The Pacific Northwest over the past 25 years has been one of the more popular in the U.S for destination golf. But the door to the Pacific Northwest – Oregon in particular – opened in 1965 when John D. Gray and Donald V. McCallum founded Sunriver Resort – a former WWII training camp called Camp Abbot – in the high desert near Bend.
The resort’s first golf course – Meadows, designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr. – in 1968, followed in 1982 another design by Jones, Jr., and Fough, and in 1995 by Crosswater, generally considered a masterpiece of architect Bob Cupp. Indeed, with its heathland-style design spread over 600 acres and seemingly endless blue skyline, Crosswater, has earned its reputation as one of the country’s top golf courses. Featuring five tees,, as well as bentgrass fairways and greens, Crosswater threads by the Deschutes and Little Deschutes Rivers. In fact, depending on tee selection, the rivers might come into play as often as seven times in a round. Despite its degree of difficulty, Crosswater is a course you can’t wait to play again.
Crosswater is a private golf course exclusively reserved for club members and resort guests, which makes a stay at Sunriver that much more special. The resort’s accommodations include 245 guest rooms and suites, and more than 275 vacation h;homes and condominiums
Cupp also designed Caldera Links, the resort’s highly-regarded short course that features holes that range from 60 yards to 185 yards. With its bentgrass tees and bluegrass tees (groomed daily), Caldera Links is a favorite among Sunriver members and guests and for members of Crosswater.
Sunriver Resort will serve as the host site for four USGA championships, beginning with the 2027 and 2028 U.S. Adaptive Opens and followed by the 2031 U.S. Mid-Amateur and 2036 U.S. Junior Amateur. In 2024, the resort hosted the men’s and women’s PGA Cup matches.
Crosswater, Caldera Links and Meadows each opened earlier this month for the Summer season. Woodlands is scheduled to open in mid-May.
The Lake House at Sunriver (Sunriver Resort)
“Having 63 holes of golf is a differentiator,’’ said Joshua Willis, Vice President Of Operations At Sunriver Resort. “The Caldera Links par 3 course complements the Caldera Springs development and our family-friendly resort experience, providing an enjoyable golf experience for all ages. The three Championships course allow for an unmatched golf experience for resort guests and members.
“Having multiple courses is so important when choosing a destination for golf travel, and equally important when choosing a membership club. The opening of the Crosswater course and development in 1995 catalyzed a huge change in customer demographic. The golf Championships hosted at Crosswater created great exposure for the course, development and Sunriver Resort.’’
While golf remains the driver (pardon the pun) at Sunriver, Willis said, each resort amenity plays an important role in the overall experience. A hint: Don’t pass on an opportunity to visit the Observatory. Sponsored by NASA and featuring over a dozen telescopes, the Oregon Observatory at Sunriver Resort is the largest of its kind in the country. You might not believe what your eyes will see.
“The importance of amenities like the Cove Aquatic Center, Pickleball, The Spa, Marina, Stables, Caldera Springs Resort, the Sunriver Airport, 44,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, and our 11-plus dining experiences are equally important to the guest journey and future exposure of Sunriver Resort to new customers.
“The food and beverage experience is extremely important to our Sunriver Resort brand. Similar to our four golf course experience, the ability for a guest to indulge in farm-to-table culinary moments in our restaurants is a differentiator. Our four signature restaurants – Lodge Kitchen, Owls Nest , Caldera Springs Lake House, and the Grille at Crosswater – offer guests memorable dining experiences with very different atmospheres.’’
Sunriver’s culinary flair will be on display all through the month of May when it hosts its annual Food & Wine Festival.
The Festival, presented by Sunriver Realty, showcases the region’s rich farming and food heritage. This year’s festival features events at the four signature restaurants including Lodge Kitchen Owls Nest, Lake House and The Grille at Crosswater, where each restaurant’s Chef will create unique culinary experiences. The celebration includes a wine paired dinner with Roco Winery, a Mother’s Day spritz and gourmet bites pairing, a Memorial Day Backyard BBQ with a classic pig roast, a surf and turf dinner, live music and cooking classes.
Let’s put it this way: If the golf and outdoors activities aren’t enough to lure you to the foothills of the Cascade Mountains range, the Food & Wine Festival should do the trick.
“We want our guests to remember our amenities and that each Sunriver Resort teammate exceeded their expectations,’’ Willis said. “We have many guests who return year after year, and I think that’s really a testament to them enjoying our diverse offerings and the feeling of true enjoyment they felt while with us.’’
Feature Photo: The Fifth Hole at Crosswater (Sunriver Resort)