FAQ

Here are some of the frequently asked questions regarding the renovation and operational plans for the golf course.

Who owns river's edge golf course?

River’s Edge Golf Course is owned and operated by an Oregon Non-Profit LLC governed by the River’s Edge Community Master Association (RECMA).  RECMA represents the interests of the more than 500 home owners that surround the golf course.  As a Oregon non-profit corporation, and all profits from the operation of the golf course go toward improvements and added value.  Nine homeowners from around the course serve on the RECMA Board.  All board meetings are open to the public.

How do I ask a question or offer a suggestion regarding the course?

Simply send an email to support@riversedgegolfbend.com.  Your email will be received by the General Manager, the Superintendent and the Vice President of Golf Course Operations.  You can expect a prompt response.

Are you planning to flood the ponds?

Yes. The ponds are some of the most attractive features of the course.  Our plan is to flood holes 3|4, 7|8, 9, and 15 in April 2023.  The ponds on 7|8 and 15 have waterfall featuers.

The ponds were “grubbed” of debris, shaped and rock walls realigned during the winter.  

Other holes like 13 need to be reshaped aggressively to support our Audubon International commitment to create appropriate habitat.  This pond will be made more shallow to provide habitat for water fowl.   The pond on 5 will be reduced in size to provide a large landing zone at the 2nd cut of the green.  These will be addressed along with the mirror pond on 11 in 2023 and 2024.

 

With all the repairs needed on the golf course why did we buy Toptracer for the range?

The Board’s first priority is to the sustainability of golf based revenue and a profitable business.  Toptracer is part of the long-term value add strategy for River’s Edge.

If you follow any of the golfing news and forecasts the current generation of golfers are a blend of golf and entertainment.  Over 30% of these “golfers” are non-course golfers.  They only hit on the range.  We are nationally advertised by Top Golf as the only range in Bend proper to have Toptracer.

Toptracer is a great training aid, but it is also entertainment to support the fastest growing segment of golf — non-course golfers.   The interesting thing is that this group considers themselves golfers and they buy equipment, gear, and play a lot.

In 2022 the Toptracer system increased our range revenues by more than 20% making it a highly successful endeavor.

 

Will there be more community events at the Clubhouse?

Yes.  We have seen that the community will respond, and the team is looking for more gathering opportunities in 2022 as well as planning for several events in 2023.  

What are we doing about the Sage Rats and Rock Chucks?

The sage rats and the rock chucks are an historic issue at River’s Edge.  We have been working to trap and remove them all year and believe it or not we have reduced the population.  

The sage rats cause the most damage and we started this spring by trying to disrupt their breeding cycle. We did some good, but we  are looking at other options to reduce the sage rat population. 

Unfortunately the scope of this problem is due to the lack of real effort the past few years.  It will take us another couple of years to get this back under control.

We are told that the reason we are seeing all the Rock Chucks is the construction.  They are being forced out of their habitat and are migrating to the golf course and our neighborhoods.  

 

 

What are the local rules for Out-of-Bounds?

The white stakes that line the fairways of River’s Edge define the boundary of the playable golf course.  Going out of bounds (OB) is undoubtedly one of the worst possible results for any of our golf shots.  But it happens, and these are our local rules recommended for casual play and not for competitions regarding OB.

All areas outside the boundary edge of the course are OB and all areas inside that edge are in-bounds.  The boundary edge of the course, as designated by white stakes, extends both up above the ground and down below the ground.

The boundary edge is defined by the direct line from one stake to the next at ground level (excluding angled supports).  You are OB if your ball is resting on this imaginary line or outside of it.

If you believe that your ball may have traveled outside the OB boundary, then we encourage you to play a provisional ball to save time and extra penalty.  You must announce that you are hitting a provisional ball.

If your original shot is OB, your provisional ball is your ball in play with a one-shot penalty under stroke and distance, and you don’t have to take the time to walk all the way back to the spot of your previous stroke.

However, if you did not hit a provisional ball, and with the permission of your playing partners, follow the new Out of Bounds Penalty Procedure adapted by the R&A and USGA in 2019.

Under this rule, for two penalty strokes, you can estimate the spot where your ball is lost or went out of bounds and then find the nearest fairway edge that is not nearer the hole than the estimated spot.  You can drop a ball in the fairway within two club-lengths of that fairway edge point, or anywhere between there and the estimated spot where your ball is lost or went out of bounds.

There were several pieces of construction equipment on hole #10, what is happening?

We have redesigned the cart path.  The engineering on the upper part of path created a safety issue so it is getting shaped to a new, safer grade.   

Additionally, our objective for the course is to soften play for the average golfer.  The current design of the #10 approach does not “reward” an shot left of the green.  The ball will either hit the cart path and go who knows where, or you will be in huge bunker.  

We have removed the cart path on the left side of the hole and are replacing it with a cart path on the right side of the green.  Players will follow the new path 2/3s the distance of the hole, enter the fairway and then return on the right side of the green closer to Mt. Washington to go to #11. 

The current bunker will be reduced in size by 50% or more and the current back portion of the bunker returned to grass creating a shallow swale.  The top area where the cart path was will be shaped and seeded to support a soft landing and hopefully rewarding that shot with a roll to the swale.  We think it will lower the average strokes per hole for the average golfer for #10.