The Best Golf Courses in Oregon You Can Play
The year was 1999 and the golf world was buzzing thanks to a small town in Oregon called Bandon. American billionaire Mike Keiser decided to start moving earth in this town near the Pacific Ocean and enlisted David McLay Kidd to sculpt what would become the first course at Bandon Dunes. Today, Bandon remains one of the top golf destinations in the world and has continued to grow. Not only did Bandon Dunes put Oregon on the golf map, but it raised the bar for golf destinations worldwide. These are the best golf courses you can play in Oregon. A remote trip, certainly. A golfers’ paradise, definitely.
Bandon Dunes Golf Resort (Bandon Dunes, Pacific Dunes, Old Macdonald)
| City | Bandon, Oregon |
| Yardage | 6,732 (Bandon Dunes); 6,643 (Pacific Dunes); 6,944 (Old Macdonald) |
| Rating/Slope | 74.1/143 (Bandon Dunes); 73.2/143 (Pacific Dunes); 74.4/134 (Old Macdonald) |
| Peak Rate | $345 |
We start with the biggest name in the state, Bandon Dunes Golf Resort. The resort truly kick-started the Oregon golf madness that has taken place over the past 20-plus years. Mike Keiser could have built a golf resort anywhere in the world, but he chose the small town near the Pacific Ocean, and the rest is history. Bandon Dunes has continued to grow, with six courses and practice facilities that rival the best in the world. Getting there may be tough, but once you do, the resort has numerous lodging options. Due to Bandon's remote location, you have to fly into a regional airport through a connection in either Denver or San Francisco.
We could have featured all six Bandon Dunes Resort courses but tabbed these three as our standout favorites. Depending on how much time you have, you certainly can play all six in one trip.
Bandon Dunes
Bandon Dunes is the OG course on property. The David McLay Kidd design that started it all is still one of the biggest attractions on the property. You get a ton of views from high above the Pacific Ocean, which also blows in some serious wind. Make sure you have a solid understanding of what a one-club wind feels like compared to a two-club wind. The course is an absolute joy to play, and if you were to only experience one course at the resort, it has to be this one.
Pacific Dunes
Pacific Dunes opened in 2001 and was designed by Tom Doak. The course is completely different than Bandon, requiring precise shot-making to navigate the absolutely massive sand dunes. There are a ton of natural sandy areas for your ball to run into, even on after a great drive. You don't so play Pacific Dunes as much as you experience it.
Old Macdonald
Old Macdonald is the fourth installment at Bandon Dunes Resort. Doak teamed up with Jim Urbina to give players a throwback to the designs of Charles Blair Macdonald, hence the name. The course brings in some fun bends and forced carries that make it a thinkers course more than anything else. It has some wicked green complexes, but they’re so much fun to experience.
Silvies Valley Ranch (Hankins, Craddock)
| City | Seneca, Oregon |
| Yardage | 7,075 (Hankins) 7,035 (Craddock) |
| Rating/Slope | 71.8/120 (Hankins) 71.9/120 (Craddock) |
| Peak Rate | $200 |
Silvies Valley Ranch is in the city of Seneca in the eastern part of Oregon. It’s another remote area of the state but this resort boasts five golf courses varying in yardage and difficulty. We like Silvies Valley Ranch because you can have an awesome golf trip with anyone. Whether you’re looking to get away for a couple's trip or a few days with buds, Silvies Valley Ranch has you covered. We highly recommend checking out their different offerings which are tailored to whatever type of experience you’re looking for.
The Hankins Course
Of the five courses on the property, our favorite is the Hankins course. This layout gives you some generous landing areas but you’ll likely run into little fairway bumps and bunkers along the way which can turn holes around quickly, in a bad way.
The craziest part about the course is that it's reversible, meaning you can play two completely different routings on consecutive days before you even tee it up at another Silvies Valley track.
The Craddock Course
If avoiding water hazards isn't your strong suit, check out the Craddock course, which offers over 100 bunkers but not a single water hazard. Craddock is appropriately named after the family that settled much of the surrounding area in Seneca. You’ll get plenty of great views over Silvies Valley and experience a little more elevation change on this side. The Craddock course is also reversible, so you can play it in a completely different direction.
Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club (Ghost Creek)
| City | North Plains, Oregon |
| Yardage | 6,834 |
| Rating/Slope | 74.5/146 |
| Peak Rate | $125 |
Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club is much closer to the busier parts of Oregon -- we're looking at you, Portland -- if that's what you're looking for. Located in the city of North Plains, Pumpkin Ridge is about 22 miles from Portland and Vancouver, Washington. Pumpkin Ridge offers two courses, a private course called Witch Hollow, and the public track, Ghost Creek.
Playing Ghost Creek is an incredibly fun way to spend four hours, but you’ll be surprised how much it can beat you up if you’re not hitting fairways and greens. Ghost Creek was designed by Bob Cupp and is consistently ranked as a top course in the U.S. It hosted professional events such as the Nike Tour Championship where David Duval won in 1993. The wetlands at Ghost Creek add to the natural beauty and shape of each hole, complementing the trees and mountain vistas. If you’re in the Portland area, Pumpkin Ridge is a must-visit.
The Club at Pronghorn (Nicklaus)
| City | Bend, Oregon |
| Yardage | 7,379 |
| Rating/Slope | 75.2/151 |
| Peak Rate | $215 |
The city of Bend is in the central part of Oregon, about 140 miles east of Eugene. It’s another one of Oregon's sneaky good golf towns, and The Club at Pronghorn won't dissapoint. The Jack Nicklaus signature course is all business with a minimalist approach to routing and obstacles. You simply have to have your game tuned up in order to even think about scoring on this course from the Golden Bear. Of course, if you’d like to move up to other tee boxes, the course plays a bit easier, but there's no getting away from some of the firmest and fastest greens you’ll ever find on a public course.
Visually, the course is stunning. It features lava rock ridges and beautiful views of the Cascade Mountains. We highly recommend staying at the resort and checking out the Tom Fazio course on the property, which is another solid test of golf.
Crosswater Golf Course
| City | Sunriver, Oregon |
| Yardage | 7,683 |
| Rating/Slope | 76.9/150 |
| Peak Rate | $175 |
Crosswater Golf Course is technically a private club, however, if you’re staying at the Sunriver Resort you have access to this amazing track for only $175 during peak season. This heathland-style course is pressed up against the Deschutes and Little Deschutes Rivers, which produce some beautiful wetland scenery. In addition, the Deschutes National Forest is nearby, so the topography and natural areas are outstanding. While you're at it, you may as well check out the Deschutes Brewery as well.
The course carries many accolades as a top-100 on just about every list imaginable. Pictures simply do not do Crosswater Golf Course justice. We can just say that it’s Pacific Northwest golf in its purest form.
The Oregon Golf Scene
Golf in Oregon exploded in 1999 with the opening of Bandon Dunes. Bandon truly put Oregon on the map for golf enthusiasts worldwide.
Today, Oregon has over 200 golf courses. Gearhart Golf Links is not only the oldest golf course in Oregon, it's the oldest course west of the Mississippi. Established in 1892, the course is still open for play and is a slice of Oregon's golf history.
The state doesn't have many native professional golfers, but what it lacks in quantity, it makes up for in quality. Peter Jacobsen was born in Portland in 1954 and also played his collegiate golf at the University of Oregon.