off your game—Wildhorse offers private lessons, clinics, leagues and three-day Women’s and Couples’ Golf Camps with LPGA Pro instruction. Optimum conditions for Wildhorse golf begin in March and continue through October, when pleasantly warm days and
cool evenings prevail.
All year round, however, Wildhorse offers much more than a 19th-hole round of drinks after your final putt. With the Casino located right next door, you can watch the pros play on multiple TV screens while enjoying cocktails and light fare at Players Lounge. Serious golf can also mean a serious appetite. Fortunately, the food is always above par at Wildhorse. Traditions Buffet offers a bounty of delectable dishes. Plateau provides an upscale dining experience fit for a PGA champion, complete with eclectic Northwest fare, a superb wine list showcasing Oregon and Washington wines and a stunning view of the Blue Mountains from the upstairs deck.
After a great round of golf, round out the day with a visit to nearby Tamástslikt Cultural Institute, a world-class tribal museum, or with live entertainment at Wildfire Cabaret every Wednesday through Saturday night. Then relax and recharge at Wildhorse’s comfortable hotel or RV Park. At Wildhorse, great golf is a matter of course. With scenic vistas, entertainment and the Northwest’s highest-paying casino, keeping your head in the game may be the real challenge.
Wildhorse Resort & Casino is located one mile from Exit 216 on I-84, four miles east of Pendleton, Oregon. By car, it is 3½ hours east of Portland or west of Boise by freeway, and three hours south of Spokane. Eastern Oregon Regional Airport is only 10 minutes away and serviced by a free Wildhorse shuttle. 72777 Hwy. 331, Pendleton OR 97801. For more information or reservations, call 800.654.9453, 541.276.5588 or visit www.WildhorseResort.com. For special group packages, call 800.654.9453, ext 1977 or e-mail sales@ WildhorseResort.com. Mike Hegarty, PGA Golf Professional. Sean A Hoolehan, CGCS, Certified Course Superintendent. Wildhorse Resort & Casino is owned and operated by the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. ...More Info
Eagle Crest Resort
Eagle Crest Resort is a full-service destination resort located five miles west of Redmond, Ore., with the majestic Cascade Mountains to the west and Smith Rock to the east. Eagle Crest’s year-round unlimited golf packages are an incredible value, and their legendary customer service makes this JELD-WEN Community the perfect place for your next golf vacation. The Ridge Course is one of the region’s favorite courses and has hosted two Northwest Opens and, most recently, the 2006 Oregon Open. The Ridge Course is a “driver’s dream,” with ample landing areas for those who like to hit the long ball. The design features a straightforward and fair layout while providing a worthy challenge to all ability levels. The key to scoring your best lies in negotiating the subtle nuances on the greens.
The Resort Course gets its name because it was the original course at Eagle Crest. This course features two distinctly different nines. The front nine for the most part allows the player to swing away and use the driver. The back nine places a high premium on accuracy as holes 10 through 15 have out of bounds left and right. The key to scoring your best depends on your accuracy and how well you avoid penalty strokes. The Resort Course’s par-5 second hole is a popular topic of conversation as it’s a narrow dogleg right where you tee off 80 feet above the canyon floor. Don’t let the yardage fool you! The Challenge Course at Eagle Crest Resort is a real test where you’ll need an extra-sharp short game and savvy course management skills to have any chance at scoring well. Although not an “executive course” in 2006, the Challenge Course was named the Pacific Northwest’s best short course by Links magazine. This appropriately named par-63 course has “FUN” written all over it!
1522 Cline Falls Hwy., Redmond. For tee times, lodging reservations, or to take advantage of one of Eagle Crest’s incredible golf packages call 877.718.1719 or visit www.Eagle-Crest.com. ...More Info
Sunriver Resort & Crosswater Golf Club
Situated in Central Oregon’s pristine high desert, discover a destination for all seasons. But frankly, you might just discover there’s not enough time in the day to take advantage of everything Sunriver Resort has to offer. Experience fine Northwest cuisine, stunning alpine and river views, rejuvenating spa treatments, endless recreation opportunities for the entire family, and the largest selection of lodging accommodations in the Pacific Northwest—from luxurious River Lodges and Lodge Village suites to vacation homes and condominiums. With 63 holes of world-renowned golf, the resort is a virtual paradise for those who live for the game.
Home of the JELD-WEN Tradition, Crosswater Golf Club, designated one of America’s Greatest 100 Courses, is an 18-hole, heathland-style course, and one of only 150 courses in the U.S. to be a certified Audubon Sanctuary.
