I’ll bet you didn’t know that if Oregon were a treasure map, we’d be where “X” marks the spot. You see, all roads lead to River’s Edge, the best golf course in Central Oregon. Whether you’re near the coast on I-5 and take Highway 20 from Eugene and Salem or travel Highway 97 inland near Yakima or north from Crater Lake, your prize is where the highways cross in Bend.
Another thing you might not know is that River’s Edge is open 10 months of the year (closed in December and January). You’ll be able to see plenty of snow on the top of nearby Mt. Bachelor and still enjoy some fantastic golf. The sights are breathtaking, and the course is just minutes from the Riverhouse Hotel along the Deschutes River, featuring 220 beautiful rooms, pools, a spa, exercise room, and restaurants.
The course is close enough to spend a practice session on our putting green and hitting a bucket of balls and coming back after breakfast for a great round of golf. Or you can even play a round in the morning and head back to the course after a nap in your Riverhouse room.
Wild Challenges and Wildlife at Bend’s Top Golf Course
You’ll find some of the most challenging golf in Oregon at Bend’s top golf course. And since golf sometimes comes with ups and downs, we get you started with an enticing approach shot on the sixth hole to our elevated green. You can’t miss it. It’s the one with the spectacular 25-foot waterfall.
Heading back down on the back nine, the par 3 16th hole features a green strategically set 200 feet below the tee boxes. But don’t worry, it plays shorter than you’d think and has yielded some phenomenal hole-in-one dramatics. It would be best if you considered a two-club drop to accommodate the setting of the green.
You’ll also encounter an abundance of wildlife on the course-way and in the sky. You may hear the screech of a great horned owl flying overhead or sitting in a ponderosa pine where you’ll be able to see its feather tufts looking like cat ears. Bald eagles are also common in the mornings.
Black-tailed deer are regularly seen along the landscape, in the rough, with bucks spotted by their wide antlers. Don’t worry about the squirrels and yellow-bellied marmots. It’s just a rumor that they dash across the greens and carry pin-high balls away. Mostly, you’ll see them scampering in the brush and the trees.
Finally, River’s Edge, known for its challenging course layout designed by Robert Muir Graves, was honored as one of Golf Digest’s “Best Places to Play.” That’s not a surprise, as the course is surrounded by fantastic scenery and presents challenges at every turn.
You’ll want to use your scorecard because several locations across the course present blind shots that will provoke your competitive nature and stir you to new heights of golf feats that adrenalin junkies crave. Now that you know the features, be prepared for a great round of golf!