Private clubs in Bend?

Thanks to the virus my transfer to Bend OR is on hold until probably next year. I had planned to visit some of the private clubs over the next few months when I was there which is not going to happen. In the meantime I would like to get a couple of recommendations on places to start, I've looked all over on-line but the descriptions I have found are not real helpful. Obviously I'm looking for good golf but also a relaxed family friendly place, not interested in having to wear a tie and jacket in the bar if you get my drift. Would like a place that has some winter stuff going on at the club.

Thanks

It's Bend dude....there isn't a suit anywhere within 80 miles!! LOL.

Pronghorn has 2 courses - both quite good; but a drive out of town.

Brasada Ranch - personally my favorite course - I just enjoy the way it plays and everything about it

Bend Country Club - Older style, some of the best greens anywhere

Crosswater - Open to the public if they stay on property, (and a couple of other ways) - Sunriver area of course has everything which makes it appealing

Based on your ask, I would probably rule out BCC. I would look at the other 3 to see what features appeal most and the drives too. Just a guess, but you may find Crosswater to your preference. (since there are 4 total courses on the property).

Technically, Tetherow is semi-private; but I wouldn't ever recommend it as a club to join - The course is not something I would ever want to play more than a couple times a month.

Tetherow - absolute love it/hate it course. As above not a course I want to play day in/day out. From experience the members think they are SUPER cool and I can’t stand the GM/soon to be owner, horribly run. Plus you will have to deal with public play. I know a few members who have left and 1 who is a member at there and Pronghorn and prefers the 30 minute drive to the ‘Horn.

Pronghorn - I think you have to own a property to be a member but not 100% positive. Have full access to both courses and tee times are never an issue (there were some summer days where both courses combined had under 100 rounds played). Both fun courses that offer different things.

Bend CC - bland course with immaculate greens (top 5 in the state if not PNW). From my understanding a very comfortable, active and down to earth membership group.

Broken Top & Awbrey Glen - both average quirky courses with more of a snowbird (winters in Palm Springs/Arizona) membership. Probably not what you are looking for.

Brasada - Never played but heard nothing but very positive. A bit out there unless you live in Redmond (which is not the worst option based on housing costs). Not sure I would make it my course if I didn’t live there, but of a drive).

Crosswater (Sunriver) - Access to all 4 courses I believe, 3 18’s & a par 3. Another bit of a drive being in Sunriver. Fun course but I kind of think it’s overrated.

Hope this helps. Also, public golf kind of sucks. Rivers Edge, the Old Back Nine & Lost Tracks stink. Everything else is over $100 per round and up to $250. Unless you want to go to Redmond or south to LaPine.

Guys these comments are really very helpful. I played Sunriver/Woodlands last fall with my future boss and thought it was wonderful so I will keep all these comments in mind. Not sure why but I did get the sense that most/many of the players on the Woodlands course were snowbirds too. Is that typical of the other courses out of town? One thing I promised the wife is that the club would have something going on in the winter which worries me a little for some of the resort courses if the entire membership is in Palm Springs in December. Do you think that is a particular issue anywhere?

And thanks again.

Just IMO -
Your choices and decision will likely be significantly based on where you end up living.
Pronghorn is the best from a golf perspective. The problem is that you have to live there. I personally wouldn’t want to commute and it’s not really a kid-friendly type of place.
Sunriver is similar. Great courses, I wouldn’t recommend living there.
Eagle Crest - Near Redmond. Excellent golf and other facilities. Similar in nature to Sunriver, but newer and more compact. If you have children, it puts them in the Redmond district. Well worth visiting.
In/near town -
Broken Top - This would be my pick. It’s in town on the west side. It’s an excellent community first, that also has a wide variety of other activities available. There are several ‘sub-communities’. Some are snowbird as @mallrat states, but the area to the south very much isn’t, and the housing is cheaper there, not that Bend housing is in any way inexpensive. The course has some unique features, but I wouldn’t call it quirky and I like it a lot.
Aubry Glen is another alternative. Nice course, flatter, good alternative activities, not at the level of Broken Top.
Tetherow - As others have stated, a rather love it or hate it location. The course is different and difficult. Unless you go with a member or other knowledgeable player initially, you’ll most likely not have an optimal experience.
shoot me a pm if you want to play.