The Meadows course features a tremendous variety within its 18 holes, seven of which border the meandering Sun River. Meadows is also home to the Sunriver Resort Golf Academy and a popular nine-hole putting course. The Woodlands, among the Northwest’s finest courses, features The Woodlands Golf Shop featuring exclusively Nike Golf. Finally, Caldera Links and Golf Park is a nine-hole golf experience that will challenge the experienced golfer and engage the newcomer. When you’re ready to venture away from the greens, the resort offers 35 miles of paved bike paths, Sage Springs Club and Spa, indoor and outdoor tennis, swimming facilities, a full-service marina, stables offering sleigh rides, lessons and riding, hiking, white-water rafting, and skiing, boarding, tubing, snow shoeing, and sledding at nearby Mt. Bachelor, and shopping and exploring in downtown Bend. Visit Sunriver-Resort.com or call 800.547.3922 to discover why the golf vacation was invented....More Info
Aspen Lakes
Located just outside of Sisters in the heart of Central Oregon, Aspen Lakes has all the ingredients that golfers look for in a great course, including spectacular views and a memorable and unique design. This W.L. Overdorf course was chosen by Golf Digest as one of “America’s 10 Best New Affordable Courses” and received 4½ stars on Golf Digest’s list of Best Places to Play for 2008-2009. With some of the finest bentgrass playing surfaces carpeting tee to green, Aspen Lakes can stretch out all the way to 7,302 yards, challenging even the longest hitters. Lakes and streams come into play on over half of the holes as you work your way through the ponderosa pines. Aspen Lakes features red sand bunkers that create a visually striking contrast against the green of the course, the brilliant blue of the sky and the snow-capped peaks that stand guard. Wildlife is abundant, as Aspen Lakes was the first course in Oregon to enroll in the Audubon Signature Sanctuary Program.
This year, Aspen Lakes will once again co-host the Central Oregon Shootout, April 24, 25, 26. In its seventh year, this popular tournament is expected to attract more than 300 players from throughout the Pacific Northwest and is quickly becoming a “must play” event. Aspen Lakes also hosted the 2008 Oregon Open last June. The staff at Aspen Lakes can assist you in learning the game, perfecting your swing or in planning a complete Central Oregon lifestyle retreat. The Aspen Lakes Lodge is now open and includes BRAND 33 restaurant, which combines “Contemporary Oregon Trail Cuisine” with a fine dining experience. If, after your round of golf, you decide that you don’t want to leave, you are in luck. The fourth and final phase of homesites is now available and features mountain, lake and golf course views.
16900 Aspen Lakes Drive, Sisters. For more information or to book a tee-time call 541.549.GOLF (4653) or visit www.AspenLakes.com. Property Information 800.866.3981. BRAND 33 Information 541.549.3663....More Info
Black Butte Ranch
Location, location…Okay we all know what comes next. However, if we take this universal “law” of real estate and apply it to golf course design and setting, you have the essential formula for the courses the world loves best.
Now, let’s narrow down our geographic scope a little to Oregon, better yet, Central Oregon. We’re looking for jaw-dropping mountain views, Ponderosa Pines tall enough to hold their own— even when framing 10,000-foot peaks. Soil that when nurtured by skilled superintendents responds by producing rivers of grass so green and consistent that any skeptics immediately understand why Oregon produces more grass seed then any other state. Next consideration, weather. Some may ask,“If it’s so great, why haven’t people been coming here for years?” Answer: some have. One of those people was Robert Muir Graves, a golf course architect with the talent to make the very best use of the natural landscape.
Big Meadow at Black Butte Ranch is one of Graves’ proudest achievements. Big Meadow is seeing a rebirth of sorts with the completion of Graves’ carefully designed updates. New “Cape and Bay” bunkers were added as well as some additional yardage. Big Meadow now plays to just over 7,000 yards and has positioned Big as the undisputed icon of mountain golf in the Northwest. With the more than four years of this labor of love, the completed Big Meadow is ready to show its stuff.
Big Meadow has always been open to the public, as is its sister of equal charm, Glaze Meadow. As the chief amenities of Black Butte Ranch they will continue to be perhaps the best publicly accessible courses in all of Central Oregon. The Ranch staff sweat the small details so the guests won’t. With its new clubhouse and state-of-the-art practice facility, Black Butte Ranch and its Big Meadow and Glaze Meadow Courses are primed to provide an experience where the term “location” will always mean, “There is a place you really should be.”
13020 Hawks Beard, Black Butte Ranch. For more information and to schedule a tee-time, call 800.452.7455 or visit www.BlackButteRanch.com. More info...
