The Pacific Northwest is one of America’s best-kept golf secrets. Oregon and Washington offer lush, dramatic courses set against backdrops of volcanic peaks, old-growth forests, coastal dunes, and high desert canyons. The region’s mild summers provide ideal playing conditions, and the quality of public golf here rivals anywhere in the country — often at significantly lower prices than comparable courses in California or the Southwest.
From the world-famous links at Bandon Dunes to the volcanic landscapes of Central Oregon and the emerald fairways of the Puget Sound, this guide covers the courses that make the Pacific Northwest a must-visit golf destination.
Bandon Dunes — Bandon, Oregon
Bandon Dunes Resort has transformed American golf since opening in 1999. The original Bandon Dunes course, designed by David McLay Kidd, sits on rugged bluffs above the Pacific and plays like a true Scottish links. Wind, firm turf, and natural contours replace the artificial shaping and cart paths found at most American resorts. Walking is required, caddies are available, and the experience is as close to the spirit of links golf as you will find outside the British Isles. It is the course that started a revolution in American public golf.
Pacific Dunes — Bandon, Oregon
Pacific Dunes is regularly ranked as the top public course in America. Tom Doak’s masterpiece uses the natural dunesland terrain to create holes that feel as though they have existed for centuries. Eleven holes offer direct views of the Pacific Ocean, and the routing flows naturally through valleys, along ridgelines, and across vast sandy waste areas. The 13th, a short par four that tumbles downhill toward the sea, is one of the most talked-about holes in modern golf. Pacific Dunes is reason enough to make the journey to this remote corner of Oregon.
Sheep Ranch — Bandon, Oregon
The newest full-length course at Bandon Dunes, Sheep Ranch is a Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw design that offers the most ocean exposure of any course on the property. With no formal rough and very few bunkers, Sheep Ranch is a wide-open, windswept experience that rewards creativity and ground-game imagination. Every hole has a view of the Pacific, and the green complexes offer multiple angles of attack. It is the most relaxed and free-flowing course at Bandon, and many returning visitors now rank it as their favorite.
Chambers Bay — University Place, Washington
Chambers Bay hosted the 2015 U.S. Open and remains one of the most ambitious public golf courses in America. Built on a former gravel quarry along Puget Sound, the Robert Trent Jones Jr. design features enormous scale, dramatic elevation changes, and fescue turf that plays firm and fast. The views of the Sound and the Olympic Mountains are spectacular. Chambers Bay divides opinion — some love its boldness and links character, others find it too extreme — but there is no question it offers a unique and memorable round of golf.
Gamble Sands — Brewster, Washington
David McLay Kidd’s inland links course in the high desert of Central Washington has quickly become one of the most acclaimed courses in the Northwest. Built on sandy soil above the Columbia River, Gamble Sands features wide fairways, creative bunkering, and stunning views of the Cascade Range. The turf is firm and fast, encouraging the bump-and-run game that Kidd also brought to Bandon Dunes. Despite its remote location near the Canadian border, golfers drive hours to play here — and the recently added Quicksands short course adds even more reason to make the trip.
Crosswater Club — Sunriver, Oregon
Bob Cupp designed Crosswater through the meadows and wetlands of Sunriver Resort in Central Oregon, with the Cascade peaks providing a jaw-dropping backdrop. The course plays across the Deschutes and Little Deschutes rivers, with water in play on 12 holes. At over 7,600 yards from the back tees, it is one of the longest resort courses in the West. Crosswater delivers a high-end resort experience in a setting that feels wild and untouched, and its proximity to other Sunriver courses and the Bend outdoor scene makes it a natural base for a Central Oregon golf trip.
Tetherow Golf Club — Bend, Oregon
David McLay Kidd’s third appearance on this list underscores his impact on Pacific Northwest golf. Tetherow is a dramatic, links-inspired design carved from volcanic rock and juniper forest on the edge of Bend. The course features deep pot bunkers, vast waste areas of black volcanic sand, and greens with bold contours. With the Three Sisters peaks towering on the western horizon, the visual presentation is among the best in the region. Tetherow is a course that challenges and rewards in equal measure.
Planning Your Pacific Northwest Golf Trip
The Pacific Northwest golf season runs from May through October, with July through September offering the most reliable weather. Bandon Dunes is playable year-round thanks to its mild coastal climate, though winter brings more rain and wind. A classic PNW golf trip might combine three or four rounds at Bandon Dunes with a couple of days in Central Oregon (Tetherow, Crosswater, Pronghorn), or pair Chambers Bay and Gamble Sands for a Washington-focused itinerary. Flights into Portland, Eugene, or North Bend (for Bandon) provide the most convenient access.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many courses are at Bandon Dunes?
Bandon Dunes Resort currently has five full-length courses: Bandon Dunes, Pacific Dunes, Old Macdonald, Sheep Ranch, and Bandon Trails. There is also a 13-hole par-three course called the Preserve. Most visitors stay for two to four nights to play all the courses, and multi-round packages are available through the resort.
Is the Pacific Northwest too rainy for golf?
Summer in the Pacific Northwest is one of the best-kept weather secrets in America. From mid-June through September, Portland averages less than an inch of rain per month, and Central Oregon is genuinely sunny and dry. The wet reputation applies to the November-through-March period, when golf is still possible but requires waterproof gear and a flexible attitude.
Is Bandon Dunes worth the trip?
Without question. Bandon Dunes is a pilgrimage destination for golfers who love the game in its purest form — walking-only, caddie-friendly, natural links golf on a remote and beautiful stretch of coast. The quality, variety, and atmosphere of the five courses make it one of the finest golf resorts in the world. The remote location is part of the appeal, and most visitors begin planning their return trip before they leave.
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