Pronghorn Nicklaus Course
Jack Nicklaus opened the Nicklaus Course at Pronghorn in 2004, a par 72 of about 7,381 yards in the high desert northeast of Bend, now the centerpiece of the Juniper Preserve resort. Routed through juniper, sagebrush and exposed lava rock, it is one of the most dramatic resort tests in the Pacific Northwest.
Photo via Google, contributed by Juniper Preserve.
The verdict
Jack Nicklaus carved the Nicklaus Course out of the Central Oregon high desert in 2004, threading fairways between stands of juniper and outcrops of black lava rock under a wide, dry sky. The site does a lot of the talking: the contrast of green turf against rust and charcoal desert, the long sightlines to the Cascades, and a famous natural lava cave beside one of the holes. The course rebranded with the resort, which is now known as Juniper Preserve, but the Nicklaus design is unchanged.
Our verdict: this is big, bold, strategic desert golf that rewards a confident long game and punishes a stray ball into the scrub and rock. The greens are large and contoured, the elevation adds carry, and the routing gives the better player plenty to think about. It is the marquee round of a Bend golf trip, and pairs beautifully with the area's other resort courses. For the wider picture, see our guide to golf in Oregon.
Pronghorn Nicklaus Course at a glance
- Opened
- 2004
- Designer
- Jack Nicklaus
- Type
- High desert
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- About 7,381 yds
- Access
- Resort and members
Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from Nicklaus Design and leading course databases: Jack Nicklaus, 2004, par 72, about 7,381 yards. Access is primarily for guests of the Juniper Preserve resort and club members; green fees are seasonal resort rates rather than a fixed public price. Always confirm current access and rates directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The Nicklaus Course makes an early statement and keeps it up. Wide, rolling fairways invite an aggressive drive, but the desert margins are unforgiving, so the smart play is to pick a side and commit. The lava rock that frames many holes is as much a hazard as a backdrop, and a ball lost in it is gone for good.
The par 3s are a highlight, played across desert to large greens where the dry air and elevation stretch the carry and the wind can swing a club either way. Through the middle of the round the course shows its theatre, including a celebrated hole set beside a natural lava cave, before the longer two shotters demand both length and precision into well guarded targets.
The greens are big and boldly contoured in the Nicklaus manner, so position on the putting surface matters as much as hitting it. This is a course to attack with a plan and respect when the wind gets up. Build it into a Bend trip alongside the links inspired desert golf at Tetherow just across town.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Resort and members; play is primarily for guests of the Juniper Preserve resort and club members, arranged with a stay rather than a public tee sheet |
| Green fee | Seasonal resort rates that vary by time of year and guest status; no fixed public price is published (always confirm before booking) |
| Booking | Reserve golf alongside a resort stay or through membership; the best access pairs with a multi night booking |
| On the day | Carts are standard given the desert distances, and a relaxed resort pace is the norm |
| Getting there | About 20 minutes northeast of Bend, and roughly 25 minutes from Redmond Roberts Field airport |
| Best months | Late spring through early autumn for warm, dry high desert conditions; mornings and evenings are cool |
Access verified June 2026 from Juniper Preserve and leading databases. The course is resort and member access, with seasonal rates, so confirm current pricing and availability directly before booking.
Where to stay nearby
The natural base is Juniper Preserve itself, the resort wrapped around the golf, with lodge rooms and villas that unlock the tee sheet and keep the first tee minutes from your door. Bend, one of the best small towns in the American West for food, breweries and the outdoors, sits 20 minutes away and gives a livelier alternative for an evening.
Central Oregon is built for a golf trip, with several quality resort courses within a short drive. Pair Pronghorn with Tetherow on the other side of Bend, and consider adding a Portland leg taking in Pumpkin Ridge for a fuller Oregon week.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Pronghorn.
Build a Bend golf trip
We arrange Pronghorn stays and tee times, pair them with Tetherow and the best of Central Oregon, and book the lodging around them. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Pronghorn Nicklaus Course questions
Who designed the Pronghorn Nicklaus Course and when did it open?
The Nicklaus Course at Pronghorn is a Jack Nicklaus signature design that opened in 2004 in the high desert near Bend, Oregon, now part of the Juniper Preserve resort.
What is the par and length of the Pronghorn Nicklaus Course?
The Nicklaus Course is a par 72 measuring about 7,381 yards from the championship tees, routed across juniper, sagebrush and lava rock desert terrain.
Can the public play the Pronghorn Nicklaus Course?
Access is primarily for guests of the Juniper Preserve resort and club members. Resort guests can arrange tee times as part of a stay rather than through a public sheet.
Where is the Pronghorn Nicklaus Course?
It sits in the high desert about 20 minutes northeast of Bend, Oregon, at the Juniper Preserve resort, formerly known as Pronghorn.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026; access verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.