The Running Y Ranch
The Running Y Ranch is nestled amidst the splendor of inspiring mountains, forests and lakes. Located in the heart of the breathtaking beauty of Southern Oregon’s Cascade Range, the Running Y is a remarkable recreational community and one of the Northwest’s finest golf destinations. The Running Y boasts Oregon’s only award-winning Arnold Palmer-designed golf course, and according to Palmer himself, it is “…one of the most beautiful fee courses you will ever see.” The Running Y is honored by Golf Digest as one of America’s 100 Greatest Public Golf Courses and by Golf for Women as #13 among the Top 50 Courses for Women. As you wind through lush forests and scenic wetlands, this 7,138-yard par-72 course is a seamless blend of natural beauty and challenging play for all skill levels. As a member of the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary System, the course helps preserve and enhance the beauty that sets the Running Y apart. The course also features a full golf shop, lessons, tournaments and schools—not to mention a family favorite, the 18-hole Players Putting Course.
In addition to award-winning golf, a world of recreation awaits. There’s horseback riding, ATV adventures, miles of paved walking and biking trails, a relaxing day spa, sports and fitness center, new town center, indoor pool, ice skating arena, conference facilities, fine and casual dining, lodge hotel, vacation rentals, and the exceptional four season recreation of Southern Oregon. This JELD-WEN Community has also earned a reputation for its premier residential properties. Within the majestic natural wonderland of the Running Y is a remarkable community that offers the ideal environment for a seasonal, vacation or permanent home. The Running Y also offers outstanding lodging and unlimited golf packages. For more information call 866.637.0427 or visit www.RunningY.com....More Info
OGA Golf Course
The OGA Golf Course is owned by the Oregon Golf Association—one of just six golf associations that owns a golf course. It also serves as the headquarters for the Association and has hosted more than 30 USGA qualifiers and Oregon Championships. Open year-round and conveniently located just 30 minutes south of downtown Portland and 20 minutes north of downtown Salem, a championship experience awaits you at the OGA Golf Course, the home of amateur golf in Oregon and Southwest Washington. Whether you are a golfer with modest skills or a championship caliber golfer, the OGA Golf Course provides 18 holes of pure golf enjoyment. When the Bill Robinson-designed OGA Golf Course opened in 1996, it was named among the “Top 10 Affordable Golf Courses in the U.S.” by Golf Digest. And to this day it remains one of Oregon’s best courses and values.
The accolades have continued with the course consistently ranking as one of the top eight golf courses in Oregon according to Golf Digest’s Best Places to Play, receiving 4½ stars out of 5 each year since 2004. Nestled amidst historic hazelnut orchards in the Willamette Valley, the course is one of just 17 Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuaries in Oregon. At the end of your round, you can relax at Orchards Grille, a full-service restaurant and bar with tranquil views overlooking the golf course. And, if you’re looking to host a party, wedding or corporate event, the OGA Golf Course has the facilities perfect for most any function.
For more information and to schedule a tee-time, call 866.981.4653 or visit www.OGAGolfCourse.com. Located at 2850 Hazelnut Drive, Woodburn, Ore. 97071. To get to the course, take I-5 to Woodburn (Exit 271). Travel east for 1.5 miles. Turn left onto Boones Ferry Road. The course will be less than one mile on the right....More Info
The Courses at the Resort at the Mountain
Nestled in the western highlands of Mt. Hood less than an hour southeast of Portland, The Resort at The Mountain is a premier Oregon golf, ski and meeting resort. With a unique ambience, exceptional service, and the natural beauty of national forests and clear-running streams, The Resort offers a wonderful array of experiences for visitors of all ages and interests.
Golfers will find themselves at home at the historic 27-hole club, The Courses at The Resort at The Mountain. Located in the Salmon River Valley of the Mt. Hood National Forest, The Courses is a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary with awe-inspiring views and an unmatched golf experience for all skill levels. Strategy serves players well, as each hole is approachable in a variety of ways, keeping the course challenging and unique with every round. Revealing a new and stylish Oregon destination, renovations to The Resort at The Mountain began in 2008 and will total $17 million when complete in 2009. With totally madeover guest rooms and suites, completely renovated meeting and event facilities, a brand new Altitude restaurant and lounge, vastly improved golf courses, and a soon-to-debut full-service luxury spa, the best of Mt. Hood can be found at The Resort at the Mountain.
Renovations to The Courses will total $3.7 million in upgrades. Course design work was done by premier firm John Harbottle Design under the direction of acclaimed course architect John Harbottle, son of Pacific Northwest Hall of Fame golfers Dr. John Harbottle, Jr. and Pat (Lesser) Harbottle. The design incorporates environmentally sensitive and award-winning layouts.
The Courses is open to resort guests, members and daily-fee players. Comprised of three distinct nine-hole tracks, the initial renovations to The Courses are focused on the Fox Glove Nine. Fox Glove will receive a $1.5 million overhaul including the addition of paved cart paths, updated irrigation to improve course quality, redesigned bunkers with high-quality white sand, and four completely new bunkers. Renovations will also include the remodeling of holes one, five and six and the addition of tee boxes to holes two, three, six and nine. Fox Glove is closed during renovations with plans to reopen in late spring or early summer 2009.
