FEATURE STORY Bend Golf & Country Club - Old School, New School
	Central Oregon has seen a lot of golf course construction over the last 15 years, and it’s not slowing down anytime soon. Currently, there are at least 10 new courses in various stages of construction or planning in the local area. With so much attention going to new designs by big name architects in ultra-exclusive housing developments, it’s easy to overlook the only course that pre-dates Central Oregon’s modern golf boom: Bend Golf & Country Club. First opened in 1925 with nine holes, Bend Golf & Country Club definitely qualifies as a classic, old-school course. Back then, Bend was just a fledgling lumber town—certainly not the four-season resort destination that it has become. And Bend Golf & Country Club was the only course around. The fairways of those original nine holes still hold the tell-tale signs of hand-grading; there aren’t any mounds to keep your ball from rolling into the trees, and the fairways have a natural pitch and roll that is seldom found on modern courses. The original, opening nine plays two to three shots harder than the back, and features tighter driving holes that don’t necessarily reward the biggest hitters. For instance, the second hole, which is one of Central Oregon’s most challenging par-5s, requires three precise shots on a dog-leg right that finishes with an elevated, two-tiered green. “Number two stands out as the hardest hole,” says Assistant Pro Todd Kruse. “A few try to cut the corner off the tee, but the risk and reward doesn’t really call for it.” Bombers will like the back nine better, where they have a chance to gamble with the driver on a few holes. But caution is warranted; a poorly executed tee shot will leave you buried among giant ponderosa pines as old as the wind. Extracting yourself can be an adventure. One feature that pegs this as a classic course is the greens. They’re small by modern standards and fast as lightning—great for the oldsters who are magical with the flat stick, and for young kids who have no fear of missing a slippery three-footer. “The greens here have a subtle undulation that members get accustomed to,” Kruse says. “Experience is the key here—you really have to play regularly to know these greens. It’s really hard to come here and play well your first time out.” Kruse says the secret is leaving the ball below the cup. “Most of the greens slope from back to front, so you want to leave the ball short of the cup as much as possible. Otherwise, it’s really tough.” Another benefit of an old-school design is walkability. Bend Golf & Country Club wins the prize for the most walkable of all the championship length courses in Central Oregon. If you get a chance to play it, forego the golf cart and do it the old fashioned way…on your own two feet. It’s the best way to enjoy the nuances of this great, old course. Just because Bend Golf & Country Club is considered the granddaddy of Bend golf courses doesn’t mean the membership is old. Many of current members moved from other clubs in the area, and there are a good number of young families in the ranks thanks to the full service athletic club offering. “We have a very nice mix of members, from young, working families to semi-retired and retired individuals and couples,” Kruse says. “The athletic facility is a great draw for families.” Bend Golf & Country Club has an impressive 27,000 square foot clubhouse, restaurant and pro shop which opened in 1996. As far as private clubs are concerned, this is the best deal going. It’s the only member-owned, private equity club in the area, so if you’re looking to stretch your golfing dollar and combine it with an athletic club membership, this might be a good choice. The athletic facility includes two indoor and two outdoor tennis courts, racquetball, indoor pool, Nautilus and cardio equipment plus on-site massage. This is the only club in Central Oregon that offers a full athletic club facility plus an 18-hole golf course. When Bend Golf & Country Club was first built, land came cheap. In fact, the club bought the land for just $1 from the Brooks-Scanlon Lumber Company. Things certainly have changed; housing developments have surrounded the course over the years. But the good news for members and golfers is that there aren’t any homes within the property. That means there are still plenty of holes where you won’t see a house, and yet the club and course are located right in town—just three minutes from the Fred Meyer shopping center. Improvements to the golf course have kept the course in tip-top shape over the years. Currently a new irrigation system is being built and installed to minimize water use while eliminating some dry spots on the course. That sort of state-of-the-art equipment is just one example of how Bend Golf & Country Club has become incredibly modern, while still remaining delightfully old school. COGG
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