Golf - Public Course · 18 Holes · Par 72
Bend, OR
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Review & Rating of Widgi Creek Golf Club in Bend Oregon
Widgi Creek Golf Club is one of the most popular golf courses in Bend and it's been named a "Best Places to Play" by Golf Digest and the Source (the local entertainment newspaper of Bend) named it the "Best Golf Course in Central Oregon" for the last 14 years in a row. Some of the reasons we think that Widgi Creek Golf Club has been recognized as one of the best include:
Widgi Creek's fairways range from wide and forgiving to tight as they meander through Ponderosa Pines, some ponds, mounds, and native grass and brush and up and down some slightly rolling terrain. The front nine is your opportunity to score - most of the holes are straight ahead and similar, there are only 18 bunkers and two water holes to worry about, and one of the par 3's is very short. A couple of the holes that we liked on the front nine include:
The back nine was more fun and challenging from our perspective:
Widgi Creek is home to some of the most immaculate and most challenging greens complexes in the region - the rolling contoured putting services will grab hold of your putter and not let go and they they are guarded by one to five bunkers, water, mounds, and swales. They range in size (27 to 48 deep - 7 are 39 to 48) and shape and all are contoured and undulating and some have one to three tiers. The good news is they are smooth, fast, hold the ball, and run true. Most aren't raised so a bump-and-run strategy works well. The greens define Widgi Creek and put a premium on putting and the approach shot.
The fairways and rough were also in very good shape. The gently rolling fairways are all lined by towering Ponderosas and range from ample to tight. Miss the playable rough and you're ricocheting off the trees and probably lost in the native areas. Some nice homes are set back off some of the fairways.
The bunkers at Widgi Creek range in size from small pot bunkers to some huge multi-fingered monsters. The lips are reasonable but some bunkers are very steep and deep. The sand is soft and good.
Widgi Creek Golf Club is one of the courses on the Central Oregon Golf Trail, which is loaded with some excellent courses and it’s one of the best golf trails we have played. You can read our reviews of some of the other courses we played on the Central Oregon Golf Trail during our visit to Bend on Texas Outside’s Central Oregon Golf Trail Reviews Page. And if you’re planning to visit Bend, be sure to check out the Visit Central Oregon Website with is loaded with information on golf and lots of other fun things to see and do in Central Oregon.
Tee Box | Yardage | Rating | Slope |
---|---|---|---|
Black | 6,905 | 72.7 | 193 |
Blue | 6,461 | 67.3 | 123 |
White | 5,875 | 63.7 | 119 |
Gold | 6,674 | 70.5 | 134 |
Red | 5,070 | 61.9 | 114 |
Approximate Weekend
Rates: $47.00 to $97.00
Service is ok, the proshop is well stocked, and the bar severs craft beer, wine, and hard liquor plus a range of food. There is an expansive practice facility that includes two practice putting greens, a bunker area and natural grass driving range.
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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