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Central Oregon Golf Trail CENTRAL
natural geography, Central Oregon has undeniably become a
mecca for outdoor adventurists regardless of their activity of
choice. For good reason, too. Bordered by the Cascade Range
to the west and the High Desert to the east, with Wild & Scenic
rivers, pristine mountain lakes, and perfectly preserved lava caves,
Central Oregon’s unique landscape has created a wealth of outdoor
recreational opportunities.
BLACK BUTTE RANCH
to the High Desert—has naturally forged a canvas where all styles
of golf design are possible. Desert links carved from the region’s
volcanic rock, classic parkland-style designs, Scottish-style links,
and mountain courses with fairways shaped by ponderosa and
lodgepole pines are close enough you can hit two in one day.
Because so many of the masters of design have chosen to ply their
trade in Central Oregon, courses such as the Jack Nicklaus Course
at Pronghorn (ranked No. 37 on Golf Digest’s list), Cupp’s pristine
Crosswater (No. 55), and Kidd’s fescue-carpeted Tetherow (No. 71)
can all be internationally celebrated while offering three distinct Central Oregon’s reputation as an outdoor mecca is widely-known
golf experiences. Imaginative gems such as Black Butte Ranch’s and well-deserved. But it also is home to a thriving arts and
Glaze Meadow, a Fought redesign inspired by golf’s golden era of entertainment scene that makes it a bona fide destination for concerts,
architecture, and desert masterpieces like Jacobsen’s Brasada Ranch festivals, cultural immersion, and artistic expression. From outdoor
only add to the region’s rich tapestry. concert venues that attract true headliners like Dave Matthews
Band and Jack Johnson, to the High Desert Museum that explores
the area’s history, culture, flora, and fauna, to an impressive list of
artists, authors, and performers who call Central Oregon home, the
region is as cultured as cities many times its size.
A debate rages in these parts on just what time of year is the best to
plan a golf trip. Is it the summer, when the sun shines nearly every
day and temperatures average in the mid-80s? Or is it the fall and
spring, which typically offer milder temperatures, open tee sheets,
and similarly peak conditioning?
Perhaps the best idea might be to make a trip each season. It could be
the only way to fit it all in. The 30 courses
of the Central Oregon Golf Trail are nearly
PRONGHORN RESORT as endless as the skies overhead. Discover
the pure beauty and pure golf found on the
sunny side of Oregon.
Hard as it might be to believe, though, there is more to Central
Oregon than just golf. And that only makes a golf trip to the region
that much more appealing. Central Oregon’s famously laid-back
lifestyle has fostered a rich culinary scene and made it a hub for THE TRAIL AWAITS
craft brewing, just the thing for a buddies golf trip. Yet the region www.centraloregongolftrail.com
is also home to an outdoor playground. Blessed with incomparable
www.golfingOREGONmagazine.com OREGON GOLF & TRAVEL GUIDE 2022 31