Bend, Oregon

David McLay Kidd's only American course at the time of opening (designer of Bandon Dunes) — links-influenced routing over high desert terrain, walkable, and consistently rated among the best in Oregon.

Jack Nicklaus Signature design on the Juniper Preserve property (formerly Pronghorn) — dramatic high-desert routing with lava-rock outcroppings and Cascade views. Top-100 public course. Resort stay required.

Tom Fazio design at Juniper Preserve (formerly Pronghorn) — more polished bunkering and a softer routing than the rugged Nicklaus next door. #7 on Golf Digest's best courses in Oregon. Resort stay required; stay on property to play both back-to-back.

Bob Cupp & John Fought design at Sunriver Resort — wetlands, meadows, and the Deschutes River throughout. Tournament-caliber layout that's hosted USGA championships. Resort stay required; luxury resort pricing.

The forgiving sister course at Sunriver — John Fought renovation, wider corridors than Crosswater, and the family-friendly resort round. Resort stay required; luxury resort pricing.

Robert Trent Jones Jr. design (1981) — the original Sunriver layout. Ponderosa-flanked fairways, lava-rock accents, and a more forgiving routing than Crosswater. Resort stay required; luxury resort pricing.

9-hole par-3 short course at Sunriver's Caldera Springs community — a fun walking round to slot between the marquee 18s, perfect for a late afternoon. Resort stay required.

Jeff Brauer design on a 1,800-acre ranch — wide-open desert routing with the Cascades in nearly every photo. Resort guests only. Honest take: a great course, but it's only one 18 — for a multi-day golf trip, stay at Sunriver or Juniper Preserve and play more golf per dollar. Worth a round if you're stitching it into a longer itinerary, but not the place to base a trip.

Originally Gene Mason but extensively renovated by Jay Morrish in 2012 — the modern and better-rated of the two Black Butte courses. Mature pines and mountain meadows. Resort access.

Gene Mason's 1973 original layout at Black Butte Ranch — mature pines, mountain meadows, and the more traditional of the two Black Butte courses. Resort access.

Robert Muir Graves design tucked into the pines southwest of Bend. Semi-private with public tee times available — pretty mountain layout, a few quirky holes. Peak summer mornings with a cart climb to mid-range pricing; afternoons and shoulder season drop into budget territory.

Short Robert Muir Graves layout weaving through the Deschutes river canyon at the Riverhouse — dramatic views, walkable, and one of the better value rounds in town. Won't test the back of the bag but a fun stop.

Brian Whitcomb-designed daily-fee on the south side of Bend — affordable, walkable, conditions are usually solid. Not a marquee design but a practical round when the resort rates start adding up.