Tetherow, Pronghorn or Crosswater - which is best for a pre-Bandon round at Bend?

[Chanceman]

Planning a trip to Bandon next year with a stop in Bend en route. For a one-time play, how do they rate and compare to each other? Any other suggestions?

[ryu123]

have played all of the courses discussed.

 

Despite Tetherow being designed by D. Kidd (who did Bandon Dunes), it is severely limited by the land, which is on a steep hillside. The routing felt forced & weird.

 

Both Pronghorn courses are fun; I preferred Nicklaus over Fazio because the par 3s were more interesting.

 

Crosswater was a huge disappointment. It's dead flat except for several raised tee boxes, & the stream that cuts across the property means many mid iron layups.

 

Aspen Lakes and Juniper are okay, but apparently recently have conditioning issues.

 

If you're looking for an experience similar to Bandon, it's not in Bend.

 

(The course I really liked in the area was Black Butte Ranch (Glaze Meadow), but it's not like any of the Bandon courses because it's situated in a forest.)

 

As a die-hard Bandonista, I'd recommend getting to Bandon as fast as possible.

[Chanceman]

Thanks Ryu, but I will be driving down from Canada so have to stop somewhere mid-Oregon. I will have a look at Black Butte, not heard of it before, as it sounds interesting. Agreed that it will be hard to beat any of the Bandon tracks but its my second trip to Keiserland and always looking for a new experience.

[titleistfreak77]

Stay and Play Tetherow, it's downtown, Pronghorn is way out in the middle of nowhere, and Crosswater is far south.

I found the topography and fun of Tetherow is 10x better.

[mallrat]

Interesting take Ryu as Tetherow is one of my favorite layouts, I thought the routing and options off the tee are outstanding BUT it has the worst greens complexes of any course i’ve Ever played. I hate that good shots end up in very bad spots quite often.

 

I feel the same as Ryu about Crosswater, just a bummer to me. I love both Pronghorn courses as they offer different things but i’ll Throw a monkey wrench in here. If you want to play something close to links play Tetherow, otherwise.

 

 

Drive an hour and a half towards Eugene and play Tok-A-Tee. There isn’t a more fitting course to describe Oregon. You can get some good rates and it is in the middle of a quaint little town where you can stay for cheap or drive an hour after your round and stay in Eugene and you are only 2 hours from Bandon.

 

Hope that helps.

[Wardonation]

Fazio at Pronghorn hands down...

[bellken]

Bend, OR is on the east side of the Cascade Mountain range. Depending on where you are coming from in Canada, it could be a bit out of the way.

[Pulledabill]

Not sure where you coming from but you migt find what you are looking for on the i-5 corridor. If you are set on Bend, pick one then hit Tokatee along the way to Bandon. You could always head through Walla Walla and play Wine Valley.

[spud3]

Wine Valley gets my vote. Also, Elk Ridge in the Columbia Gorge has greens that are like little versions of Old Mac.

[puttnforthe8]

If in Bend you have Brasada Ranch too...I personally prefer it to any other course in Bend...but that is just me. However, it is still top 3 courses.

[mallrat]

> @puttnforthe8 said:

> If in Bend you have Brasada Ranch too...I personally prefer it to any other course in Bend...but that is just me. However, it is still top 3 courses.

 

I think you have to do a stay and play to get on there now but I may be wrong

 

[puttnforthe8]

> @mallrat said:

> > @puttnforthe8 said:

> > If in Bend you have Brasada Ranch too...I personally prefer it to any other course in Bend...but that is just me. However, it is still top 3 courses.

>

> I think you have to do a stay and play to get on there now but I may be wrong

>

 

You are correct....they closed the loophole they had previously! :(

[jpdx]

I'm playing Pronghorn Saturday. I don't miss it if I'm in or around Bend, however I have not played Bandon so I have no comment on how it would compare. I feel that the type of golf is pretty different between Pronghorn, Tetherow, Juniper as well. If you're dead set on stopping at Bend enroute, 100% would recommend Pronghorn over those others.

[soregongolfer]

> @jpdx said:

> I'm playing Pronghorn Saturday. I don't miss it if I'm in or around Bend, however I have not played Bandon so I have no comment on how it would compare. I feel that the type of golf is pretty different between Pronghorn, Tetherow, Juniper as well. If you're dead set on stopping at Bend enroute, 100% would recommend Pronghorn over those others.

