The Loop

My Town: Peter Jacobsen

July 06, 2010
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Crosswater Club, one of three courses at Sunriver Resort, is rated 76.9 with a 150 slope from the tips.

Peter Jacobsen was born and raised in Portland, Ore., but he has a long history with central Oregon too, having first visited the area on a family ski trip to Mount Bachelor when he was 14.

Recently Jacobsen has been in the area during the summers for the Jeld-Wen Tradition, held at Sunriver Resort near Bend. Not only does the 56-year-old play in the Champions Tour major, but his sports and entertainment marketing firm, Peter Jacobsen Sports, has managed the tournament since 2003.

Oregon's high-desert region, with its warm days and cool nights, is an ideal summer vacation spot, offering plenty of golf and other outdoor sports.

COURSES

The Jeld-Wen Tradition moved from the Portland area to the Crosswater Club at Sunriver Resort (3) in 2007. One of three 18s at the resort, it's a scenic layout by Bob Cupp with the Little Deschutes River coming into play on seven holes. It's rated 76.9 with a 150 slope from the tips, but five sets of tees make it enjoyable for any golfer. The huge green at the par-4 ninth hole has a Scottish feel. The par-3 17th is a brute, but there is room to run your ball onto the green.

I'm also partial to Brasada Canyons GC in Powell Butte, which I designed with my partner Jim Hardy. A private club that opened in 2007, there is limited access to guests staying at Brasada Ranch. The high-desert terrain provides a great setting for golf, and that's certainly the case here.

LODGING

Sunriver Resort is a terrific place to stay, particularly if you're on a family vacation. It offers so many fun activities, including rafting, fly-fishing, horseback riding and cycling. You can even go up in a sailplane and see some fantastic vistas as you glide over the area...The Oxford Hotel is a sophisticated boutique hotel with an urban, organic decor in downtown Bend.

DON'T MISS

A number of pros take the time to drive down to Crater Lake National Park when they're at the Tradition. It's about a 2½-hour drive, but it's worth the trip -- you've never seen water so blue and driving through the winding roads in the park to get to the crater itself is a pretty amazing experience.

Taking the chairlift up to the summit of Mount Bachelor is another cool excursion. Bend is a wonderful place to pass some time; it's just great to walk around. It has art galleries and antique stores. And there are shops of all kinds in the Old Mill District.