Golf - Resort Public Course · 18 Holes · Par 72
Sunriver, OR
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· Stay & Play
Review & Rating of Woodlands Golf Course in Sunriver Oregon
Robert Trent Jones Jr carved a fantastic 18 holes out of some towering Ponderosa pines in 1980 and appropriately named it the Woodlands. Some of what makes playing the Woodlands enjoyable and challenging includes:
With all of that, it’s not surprising that Woodlands Golf Course has been consistently rated by Golf Digest as one of the best courses in Oregon. There are five sets of tee boxes with yardages ranging from 5333 to 6947 but it’s not the length that makes the course challenging (a slope of 136 to 143) - it’s the tight tree lined fairways, the accuracy needed to make the turn on the dog legs, and the challenging green complexes that put a premium on your approach shot and your putting skills.
The front nine has much larger greens (28 to 47 yards deep) but they are heavily contoured with slope, spines, and tiers. The back nine has much smaller greens (18 to 28 yards) and they are raised (preventing a bump and run) and flatter with more subtle breaks.
Some of the holes that we really liked included:
When we played in late September, the greens were starting to show problems from the cold mornings – we still thought that they were in very good condition, but the pro said he rates them a 7 when they are normally a 9 to 10. On the front nine at the Woodlands the greens are flat (bump and run approaches work great) and huge with lots of slope, contour, spines, or tiers. The back nine greens at Woodlands are raised, much smaller, and flatter but with subtle breaks. All of the greens are well guarded with one to three big steep and deep bunkers which means you need to be very accurate on your approach shots. The greens were running a little fast at around 10 or more and ran very true. They are firm and it was common for us to watch our approach shot roll off the back - a high and soft approach shot was required.
The fairways are tight and tree lined with some homes sitting well back but in play if you really spray it. The fairways were in near perfect condition and they are flat giving you some extra roll and a playable lie. The first cut was playable and also in great condition but the second cut was thick and difficult to hit from. Miss both and you're under the pines and native grass and most likely lost.
The bunkers at Woodlands range from big to huge and nasty. They are well maintained and the sand is soft and fluffy but very thin. The lips range from average to steep and very deep making for a challenging shot.
Tee Box | Yardage | Rating | Slope |
---|---|---|---|
Black | 6,947 | 73.8 | 143 |
Blue | 6,010 | 69.4 | 135 |
White | 5,600 | 67.4 | 132 |
Gold | 6,524 | 72.1 | 139 |
Red | 5,333 | 71.0 | 136 |
Approximate Weekend
Rates: $49.00 to $119.00
Service is ok, the pro shop is well stocked, the practice facilities are good, and the grill has some great sandwiches.
Here's How Texas Outside Determines the Scorecard RatingThe Texas Outside rating scale ranges from 1 to 10 – a perfect 10 course would be something like this: links along a cliff overlooking the Pacific ocean and bordered by tall trees; lush fairways on rolling hills with lots of natural hazards; water (which is crystal clear) on most of the holes; immaculate greens (but they are undulating and tough); lots of variety and character (each hole is completely different and includes blind shots, elevation changes, doglegs, and significant challenges); perfectly manicured traps with the whitest and prettiest sand you’ve ever seen; a nice club house with great food and a 19th hole; a GPS; plenty of beverage carts or your own cooler and ice; and it only costs $40 bucks! What this means is that you probably won’t find any 10s in Texas – try Cabo San Lucas, Pebble Beach, or some of the Hawaii courses!
All of the above determines the overall score for the golf course. In other words, we like courses that are pretty, fun, very challenging with a lot of variety, and fairways and greens in excellent condition – all for $40. We also tend to play the courses that are affordable for the masses, which means in the $30 to $80 range. We rate hard and we haven’t found a 10 in Texas yet – don’t worry we haven’t given up and we’re still looking.
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