Crooked River Ranch Golf Course

General Course Description

The Crooked River Ranch Golf Course is an 18-hole public course between Madras and Redmond. It rests atop a basalt shelf (and below several basalt mesas) overlooking the Crooked River Gorge, with views of the gorge and other surrounding canyons. The Crooked River Ranch Golf Course is an attractive course in a stunning high-desert setting. It is short, with generally large driving areas, and mostly open (although there are traps, trees, water, and desert that all come into play). The back 9 has generally more obstacles in play.  There are several risk-reward holes where you will think about going over trees or canyons. It is well maintained with very nice greens. The course is a pretty flat course and a nice walk. Forward tee boxes provide the benefits of shorter distances and better angles so players of a variety of skills can play in the same group.

Course History

First 9 opened in 1972 with Harvey Hixon as its first pro. Second 9 opened in 1994. The clubhouse was expanded in 1996, using club members as labor.

Why It Is There

Part of the Crooked River Ranch development by William McPherson.

I Wish I Would Have Known Before I Played

As you stand on the tee of the 5th hole (named in 2017 by the OGA as one of the state’s most interesting golf holes), a short par 4 with a severe dog legleft, a deep canyon is behind you and a sea of juniper trees in front of you, you can see the green off to the left. This is a hole with a lot of choices: aim for the green and try to clear the trees (and avoid the canyon), skirt the corner of the trees and play to the juniper in the center of the fairway about 75 yards from the center of the green, or go straight — trying not to go though the fairway. Hole 6 is a par 5 where you hit over a rise. Balls hit to the left side of the rise (skirting the waste area coming in from the left) will have a bigger downslope and will be in a better position to reach the green in two.

Did You Know

In 2011, two members of the ladies’ club, Jan Markham and Ellie Rice, playing in the same group, both had holes-in-one on the 11th hole. One month later, two members of the men’s club, Linn Johnson and Jack Martin, playing in the same group, had holes-in-one on the 7th hole.

Good For Them

They have junior camps for beginners and intermediate golfers.  They are the home course for Redmond High School. They also hold women’s camps.

Why Play This Course

A well-maintained, player-friendly course in a very scenic high-desert setting with many interesting holes at a pretty good price.

General

• • Type: 18-hole public course
  • Price: $$$
  • Phone/webpage: (541)923-6343/www.crookedriverranchgc.com
  • Address:  5195 SW Clubhouse Road, Terrebonne, Oregon 97760
  • Owner: Crooked River Ranch Club and Maintenance Association
  • Designer: Gene “Bunny” Mason (original 9) and James Ramey (second 9)
  • Pros: Randy Ballard (PGA), Jeff Robinson
  • Practice Facilities: Driving range on grass and mats, pitching and sand practice area, two practice greens
  • Pro Shop: Attractive, full of clothing and some equipment
  • Food: Sandwich shop open in the busy season, otherwise snacks and sodas in the pro shop; nearby is the unaffiliated full-service Sandbaggger Restaurant that opens at 11am and closes late
  • Bathrooms: Improved in clubhouse and vault toilets on course
  • Yardage Markers: 200, 150, and 100 posts on the sides of the fairways; distances on some sprinklers; flags color-coded for position
  • Clothing: T-shirts and jeans are OK
  • Walkable: Mostly flat, nice walk
  • Spikes: Soft
  • Shoe Cleaning: Brush
  • Rentals: All
  • Open all year