Courtesy of the club
Tetherow Golf Club
Bend, OR • Public
Tetherow Golf Club
61250 Skyline Ranch Rd
Bend, OR 97702-3539
United States
Telephone
Overview
A decade after David McLay Kidd established his architectural reputation with the original Bandon Dunes course, he returned to Oregon, settled in Bend and built another dazzling course, Tetherow. Far different than Bandon, with a manufactured landscape of lumps and bumps, far more bunkers, plus a couple of lakes, it nonetheless has the same fescue as at Bandon, so tee shots get plenty of roll and some approach shots can be bounced into flagsticks. The big difference is that Tetherow is a bear to play and demands a high degree of strength and skill to put up a good score, whereas Bandon Dunes creates opportunity when the wind isn't whipping. This design marked the beginning of Kidd's wandering phase, where he lost sight of the reason most golfers enjoy the game and built a series of impressive and attractive but unforgiving courses. Even he admits Tetherow can be too penalizing. His response was Gamble Sands and Mammoth Dunes, where tactics and recoverability take precedence over strict shot-making.
About
Awards
Ranking history:
100 Greatest Public: Ranked since 2011.
Highest ranking: 57th, 2023-'24.
2025-'26 ranking: 61st.
Best in State: Ranked 9th, 2025-'26. Ranked 10th, 2023-'24. Ranked 14th, 2021-'22.
Previous ranking: 10th.
2025-'26 ranking: 9th.
Panelists
Ratings from our panel of 1,900 course-ranking panelists
100 GREATEST/BEST IN STATE SCORES
Shot Options
Character
Challenge
Layout Variety
Fun
Aesthetics
Conditioning
Reviews
Review
“More shot options on the green than anywhere else. It's a challenge for sure, one that should be accepted at least once. May need to be a little nuts to be a member..."
Read More2025
Review
“This David McLay Kidd layout located in Bend, Oregon is a links style course that challenges the golfer on every aspect of their game. Designed in 2008, the course sits on 700 acres near the Deschuttes forest but very close to downtown Bend. This relatively hilly layout provides beautiful vistas of the Cascade peaks including Three Sisters and Broken Top. The course can be played from 5,230 to 7,283 yards. Further there are five tee boxes for all levels of golfers with an additional three sets of combo tees. Both the greens and fairways are covered with fescue which provides firm conditions. On the fairway, on the right line, the golfer can get exceptional rolls while on the greens flying the ball to the hole can result in the ball trickling off the green. While the fairways appear relatively wide, the links layout can penalize a good shot and a bad shot can be rewarded. Due to the tall grass of the fairway, falls that roll off the fairway can be difficult to find and if found, difficult to advance. Often the second shots on the course are on side hill, up hill or down hill lies due to the undulations in the course. While the greens are large, they are undulating and sectioned in various layers. Being on the proper plateau on the green is essential to scoring well. The greens run firm and fast. The greens are generally well protected by numerous bunkers, steep drop offs and false fronts. Overall, this stunning layout is not for the faint of heart golfer. It provides challenges on nearly every shot but rewards the golfer for accuracy and shot making. This unique layout can provide the experienced golfer a satisfying round of golf."
Read More2025
Review
“I know some folks love Tetherow for its boldness, but I came away a little underwhelmed. The course definitely has a strong identity with wide corridors, firm conditions, and a rugged look that stands out in Central Oregon, but for me the greens were a dealbreaker. They're just a little too overcooked. Even decent shots can end up 40 feet away or rolling off the green entirely, and it starts to feel like a guessing game instead of rewarding good play. The layout has a few cool moments, and the setting is solid, but I’d take Pronghorn or Crosswater over Tetherow any day. It’s one of those courses I’m glad I saw once, but it’s not one I’d go out of my way to play again."
Read More2025
Review
“"I'm not totally able to piece together my thoughts on Tetherow. It seems like a place that would be awesome to play over and over again, yet it has many elements that I dislike in course design and several poor holes. The greens are exceptionally difficult, but also really fun. It's absolutely beautiful, but also a housing complex with a road in the middle of it. The turf alone is worth the experience as it plays as firm and fast as anything I've experienced. Overall I do love the course, but I'm not sure it's a great course. - the first hole really sets the tone for the course, which is a good thing - it's set up in a couple different ""paddocks"" and I don't think the second paddock works too well - 3 thru 6 feel crammed into place (6 specifically just doesn't have much of a landing area, especially how firm and fast the turf is) - 9 is a super fun par 5, the drive is an excellent strategic choice, take on the left scruff and be rewarded with a huge speed slot - 10 is also really fun, but also pretty narrow. It may be the perfect example of the Tetherow experience - 13, 14, and 15 is definitely the worst stretch of golf out there with 15 feeling extremely cramped and not great - 17 is a gorgeous par 3 with a surprising number of options in how to play it""
Read More2024
Review
“Beautiful views, not that long from the tips with slope, lot of fescue"
Read More2023
Review
“A large piece of property that had a great variety of hole designs that makes the player think. Condition is good, especially for a high desert public course."
Read More2023
Review
“This is a really good course but is too hard around the greens. The 9th green is too severe. Some of the greens have pin placements that would be impossible to get to. But is in great shape and really firm and fast."
Read More2021
Review
“A great routing through volcanic reminants. Much of the soil is actually still magnetic. Very playable with interesting greens complexes. A bit of an inland links feel. Conditioning was fantastic."
Read More2018
Review
“I'm not a fan of this course. The routing is interesting and the property is beautiful, but the greens complexes are virtually unplayable. The sloping on several greens is so severe that three putts are the best you can hope for. Nice clubhouse and some interesting shot selections, but Kidd should tear up the greens and start over."
Read More2018
Review
“Gets a bad rap due to how challenging it can be. Beautiful course and area with top notch service. If you have a chance, take a golf board to add to the experience."
Read More2018