 

I've only played the public course at Pronghorn, but it is fantastic. Definitely my favorite course over there though I have yet to play Brasada or Crosswater.

 

For the OP, there are a lot of good courses in and around Bend. Just pick one and I doubt you'll be disappointed.

[jpdx]

> @soregongolfer said:

> > @jpdx said:

> > I'm playing Pronghorn Saturday. I don't miss it if I'm in or around Bend, however I have not played Bandon so I have no comment on how it would compare. I feel that the type of golf is pretty different between Pronghorn, Tetherow, Juniper as well. If you're dead set on stopping at Bend enroute, 100% would recommend Pronghorn over those others.

>

> I've only played the public course at Pronghorn, but it is fantastic. Definitely my favorite course over there though I have yet to play Brasada or Crosswater.

>

> For the OP, there are a lot of good courses in and around Bend. Just pick one and I doubt you'll be disappointed.

 

I've yet to play crosswater or brasada as well. one of these days....

[spud3]

I like Crosswater. Sure, there's not a lot of elevation, but I'm okay with that. The design is really good.

[zzyzxx33]

One our member put this site together. https://centraloregon.golf/

And here is a thread with some other options on the area.

https://forums.golfwrx.com/discussion/comment/18878615#Comment_18878615

[Exwinger20]

Having played all the courses you mentioned I would agree with mallrat that Tethrow is most Bandon like experience of the courses but is nothing close to Bandon. The greens do not fit the type of game that the rest of the courses wants you to play. The ground game there is not a options most of the time as the greens are just to severe especially with the speed they run them at. I will throw out another option if you are coming from the east is Silvies. While its has tons of elevation and is not quite Bandon it does play firm and fast and is fun. The experience there is also just incredible.

[Davidelliott100]

> @spud3 said:

> Wine Valley gets my vote. Also, Elk Ridge in the Columbia Gorge has greens that are like little versions of Old Mac.

 

I'll be a third for Wine Valley if Walla Walla is an option. A very pleasant place to play golf, and semi similar conditions to Bandon if that is possible.

[kencanuck]

Another vote for Brasada Ranch...I too personally prefer it to any other course in Bend...I also played both Pronghorn courses and certainly enjoyed them. Drove from Canada as well and it was a nice break and got the swing ready for Bandon!

[thejazzmarauder]

On 4/25/2019 at 4:58 AM, ryu123 said:

have played all of the courses discussed.

 

Despite Tetherow being designed by D. Kidd (who did Bandon Dunes), it is severely limited by the land, which is on a steep hillside. The routing felt forced & weird.

 

Both Pronghorn courses are fun; I preferred Nicklaus over Fazio because the par 3s were more interesting.

 

Crosswater was a huge disappointment. It's dead flat except for several raised tee boxes, & the stream that cuts across the property means many mid iron layups.

 

Aspen Lakes and Juniper are okay, but apparently recently have conditioning issues.

 

If you're looking for an experience similar to Bandon, it's not in Bend.

 

(The course I really liked in the area was Black Butte Ranch (Glaze Meadow), but it's not like any of the Bandon courses because it's situated in a forest.)

 

As a die-hard Bandonista, I'd recommend getting to Bandon as fast as possible.

I know this is an old post, but I can’t let the Central Oregon slander stand. All of Pronghorn/Tetherow/Crosswater are phenomenal golf courses. I’ve played every course at Bandon multiple times, and Crosswater remains my favorite course in the state. Black Butte courses are usually in good shape and are fun to play, but they don’t compare to the aforementioned three in terms of overall difficulty or quality of design.

[puttnforthe8]

12 hours ago, thejazzmarauder said:

I know this is an old post, but I can’t let the Central Oregon slander stand. All of Pronghorn/Tetherow/Crosswater are phenomenal golf courses. I’ve played every course at Bandon multiple times, and Crosswater remains my favorite course in the state. Black Butte courses are usually in good shape and are fun to play, but they don’t compare to the aforementioned three in terms of overall difficulty or quality of design.

[soregongolfer]

On 7/3/2022 at 9:38 PM, thejazzmarauder said:

I know this is an old post, but I can’t let the Central Oregon slander stand. All of Pronghorn/Tetherow/Crosswater are phenomenal golf courses. I’ve played every course at Bandon multiple times, and Crosswater remains my favorite course in the state. Black Butte courses are usually in good shape and are fun to play, but they don’t compare to the aforementioned three in terms of overall difficulty or quality of design.

You should include this in the unpopular opinions thread. 😉🤣.