14 Best Golf Courses in Oregon
Oregon, with its lush forests and windswept coast, is a superb area to enjoy golf. Coastal venues like Bandon Dunes display links golf with some of the best golf visuals on earth, while mountain venues like Mt. Hood showcase the majesty of sloping fairways between dense groups of pine trees. Abundant rain makes playing surfaces extremely receptive and advantageous for accurate ball strikers. Take a look at these 14 best golf courses in Oregon and find a way to experience some of the best playing landscapes in the US.
Bandon Dunes Golf Resort
Bandon Dunes Golf Resort is far and away the most sought-after destination for golf in Oregon. The venue has a total of five unique championship courses and one par-3 setup. It is a world-famous golf destination with public access. Bandon Dunes is the original links-style course designed by David McLay Kidd in 1999. It commonly finds itself on the world's top-100 lists and has a demanding rating of 74.5. Its majestic 16th hole is a short par 4 that runs directly along the rugged Pacific coastline. Furthermore, the Tom Doak-designed Pacific Dunes course rates even higher globally, ranking in the top 20 on some lists. It plays even tougher with a rating of 75. This course features multiple holes along the ocean, and it runs through natural dunes which shape each hole.
The resort accommodations have incredible prestige, but the atmosphere remains centered on golf. The property has over ten restaurants, multiple lodges and cottages, and natural trails that run through the courses and lead to the ocean. Bandon Dunes is about 30 minutes from North Bend Airport, and golfing here should be planned as “stay-and-play.” Demand is extremely high, with some tee times requiring booking over a year in advance. Rates to play can run anywhere from $200-$400 depending on the course and season, and caddies are encouraged for the more difficult courses. Bandon Dunes Golf Resort not only tops the list of golf destinations in Oregon, but is a truly world-renowned venue of the game.
Pronghorn Golf Club and Juniper Preserve
Pronghorn Golf Club at Juniper Preserve in Bend is home to both a public and semi-private course. Here, the Tom Fazio Championship Course is typically set apart for members only, but is open for resort guests under certain circumstances. On the other hand, the Jack Nicklaus Signature Course is a desert links-style track that is open to the public. It rates out at a 76 when played from the back tees. The vibrant greens and fairways here present a stark contrast to the region’s charcoal lava fields that border many holes.
The resort is in a secluded area about 30 minutes outside of Bend. Lodging is available in private residences and villas, giving a more village-style feel. Guests can enjoy tours of lava caves that are right on the property or walk, bike, or ride on horseback through numerous trails into the Juniper Forest. Juniper Preserve has a full-service spa and several pools with views of the transcendent Cascade Mountains. In sum, this destination combines world-class golf with a wide array of vacation experiences.
Three Nines at Mt. Hood Oregon Resort
A little over an hour from Portland International Airport in Welches is the Mt. Hood Oregon Resort. Historically, this was one of the first golf resorts in the state as the grounds date back to 1928. The property features a set of three scenic nine-hole tracks. The Pinecone Nine features the venue’s original layout and a welcoming elevated tee box on hole 1. The Foxglove Nine meanders along the Salmon River and holds the signature “rock” in the fairway on its first hole. Additionally, The Thistle Nine is the most walkable layout and plays the easiest, even though it has a significant amount of water hazards. 18 holes can be played here for $70-$85.
Lodging at the resort consists of several suites and villas, with private cabin rentals also available throughout the surrounding community. The property has multiple restaurants, pools, playgrounds, and athletic courts. Other recreational activities in the area include the Mt. Hood Ski Bowl in nearby Government Camp and placid Trillium Lake. Plan your Oregon golf trip around these “three nines” and enjoy everything that the Mt. Hood region has to offer.
Sunriver Resort
Sunriver Resort is about 20 minutes south of Bend and features a set of four different courses. The property’s flagship Crosswater Course is designed by Bob Cupp and is available to resort guests only for anywhere from $200-$300. It has previously hosted events on the PGA Champions Tour and has a rating of 76 from the farthest tees. The Meadows and Woodlands Courses here are open to the public and can be played for $90-$150. Both of these are par 72s and play close to 7,000 yards in length. Finally, the Caldera Links is a short nine-hole par 3 course that can be played for $30-$60.
Overall, Sunriver offers one of the best resort experiences in Oregon. It is family-friendly and features activities such as biking, swimming, flyfishing, and hiking. There are well over ten restaurants of varied cuisine, as well as a full spa and boutique shopping. Golfers looking for a “stay-and-play” resort experience will not be disappointed by this treasure in central Oregon.
