FEATURE STORY Double the fun at Quail Run
	In June of 2000 Quail Run Golf Course in La Pine was named the second best 9-hole course in the country by Golf Digest Magazine. An impressive award to the golf cognoscenti. But the general public doesn’t pay much attention to those rare, nine-hole rankings. And for another six years, Quail Run ran pretty much like it always had… as a well kept secret catering to a predominantly local clientele. Well you can kiss those days good bye. In 2006, architect Jim Ramey completed the work that he started more than a decade ago. And the nine new holes at Quail Run are even better than the first. When the next Golf Digest rankings are released, you can bet that Quail Run will find itself not only on the map, but among the top new courses in the entire country. “We’ve been a nine hole course for 16 years,” said owner Bill Martin, “but it never was an easy nine. I think a lot of people were surprised by that. We hope the old Quail run is not dead, it’s just twice as good.” Martin said Ramey had envisioned this course all along. He designed 18 originally, but Martin only had the land and the water rights for a nine hole course. The new routing meshes seamlessly with the existing layout, with seven new holes on the front nine, and two new holes integrated on the back nine. “Five years from now you won’t see any difference between new holes and old ones.” Martin said. “It’s just fantastic. When the word gets out, I think Jim Ramey’s going to have a lot of people knocking on his door to build golf courses for them.” Most of the new holes are situated on land that’s slightly higher in elevation than the existing holes, bringing more mountains into view and more wind into play. As many locals will tell you, scoring doesn’t come easy at Quail Run. There are two monstrously long par-4s; the 9th which plays 464 yards and the 18th, which plays 451 yards over water to a tiered green. “I was afraid that the slope might go down, since it’s a bit shorter than playing the old nine twice,” Martin observed. “But the slope actually went up.” Yardage for the course is now 6897 from back tees, while the rating 73.5 and slope of 138. The new fairways are also quite narrow in spots. “This course demands smart golf and good control of your shots,” says PGA Professional Todd Sickles. “It helps if you can work the ball both directions. It’s really not a bomb and gouge type of course. Miss the fairway at Quail Run and you’ll find yourself gouging it out of rough that’s far more difficult than anything at local country clubs or resort courses. Superintendent Grant Martin says it’s a mixture of Kentucky blue grass and rye that’s wiry and very tough. “It’s like Velcro… It really catches your club and can knock 30 yards off the shot.” The aesthetic appeal of Ramey’s design and the location of Quail Run make it a stunningly beautiful golf experience. Ramey placed bunkers in creative ways to add visual interest and he uses the natural lay of the land to highlight certain elements quite effectively. Hole number 4 is a fantastic-looking par-5 that beckons you to go for it. It’s only 504 yards, but there’s a large ponderosa, several fore bunkers and a greenside bunker right in front that make that second shot very interesting. Ramey also designed gorgeous green complexes throughout both nines. The new, bent-grass greens are slightly larger than the old ones. However, generous slope and some false fronts demand sharp iron play, just as the old greens do. Currently the greens keeper is mowing the new greens a little longer than the old greens, in order to keep the speeds consistent. Quail Run will always remain one of the most enjoyable courses in Central Oregon simply because of its surroundings. “There are no houses on this course at all, and we intend to keep it that way,” Martin says. “That’s what a lot of people enjoy the most out here. It’s very peaceful, and there’s no chance of hitting a house.” While there aren’t any condos to contend with, there are plenty of other hazards to worry about. Lakes come into play on five holes, especially the par-3 14th and the par-5 6th. Thick, pine forests will swallow balls faster than you can yell “fore right,” and on the new holes, you might find your ball in pumice, lava rocks and sagebrush. “On the original nine it was all trees,” Grant Martin said. “But there’s some open space out around the fairways on the new holes. Problem is, it’s pretty tough playing out of that pumice. Lots of people find themselves swinging two or three times to get it back in play. We’ll be clearing out some of the sage brush to make it more manageable, and to minimize slow play.” If it’s your first time out to Quail Run you might consider buying a Sky Caddy to help you find your way around. These electronic GPS units give you exact yardages from anywhere on the course and allow you to gauge distances accurately on windy days. So players don’t have to waste time pacing off the distance or guessing which club to hit. Technological advances notwithstanding; Quail Run still has a charming, family-owned feeling to it. The clubhouse is functionally modest… the kind of place where you can watch an NFL game and eat a hot dog without paying 25 bucks. That’s been Quail Run’s niche. For 16 years it has been the best steal in Central Oregon golf. Even with the recent improvements, it’s still affordable at just $55 to walk and $68 to ride. Twilight rates are just $35. At that price, you’ll want to go around again and again. “This is the kind of course that people could play every day,” Martin said. “Every hole’s different. Every hole has its own signature. Jim did a really nice job of mixing things up and adding variety and toughness on every hole. We’re still the friendliest course around.” With the addition of nine splendid holes and some accolades from the press, Quail Run is poised for success. In some ways, you almost hate to see happen. But as long as Bill Martin is in charge, Quail Run will always maintain a little of that small town charm that has taken it this far. Only now, you’ll get twice as much world class golf to go with it. COGG
~ © 2007 CENTRAL OREGON GOLF GUIDE ~