I was in Bend for business last year and it's a beautiful place. If real estate was less expensive, Bend would be on my shortlist for retirement. I hope your move works out for you.

There will not be much going on at most of the courses in the winter. Remember, there will be snow on the ground. Maybe some smaller events. Crosswater probably will have the most going on since it is a ski resort in the winter. I'll try and ask my bros inlaws, as they are members out there.

For the winter I'm talking about the clubhouse staying open & stuff for the my wife/kids etc. Our old club had a pretty decent social calendar not my thing but, Santa Clause, Xmas parties, watch nights, bingo, cooking classes, yada yada yada. So if there was a club that did all that in winter I'd probably have to start there.

All the club houses stay open in the winter. When I say snowbird, they are mostly an older clientele. From my knowledge BCC has most likely the youngest average membership and the members I know are very active there.

Tetherow has a younger membership with decent kids activities but it’s not really a kid friendly place.

Sincerely guys thanks again for all of your comments, even the wife is impressed

HIt me a PM when you are in town and I will take you to Bend Golf Club. Old parkland course, best greens in town by far. We have 50 members 6 or better and it is all about the golf. Great membership but our club house is dated and we do not care because the greens are PURE...

That’s a very kind offer and I may well take you up on it when I’m there in July. I’m around 10 at the moment but looking to play a lot more often.

He’s not kidding about the greens. To my knowledge better Poa greens than some tour stops. At first I thought he was just proud of his club but hearing what Supers from other courses say he’s not just proud. @Wardonation Is it strictly a golf club and how involved are the other members? Do they do certain nights and events that a lot of families attend?

Yes lots of family events BUT our clubhouse is dated the salt water pool is indoors same with the tennis courts. We have a tremendous junior program. We have a 250 yard practice hole as well a 3 chipping greens. We have a bunker remodel right around the corner as well. Membership is what makes BGC awesome though, so good and NOT stuffy...

I’ve always thought of Bend as a more laid back almost blue collar club vs the snootiness of a Tetherow. An example is Northwest Crossing, when we moved up there we loved NW Crossing. Once we got up there we realized the people in that area are not who we are and who we wanted to be. We lived in the SW area but liked the Eastside. I don’t picture the NW Crossing crowd being the BGC crowd. @Wardonation Is that an accurate description?

We are trying to arrange a visit now. My wife and I are pretty easy going, I’m originally from Scotland and I just don’t have the energy to deal with the daft nonsense that goes on at the more “exclusive” clubs. The club I played at in Scotland was a pretty good example of what not to do. Don’t think they admitted ladies until 1990s. Thanks again for all the advice it has been very helpful and Has already saved us a lot of time.

Look up Allan at Crosswater if you want to reminisce about Scotland. He’s the assistant Super there and worked at St Andrews.

Bend has changed over the last 5 years for the worse IMO. Bend is/was an old blue collar mill town but snooty snobby people have changed that over the last few years. Tetherow IMO is a great layout but has the worst greens and green complexes maybe in Oregon. You have several greens that you cannot two period, plus it is not a private club. Being a member at Tetherow you have to fight with guests to get tee times as well. BGC and Awbrey are the only member owned clubs left in town. Tetherow does a great job with everything but golf though hands down. Xwater is a great track but your golf season is about two months shorter than any club in Bend...

Love this: "snooty snobby people have changed that!! Definitely true - I make many trips there and even as an outsider I have seen that change.

Jumping in, this is a great read. I am moving to the Bend area likely in the next year, looking at Eagle Crest, Awbrey Glen and SunRiver Resort. Great info here!