Juniper Golf Course
Juniper Golf Course in Redmond is a parkland-style par 72 designed by John Harbottle III. This track presents a nice contrast to the traditional pine-filled fairways of Oregon, as it has a high desert layout that features more sagebrush and rock. This challenges players to deal with changing winds and, as a result, brings the course rating to 73.9. The course can usually be played for anywhere from $40-$100 depending on the season. Juniper’s signature hole is a behemoth 651-yard par 5 that stretches over an open desert landscape.
While this venue is not a full resort, it does have a full restaurant and practice facility. Redmond has direct airport access and substantial dining and lodging options. The surrounding region is also home to Cline Falls and Smith Rock State Parks, both renowned areas for hiking, rock climbing, and photography. Juniper Golf Course is a nice change of pace, offering something different for golf in Oregon.
Aspen Lakes Golf Club
The William Overdorf-designed Aspen Lakes Golf Club is roughly 30 minutes outside of Redmond and features iconic red sand bunkers, which consist of volcanic rock. This parkland par 72 plays quite tough with a rating of 75.4. Players must navigate difficult elevation changes on this track that sits at the feet of the stunning Three Sisters peaks. Golfers should expect to pay around $100 for 18 holes of play.
The property features an on-site restaurant, a driving range with grass tees, and a well-stocked pro shop. Nearby, the FivePine Lodge and Spa is a top-rated hotel and resort within the town of Sisters. Visitors here may also enjoy a simple exploration of the town itself due to its western theme and art-filled downtown ambiance. Come and play at Aspen Lakes and watch your ball fly through the fresh mountain air.
Tokatee Golf Club
Tokatee Golf Club, designed by Robert Muir Graves, is about 40 minutes east of Eugene in the rural town of Blue River. This par 72 features fairways lined with pine trees and runs right by the McKenzie River. The track presents golfers with a moderate test with a rating of 72.4 and can be played for about $70-$90. The back nine holes present a particular challenge, as players must navigate narrower fairways, tree-lined fairways, and ominous creeks and wetlands.
The ambiance at this setting is more relaxed, with a modest clubhouse and pro shop. The surrounding area is essentially the Willamette National Forest, so golfers can enjoy a great connection to the outdoors. Due to Tokatee’s remote setting, nearby lodging is limited aside from a few lodges or cabin rentals. Visitors looking to combine their experience with other engaging activities can stay in Eugene. Either way, a golf outing in Blue River gives the gift of tranquillity in the quiet landscape of the Cascade foothills.
Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club
Pumpkin Ridge is home to two pristine championship golf courses in North Plains, a rural suburb of Portland. Historically, it has played host to LPGA Tour events, as well as the US Junior Amateur Championships. In 2022, LIV Golf held its inaugural US event here where now dynamo 4Aces GC won its first team event. Ghost Creek is a public par-71 course here designed by Bob Cupp and John Fought. It rates at 73.8. Its signature 9th hole is a difficult par 4 due to an approach shot guarded by the course's surname as a penal water hazard. Expect to pay $150-$200 to play here. Witch Hollow, the more challenging of the two, is private and can be played only with member access or during special occasions.
The town of North Plains itself is a quiet escape from the busyness of Portland. It is a great place to stay for visitors looking to focus on golf while enjoying the views and wildlife of the Willamette Valley. Conversely, any serious golfer who finds themselves in the greater Portland area should look to play a round at Ghost Creek.
Langdon Farms Golf Club
Langdon Farms is a links-inspired course built on farmland in the town of Aurora, some 25 minutes south of Portland. This par-71 opened in 1995 and was designed by Bob Cupp and John Fought. This track rates at 73.3, and green fees range widely from $65-$150 depending on demand. It should be noted that Langdon Farms has some of the best drainage in the state, so the course remains playable even after heavy rains. The signature eighth hole features a rustic red barn, which players must navigate around on the left side of the fairway.
Visitors looking to stay outside of Portland can enjoy shopping for antiques or visiting the Aurora Vineyards. The town itself has exhibits dedicated to celebrating its founding as a 19th-century German immigrant utopian community. Lodging options are limited in town, so travellers may want to find a place in nearby Wilsonville if looking to stay nearby. Play a round at Langdon Farms and enjoy one of the premier courses of the Portland region.
