Wild Horse Resort and Casino in Pendleton, Oregon

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Updated: March 31, 2010

By Daniel Johnson
Wild Horse Resort and Casino has been Oregon’s home to golf and gaming since 1997. The course, located in the southern half of the state in Pendleton, is one of only a handful of places where golfers can play 18 holes and then let some drinks flow and chips fly on the casino floor afterwards. If golfers are looking for some fun and for a challenge, they will certainly find it on the 7,112 yards of the golf course. They surely won’t be disappointed as the course has a 73.8 rating.

The combination of gaming and golf is something Wild Horse has become known for, not only in Oregon, but also around the Northwest and the country as it was named in the Top 40 US Casino Golf Courses by Golf Digest.

John Steidel designed the 18 holes which depending on your preference and distance, can play long or short. There are four sets of tees that range from 5,718 yards to over 7,000 so players from all skill levels can enjoy the round. Steidel is also known for designing Apple Tree Golf Club in Yakima, Washington and Riverbend Golf Course in Kent, Washington among other popular courses around the Northwest.

One of the signatures of the course is the par-4 18th hole, which has a lake running along the right side of the fairway and sand bunkers guarding the left-side approach. The other holes are no cakewalk as more than half of them feature water hazards and deep bunkers. Head Professional, Mike Hegarty, plays the golf course a couple of times a week and knows better than most about the beauty and difficulty associated with the course.

“The 16th is probably the most photographed. It’s our signature hole, but the 18th is definitely the most challenging,” Hegarty said.

After a round of golf, vacationers can then enjoy the full experience of the golf and gaming combination as they enter the Wild Horse Casino. There are many ways to win at Wild Horse with 850 slot machines, blackjack, roulette, poker and craps all on the casino floor. Having a good time at the resort should be a sure bet.
The resort is known not only for great golf and great fun, but also a luxurious 100-room hotel and plenty of restaurants to enjoy fine dining including Plateau. Patrons can have a nice meal along with a breathtaking view of the Blue Mountains form the upstairs deck.

The Wildfire Sports Bar is another place to get for your entertainment fix as it features live karaoke, stand-up comedy and music performances. If you are planning to make a visit you can call the Wildfire Hotline at 800-654-9453 ext 1777 to get the latest news on Wild Horse’s premier entertainment.

For campers, the resort also features a 100-space RV park with full hook-ups within walking distance to the casino and the golf course clubhouse.