Central Oregon: Offers some of the best scenery for fall golf

Here is a quick look at some of Central Oregon’s top courses to try in the fall season:

• Juniper Golf Course: There’s no doubt that Central Oregon continues to be a fantastic option for golfers in the region looking for a fast golf getaway.  When you hear golfers talk about their plans for golf in Central Oregon, the resorts in the area are typically front of mind.  But with so many golf courses to choose from during your golf get away, those who really know golf in Central Oregon often talk about the only resort
 quality golf course that is municipally owned, seconds from the airport in Redmond, Ore..  If your knowledge of the Central Oregon golf market runs deep, there’s a good chance you’ve never heard of Juniper.

In fact, the history of this golf course is extremely unusual.  It’s rare that a golf course completely moves from one location to another, but that’s exactly what Juniper Golf Course did, relocating on a new piece of property a short drive away from its original location.  Once a private 9-hole golf club, the City of Redmond acquired a larger property and then enlisted the design services of John Harbottle, and reopened in 2005 with 18 championship holes carved through the beautiful high desert landscape. 

• Aspen Lakes: A “Hidden Gem” is how NBC’s Morning Drive described Aspen Lakes. It is the result of a lot of hard work and imagination by the Cyrus family, who bought the land in 1989.  They turned a piece of high desert scrub land into one of the jewels of Central Oregon.

Aspen Lakes hired Oregon’s 2019 Golf Course Superintendent of the Year to “up our game” and make the course even better. Through lots of hard work and long hours, Aspen Lakes is unquestionably one of the best and most enjoyable courses to play in Central Oregon. If you had to pick two things that stand out at Aspen Lakes Golf Course, it would have to be the unique red volcanic crushed rock sand used in the bunkers and the great views of the mountains in the Cascade Range.  Ponderosa pines, scented juniper trees, lakes and breathtaking views of the Cascade Mountains at almost every turn make Aspen Lakes an amazing all-around golf experience.

• Black Butte Ranch: Black Butte Ranch is one of those special places that not only has plenty of family activities, but also offers two golf courses to choose from. And when fall hits, the colors are in full bloom.

With the Big Meadow and Glaze Meadow golf courses, Black Butte is a golfer’s paradise. Each course is provides a different, yet challenging golf experience and both are worth the trip to Central Oregon. Big Meadow underwent a bunker renovation a few years ago. With the new and remodeled bunkers, the course is even more challenging. The Big Meadow course has undergone changes as well and now features new tee boxes on every hole.  The Glaze Meadow course also underwent a re-model after being shut down for a year because of a complete re-model, by Northwest architect John Fought.

And don’t forget about the Little Meadow Putting Course, a great place for families to play even more golf.