Christmas Valley Golf Course

General Course Description

Christmas Valley Golf Course is a 9-hole municipal course, and is probably the most isolated course in Oregon (103 miles from Bend, 104 miles from Burns, 116 miles from Lakeview). But Christmas Valley Golf Course is a step above a pasture course. The course is long with generally narrow fairways that are uniform in surface and grass, and with a good difference between fairways and rough. The course has a simple design where strategically placed mounds and encroachment of desert sage make the holes interesting. There are few trees, but the abundant sage will easily consume your ball. Greens can be slow and spotty, but it is a surprisingly good course in a very remote area. No clubhouse; place your green fees in a box and sign in. The course is flat and very walkable.

Course History

Built in 1962. The course fell into slight disrepair around the mid-2010s, but in the early 2020s the course hired Robbie Newport from Bandon Dunes who improved the course greatly. The course has continued to be well maintained through two more greenskeepers (in the summer of 2025, the course was looking for a new one).

Why It Is There

Built as part of the development of Christmas Valley by M. Penn Phillips.

I Wish I Would Have Known Before I Played

Stay to the right on the 3rd hole so you can approach the green off to the right. Most of the greens run back to front, but the 8th green runs away from the fairway. The course has a “How To Play” guide that is on the website (see below).  A hard copy might be in the North Lake Park and Recreation District Office just off the practice green; ask for one. The office has a very friendly staff but has limited hours.

Did You Know

From 1963 to 1966, a Pro Am was held on the course where pros from all over the Northwest played.

Good For Them

Juniors under 17 play free with an adult.

Why Play This Course

If you want to be the only person on a course, this is the most likely course to fill that desire. It is probably the most isolated course in the state and, given its price and location, it is a surprisingly elegant course.

General

• Type: 9-hole public course
• Price: $$
• Phone/webpage: (541)576-2216/www.cvparkandrec.specialdistrict.org/golf-course
• Owner: North Lake Park and Recreation District
• Address: 57334 Christmas Tree Road, Christmas Valley, Oregon 97641
• Designer: Joe Ward
• Pros: None
• Practice Facilities: Practice green
• Pro Shop: None
• Food: None
• Bathrooms: Porta potties on first hole and on the course
• Yardage Markers: 250 (on par 5s), 200, 150, and 100 stakes on side of fairways; pins color-coded for placement information
• Clothing: Nothing illegal
• Walkable: Very
• Spikes: No restriction
• Shoe Cleaning: None
• Rental: Pull carts and some clubs are available for free by the first tee; for motor carts and more clubs, the Park and Rec office may have to be open
• They try to be open year-round