The two other courses, the Pine Cone and Thistle Nines, remain open and are scheduled for renovation in late summer 2009. With renovations being completed in phases, Oregon golfers and visitors can continue to play year-round, weather permitting. “The Courses has always been an exciting golf experience with 27 holes of natural beauty and challenging play. This renovation will truly make The Courses a premier West Coast golf destination,” said Tony Lasher, golf superintendent at The Courses. The Resort will offer new events at The Courses this summer, including “Nine and Wine” the last Friday of each month, during which guests can enjoy wine with a local winemaker at the 9th hole; on Full Moon nights, guests can play a unique round of “Glow in the Dark Golf.” Meanwhile, The Courses’ popular Igloo Open Golf Series continues during the winter months. In addition, The Golf Shop at The Courses features golf accessories, equipment and fashionable logo apparel for men and women.
The Courses at The Resort at The Mountain can be reached at 503.622.2216 or www.TheResortCourses.com.
Washington County, OR.: The Place to play Golf, and then Some
It has been said among golfers that playing golf in Oregon is an unparalleled and transformational experience. Certainly, these observations apply to golf in Washington County, Ore.
Maybe it’s the beauty of undulating, emerald green fairways, verdant trees, natural wetlands and the rural appeal of vineyards. Perhaps it’s the unpredictable nature of the weather, or the refreshing sound of silence. Whatever the case, Washington County provides ample opportunity to test your golf skills. Located just minutes from downtown Portland, Washington County boasts 12 semi-private and public golf courses, including two of America’s most challenging and respected golf courses: Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club and The Reserve Vineyards and Golf Club. Located in Aloha, Ore., The Reserve Vineyards and Golf Club, a semiprivate course, is one of the most prestigious courses in the state. Known for its vineyard setting and stirring natural beauty, The Reserve has, in recent years, become a “resort” stop for regional golfers from the Pacific Coast. Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club, located nearby in North Plains, Ore., is a semi-private golf club, known for its stellar scenery, world-class dining and resort amenities. Its two courses have been recognized by some of golf ’s most prestigious publications, and it has hosted several high-profile tournaments.
In addition to these exceptional championship courses, Washington County has 10 other courses, ranging from 18-hole championship courses to executive nine-hole courses, each offering challenging play to golfers of all skill levels. Combine a day on the green with a glass of an amazing Pinot noir from the area’s 21 wineries, tax-free shopping and a relaxing gourmet meal at some of the Portland Metro area’s top restaurants, all in the comfort, intimacy and hospitality found in Washington County, Ore., and you have a place to play golf and then some. For more information about Washington County, Ore. and its many offerings, visit www.VisitWashingtonCountyOregon.com or call 800.537.3149.
Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club
As a perennial “Top 100” pick, it comes as no surprise that Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club’s Ghost Creek Golf Course has been selected as host site of the LPGA Safeway Classic in 2009 (August 28-30). Featuring 144 of the world’s top women golfers competing for a $1.7 million prize purse, the Safeway Classic is the latest in a long list of professional and amateur golf championships to be contested at Pumpkin Ridge. When it debuted in 1992, Ghost Creek was named by Golf Digest as the “Best New Public Course in the U.S.” The same year, the club’s exclusive private Witch Hollow Golf Course was named by Golf Digest the “#2 Best New Private Course in the U.S.” Shortly thereafter, Tiger Woods set the tone for an impressive run of championships by capturing his record-setting third consecutive U.S. Amateur title in 1996—an event that was followed by two U.S. Women’s Open Championships; the boys’ and girls’ U.S. Junior Amateur Championship, held simultaneously on the two courses; and the 2006 U.S. Women’s Amateur. While major golf championships and competitors have brought this spectacular pair of Bob Cupp-designed golf gems the most critical acclaim, the courses’ breathtaking beauty, playability and impeccable conditioning have made the two favorites among avid golfers. Framed by panoramic views of the Tualatin Hills and the Coast and Cascade Ranges just 20 miles west of Portland, both courses were designed in the “old style,” leaving the terrain completely natural. Pristine fairways and numerous natural water features provide a serene backdrop for an enjoyable test of golf for all skill levels, while upscale amenities make the club’s beautiful clubhouse an ideal setting for tournaments, business functions, receptions and other special events.
To get to Pumpkin Ridge from downtown Portland, take U.S. 26/Sunset Highway west toward Oregon Beaches (approximately 20 miles). Take Exit #55 Dersham Road Mountaindale. Turn right, proceeding north on Dersham Road. Take the first right at Mountaindale Road, followed by the first left at Old Pumpkin Ridge Road—where you’ll see the entrance to some of the best golf in the Pacific Northwest. For tee time reservations or more information, please call Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club at 503.647.9977, or visit www.PumpkinRidge.com....More Info
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