Salishan Golf Links
Salishan Golf Links is a Peter Jacobson-inspired coastal course in Gleneden Beach. It plays as a very unique 6400-yard, par-71 course that diversely challenges golfers to navigate forests, hills, and an exposed coast. It rates at 72.7. Green fees range widely from around $60 up to $150 based on demand and season. Here, Hole 15 features a stunning downhill par 3 with a green that seems to guide players down a trail to the Pacific Ocean.
Gleneden Beach is in a more remote coastal setting, about 100 miles southwest of Portland. Players have the option to stay on-site at the Salishan Coastal Lodge, which has over 200 rooms, many of which overlook the ocean. This venue has direct access to the beach and is great for looking at tidepools, collecting shells, or peaceful walking. The property also has a spa, restaurant, and market for its guests. Overall, Salishan Golf links presents a different style of coastal golf in Oregon at a good price.
Eastmoreland Golf Course
Eastmoreland Golf Course, outside downtown Portland, is one of the most historic municipal golf courses in the US. Designed by Chandler Egan, this par-72 plays short and strategically, as a golden-age course dating back to 1917. It has a rating of 72.2, and green fees are quite affordable at $60-$75. Its signature par 4 seventh hole has been featured as one of the best public golf holes, where players must shape their tee shot to a narrow fairway guarded by clusters of distinct trees. The clubhouse and driving range here are a humble representation of some of the earliest roots of golf on the West Coast.
Eastmoreland Golf Course sits in a scenic part of Portland, with Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden and Johnson Creek integrated into its landscape. Several parks, open spaces, and historical homes contribute to a peaceful neighborhood setting just a ten-minute drive from downtown. This venue is a can’t-miss course and is specifically renowned in the spring months when rhododendrons and azaleas are in bloom.
Cross Creek Golf Course
Cross Creek presents a countryside landscape for golf on the outskirts of Salem. This par-72 has a mix of traditional and links-style golf for one of the best values in the state, with green fees at $30-$35. Fairways here are tilted by rolling farmland and natural mounds in the midst of the Cascade and Coast Mountains. Cross Creek is 6,700 yards from the longest tees and has a rating of 72.
The course is within the small city of Dallas, some 20 minutes west of Salem. This is one of Oregon’s richest wine regions, with the Van Duzer, Andante, and Illahe Vineyards all just a few minutes' drive away from the course. The area is also known for the Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge, where visitors can enjoy birdwatching, hiking, or a simple scenic drive. Enjoy the beauty of the Willamette Valley and play a round at Cross Creek.
Seaside Golf Course
About a 20-minute drive from Astoria on the beautiful Oregon coast is Seaside Golf Course. This Chandler Egan designed course dates back to the 1920s and is tucked into the edge of the forest in the beach town of Seaside. The track is only nine holes, but is usually played as a full round using alternate tee boxes. The nine holes play as a par 35 and can be booked for anywhere from $30-$50. It serves as one of the first attempts of coastal golf architecture in Oregon and is unique in the way that it is tree-lined on the coast, as opposed to a dune-based links style of play.
The town of Seaside is one of Oregon’s most notable coastal destinations. It is about 70 miles from Portland airport and has a lively downtown area with a beautiful promenade that lines the beach. Visitors may also consider exploring the Seaside Aquarium, one of the more historically significant venues of its kind on the West Coast. The town also consists of several parks and trails that present tranquil ocean views. By and large, Seaside Golf Course stands as a historic gem in one of Oregon’s most beautiful oceanfront towns.
Trysting Tree Golf Club
Trysting Tree Golf Club in Corvallis is the home course for the Oregon State University golf teams. This par-72 course sits just 10 minutes from downtown and is right in the middle of campus. A parkland layout, Trysting Tree rates out at 74.4 and has a fair amount of water trouble in play. It was designed by Ted Robinson and can be played for a great price, ranging from $40-$70. Hole 17 has been featured as one of the “Great Holes of the Northwest,” a par 3 with a four-quadrant green guarded by water.
Corvallis is a top-tier college town of the Pacific Northwest. Outdoor activities are abundant at sites like the McDonald-Dunn Research Forest and Willamette Riverfront. Restaurants, breweries, vineyards, and local shops all contribute to a youthful energy downtown. The surrounding character and buzz of Oregon State make Trysting Tree well worth playing when in this area of the state.
Find the Green You are Looking for in Oregon
Without question, Oregon is home to some of the most scenic golf backdrops on the planet. The juxtaposition of settings like the open farmland of Langdon Farms with city skyline backdrops of courses like Eastmoreland offers an amazing variety to any golfer. Enjoy working through this list of the 14 best golf courses in Oregon next time you travel to the Pacific Northwest.
