Oregon: the land of lush greenery, dramatic coastlines, and more craft beers per capita than golf balls in your water hazard. It’s a state where a morning drizzle might make your putter slip and where flannel shirts are considered both fashion and function. If you’re planning to pack your clubs and head to the Pacific Northwest for some tee-time therapy, you’ve come to the right place. Allow me to walk you through Oregon’s fairways, forests, and fabulously quirky accommodations. Bring an extra sweater—you’re gonna need it.
1. Bandon Dunes: Where Windy Shores and Wedges Collide
Bandon Dunes is basically the holy grail of Oregon golf, a coastal pilgrimage site where links-style courses roll and tumble beside the Pacific. Picture yourself striking a perfect tee shot as briny ocean air whips your cheeks—now picture it again, but with your shot hooking straight into a cluster of gorse. (It’s okay; you’ll still feel poetic.) Courses like Bandon Dunes, Pacific Dunes, and Old Macdonald are no joke—they’re world-famous, often windy, and can reduce a confident golfer into a philosophical existentialist. “Why am I here? Did I forget my rain gloves?”
Where to Crash: The Lodge at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort
Right on-site, The Lodge makes you feel less like you’re checking into a hotel and more like you’re stepping into a golf cult’s inner sanctum—and I mean that in the best way possible. The staff knows your name, your tee time, and possibly your stance width. Sink into a cozy chair with a local IPA after your round and contemplate life’s mysteries: Why does your 8-iron hate you?
2. Central Oregon: High Desert Golf and High Spirits
Venture inland to find Bend and its high desert climate, where you can actually get a sunburn while staring at snow-capped peaks. Courses like Crosswater Club at Sunriver Resort and Tetherow Golf Club challenge you to navigate rolling terrain that looks like the backdrop of an inspirational poster. Keep an eye out for wildlife. Deer might watch you fluff a chip shot—just pretend they’re impressed.
Where to Snooze: Sunriver Resort
Sunriver Resort is that friend’s house you never want to leave. Cute lodges, crackling fireplaces, and hot tubs that whisper sweet nothings to your sore shoulders. One day you’re golfing, the next day you’re biking, the next you’re sipping an Oregon Pinot Noir while the sun sets over the Cascades. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself naming the local squirrels after your favorite golfers—“There goes Squirrel Mickelson again.”
3. Portland Area: Urban Hipster Golf Adventures
You didn’t think you’d visit Oregon without swinging through Portland, did you? While not as famous for its golf courses as its donut shops and gourmet food trucks, the Portland area still has some gems. Check out Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club, where Tiger Woods kicked off his pro career. Make sure to practice your putting, because if you four-putt the 18th, the ghost of your golf dreams might be permanently etched into local lore.
Where to Snooze: The Nines, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Portland
A swanky downtown hotel perched above Pioneer Square, The Nines is so fancy you might feel underdressed in your cargo shorts—don’t worry, Portland is chill, and they’ve probably seen weirder. Splurge on a room, then take a stroll to get a local craft brew and some artisanal chocolate. The concierge won’t judge you for showing up at midnight craving a Voodoo Doughnut—heck, they might even join you.
4. Willamette Valley: Wine, Vines, and…Well-Placed Fescue
If your ideal round of golf involves rolling terrain dotted with vineyards (and the promise of a liquid consolation prize), Willamette Valley is calling your name. Courses like Langdon Farms Golf Club give you that sweet mix of farmland views and top-notch greens. Just remember: sipping a Pinot Gris mid-round might not lower your score, but it will make you care a lot less about it.
Where to Rest: The Allison Inn & Spa
If your scorecard looks like a phone number, The Allison is here to pamper your golf-induced sorrows away. Unwind at their spa with a Pinot Noir facial—yes, that’s a thing—and then dine in their fancy restaurant where locally sourced ingredients play nicer than your 5-wood. You’ll leave feeling more balanced, more relaxed, and possibly more open to the idea that three-putts build character.
5. Southern Oregon: Redwood Vibes and Remote Fairways
Down near the California border, you’ll find hidden gems like Running Y Ranch Resort in Klamath Falls. This Arnold Palmer-designed course offers year-round playability and sweeping views of the Cascade Range. If you’ve never seen a bald eagle circle overhead while you duff a chip, now’s your chance to make nature weep with laughter (or admiration, your call).
Where to Unwind: Running Y Ranch Resort
After you’ve experienced the course, retreat to a lodge room where the décor basically says, “We know you might have doubled the last hole, but we still love you.” Cozy up by the fireplace, stroll the nature trails, or just breathe in that crisp mountain air. Before you know it, you’ll be too relaxed to remember how many strokes you took in that last bunker.
Final Thoughts:
Oregon golf is a journey through microclimates, microbreweries, and micro-disasters in your short game. From coastal dunes that whisper ancient golfing secrets to high-desert fairways that beg for a cool IPA finish, the Beaver State demands you embrace the weather, the wildlife, and the weirdness. Bring layers, bring patience, and bring a sense of humor—because in Oregon, every tee time comes with a side of adventure, a sip of Pinot, and a friendly nudge toward not taking yourself too seriously. Enjoy the ride.