Juniper Golf Course

General Course Description

Juniper Golf Course is an attractive high desert 18-hole public course is just south of Redmond. Juniper Golf Course is very well maintained with lots of juniper and sage, lots of traps, and some water. The holes are varied and attractively designed. Driving areas are generally large, but there is a lot of mounding in the fairways and ridgebacks in the greens. The course has great views of the Cascades. There are no houses, but you can hear the traffic from Hwy 97.  Forward tees provide shorter distances and better angles.  It is pretty flat and is a nice walking course; look for the trails between holes to shorten the journey.

Course History

The original Juniper Golf Course was built on property owned by the Federal Aviation Administration next to the Redmond Airport. The front 9 opened in 1952 designed by Fred Sparks and the second 9 opened in 1987 designed by Tim Berg. The expansion of Highway 97 and increasing lease rates from the FAA caused the original course to close. Members worked with the City of Redmond to purchase BLM land two miles south of the original course. The new course opened in 2005. In 2007, Golf Digest named it the 6th best public course in the country that you could play for less than $65. Golf Digest has also named the course the best municipal course in Oregon. Hosted Oregon Open in 2007, 2010, 2013, and 2017 and has hosted USGA qualifying events.

Why It Is There

Fred Sparks, a local businessman and golfer in Redmond, thought a course should be built in the area. For 10 years he worked with others to first acquire the property and then build the original 9. By the time the original course was closing, the course members (and the City) came together to continue Mr. Sparks’ dream in a new location.

I Wish I Would Have Known Before I Played

Almost all the greens have a ridgeback near the center dividing the left and right sides. The greens are also generally hard and fast and run away from the fairway. So unless you have really good spin control, running the ball up to the correct side of the green is the way to go.

Did You Know

The “Juniper” sign in front of the course (as you turn onto Elkhorn) is from the original course.

Good For Them

Lots. Ladies Academy for Beginners (or “LAB”), a series of 1 week lessons for women with club rental. Junior and Pee-Wee camps for both boys and girls (with steeply reduced rates when playing with a parent). Home course for Redmond High School. A Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Course. The greens keeper has partnered with the local Audubon Society to construct Kestrel nest boxes and with Pacific Power to construct an Osprey pole. Bluebird boxes on the course were constructed by a local junior high school. Conducts a class under the First Green Program which brings kids out to the course as part of a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) program. The course annually hosts the Golfers For Scholars Tournament providing college scholarships for Redmond area high school seniors.

Why Play This Course

An attractive, very well maintained, beautifully designed course with a friendly staff and a nice practice facility. It is one of the best bargains for a solid Central Oregon course.

General

• • Type: 18 hole public course
  • Price: $$$
  • Phone/webpage: (541) 548-3121/www.playjuniper.com
  • Address:  1938 SW Elkhorn Ave., Redmond, Oregon 97756
  • Owner: City of Redmond
  • Designer: John Harbottle, III
  • Pros: Michael Lal
  • Practice Facilities: Driving range on grass and mats, nice practice chipping and sand area, practice green
  • Pro Shop: Mostly clothing, some equipment
  • Food: The View Tap & Grill is a full service restaurant (that’s pretty good) in the clubhouse
  • Bathrooms: Improved in clubhouse; improved pit toilets on course
  • Yardage Markers: 150 poles; 200, 150 and 100 markers on cart paths; yardage on sprinklers; pins placed in zonal positions
  • Clothing: Proper golf attire
  • Walkable: Generally flat, a good walk
  • Spikes: Soft
  • Shoe Cleaning: Brushes
  • Rentals: All
  • All seasons, but can be closed in winter