Don’t move to Sunriver unless you are going to retire there or have a second home. They are ridiculously strict (homeowners association) and you are a 20 min drive from Bend. Awbrey Glen is right in the middle of NW Bend and some big $ houses (that are generally not worth the $) and Eagle crest is over 30 minutes from Bend. FWIW

We only lives there for a year and a half but it seems like the influx of out of state people is really changing Bend. More specifically the white collar work from home out of staters. With the housing costs going up it seems to be driving a lot of people to Redmond.

Thanks, appreciate it. This would definitely be a retirement home. Bend home prices are high, but fortunately do-able. Redmond/Eagle Crest seem like a better value, and don’t really know a ton about SunRiver other than it’s south of Bend.

In Sunriver u can join Crosswater or play Quail Run. Bend’s public golfing isn’t great. If you can handle not being in the middle of Bend, Sunriver would be good but it takes a little effort to do anything. Plus you have to be ready for the influx of people in summer. I would rent for a year and figure out where you would like to live.

On 5/19/2020 at 2:45 PM, mallrat said:

I’ve always thought of Bend as a more laid back almost blue collar club vs the snootiness of a Tetherow. An example is Northwest Crossing, when we moved up there we loved NW Crossing. Once we got up there we realized the people in that area are not who we are and who we wanted to be. We lived in the SW area but liked the Eastside. I don’t picture the NW Crossing crowd being the BGC crowd. @Wardonation Is that an accurate description?

This town has changed so much in last 3 years it is sad. We now have Tesla's in parking lot instead of trucks... Too many people and the secret is out for sure, I am leaving after 20 plus years, sad really

8 hours ago, Wardonation said:

This town has changed so much in last 3 years it is sad. We now have Tesla's in parking lot instead of trucks... Too many people and the secret is out for sure, I am leaving after 20 plus years, sad really

 Leaving Bend or the club? We were only there for a year and it was WAY different than we expected. The amount of dooshy overly rich do gooders was insane. I have 2 friends born and raised there and they can’t stand the people and don’t get me started in the NW crossing crowd. 

I've only played the Bend CC for the Oregon am a few years ago, but really like the course...and it's close to town. 

On 8/20/2020 at 4:22 PM, mallrat said:

 Leaving Bend or the club? We were only there for a year and it was WAY different than we expected. The amount of dooshy overly rich do gooders was insane. I have 2 friends born and raised there and they can’t stand the people and don’t get me started in the NW crossing crowd. 

Leaving Bend the club is great best greens in NW period.. 

On 5/29/2020 at 10:44 PM, mallrat said:

In Sunriver u can join Crosswater or play Quail Run. Bend’s public golfing isn’t great. If you can handle not being in the middle of Bend, Sunriver would be good but it takes a little effort to do anything. Plus you have to be ready for the influx of people in summer. I would rent for a year and figure out where you would like to live.

I actually ended up going the other way.  Bought at Brasada Ranch in Powell Butte.  Seems reasonable enough of a drive to get to Bend if we want, same as Sisters.  A little more of a hike to get to Mt Bachelor, unfortunately though.  But the neighborhood felt like a good fit, and I liked the golf course too.

6 hours ago, pgetzen said:

I actually ended up going the other way.  Bought at Brasada Ranch in Powell Butte.  Seems reasonable enough of a drive to get to Bend if we want, same as Sisters.  A little more of a hike to get to Mt Bachelor, unfortunately though.  But the neighborhood felt like a good fit, and I liked the golf course too.

Nice to hear...I really enjoy Brasada...imo it is such a fun course with great views.  I have played it from 3 sets of tees and felt it was kinda like a different course.  The greens are wonderful.  I enjoyed the people at the club more than the other places.  

Good to hear about the people.  So far the people we have met at the club seem like nice, down to earth people, thinking it will be a good fit for us.  Moving there in the spring, and really looking forward to being there.