doesn’t exist where volcanology ruled. And that’s fine. Tetherow is another iteration of that Central Oregon- style of design and play known as diversity. Call if heaving and raucous, an American play of verticality with a great measure of the old school ground game woven through. And it’s tough; perplexing, return-and-master tough, not run-and-hide tough. “I’m in the creative business,”
Kidd explains. “This is a bold creation like nothing that had been done [in Bend] before.” Tetherow Lodges opened three years
ago, serving up 50 rooms and suites, and guests also have a selection of rental homes from which to choose. Golf does not end with these flagship
resorts. Head up for three weeks and you could tee it up daily and still not exhaust what the golf trail offers. Widgi Creek, Juniper, Aspen Lakes, on and on and on; there is a price, a challenge, a playing aesthetic to suit all. As Bledsoe echoes: “From a golf
perspective, what’s really cool about Central Oregon is the courses are all so unique, so different from each other.
Most places you go to play golf, it doesn’t really change. Here you go from one style of golf to another style of golf. And all have big, spectacular views.” Three of those Bledsoe referenced
— Pronghorn, Tetherow and Crosswater — are rated by Golf Digest among its top 100 courses you can play. At the risk of appearing a golf
heretic, one of the big reasons for experiencing a Central Oregon golf getaway is the Central Oregon getaway component. Here are five shout-outs to experiences you must experience. Agua pura: Fishing a stream or high
mountain lake, floating downriver from Sunriver’s marina, a standup paddle through town — water is at the core of the Central Oregon experience. Where there’s water: Good water
IF YOU GO
www.visitcentraloregon.com www.centraloregongolftrail.com www.blackbutterranch.com www.pronghornresort.com www.sunriverresort.com www.tetherow.com
AGA Golf Days
is one of reasons why greater Bend is a focal point for craft brews. (The other is that Oregonians have a natural proclivity for sourcing and buying locally.) The tally is ever-changing, but as of last check it topped two dozen. This ain’t no spin: Cyclists rejoice.
Trail, gravity, road, gravel, heck, even beachcruiser-in-slippahs, if two wheels are the ticket, you can punch it. Step lively: It’s summer, you can’t
ski, but do take to the mountains, Tumalo Falls or the red rock fins of Smith Rock State Park. Hiking sits way up high in the hierarchy of fun. Food is NOT just fuel: With so many
choices it’s almost unfair to pick just one. But time and time again, every trip, for all the other great eateries also savored, we always hit Zydeco Kitchen & Cocktails, where farm-to-fork Pacific Northwest bounty meets the magic and cool culinary mayhem of bayou country. Bend and Central Oregon.
Say it a few times, embrace it: Bend! Central Oregon! n
Ken Van Vechten is a golf and travel writer who lives in Lompoc, Calif.
YOUR FRIENDS - YOUR FORMAT - YOUR KIND OF FUN
AGA Golf Days provide AGA members the opportunity to play in a non-competitive relaxed setting at some of Arizona’s select private and public golf courses. Events are open to all members of every skill level to enjoy with family and friends.
To register today, call Alex at (602) 944-3035 or go online to
azgolf.org www.azgolf.org Presented by SPRING 2017 | AZ GOLF Insider | 43
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