Juniper: Award-winning Central Oregon course is a treat with its terrific backdrop

By Steve Turcotte, Editor Inside Golf Newspaper

As you work your way around Juniper Golf Course in Redmond, Ore. it is sometimes tough to keep focused on the task at hand – and that is hitting your golf ball.

Not only is the award-winning course a challenge, but it offers some views that must be seen to be believed. There in the background is Mt. Bachelor, Broken Top, the Three Sister, Three Fingered Jack … you get the picture. And if you don’t, you should.

The history of Juniper Golf Course is an interesting one. It opened as a public course years ago, but was forced to close and then a new Juniper was created by Northwest architect John Harbottle III and opened in 2005. 

And when it did, the awards were not too far behind. It started with a Best New Course award from Golf Digest back in 2006 and the awards just kept on coming. Juniper was also listed as the Best Course You Can Play in Oregon and the Best Municipal Course in Oregon, also by Golf Digest. 

The course itself sits on Central Oregon’s high desert with plenty of challenges and even better views of the surrounding area. The course can stretch to as long as 7,186 from the tips to a more forgiving just over 5,000 yards from the forward tees.

The layout has been a favorite of the Oregon Golf Association and the Pacific Northwest Section PGA for setting up championships. The Oregon Open has been held at Juniper Golf Course several times and the course has also hosted many amateur championships, including being a site for U.S. Amateur qualifiers. The Juniper Best Ball is always a popular event.

A double-ended practice facility offers plenty of ways to work on your game with two practice greens and a practice bunker.

And after the round The View Tap and Grill is the place for some food and beverages.

For more information, call 541.548.3121 or visit www.playjuniper.com