Tetherow Golf Club
David McLay Kidd designed Tetherow, opening in 2008 in the high desert on the southwest edge of Bend. A links inspired par 72 of about 7,298 yards running through fescue, juniper and rolling ground, it is one of the most distinctive resort courses in the Pacific Northwest, with carts and forecaddies included.
Photo via Google, contributed by Tetherow Resort.
The verdict
David McLay Kidd, the Scottish architect who first made his name at Bandon Dunes, brought a links sensibility to the high desert when Tetherow opened in 2008. He set firm, fast fescue fairways into the rolling ground southwest of Bend, framed them with native grasses and juniper, and built bold, undulating greens that ask the player to use the ground as much as the air. The look is unusual for inland America: tawny, windswept and open, with the Cascades on the horizon.
Our verdict: this is a thinking golfer's course that rewards creativity and a low, controlled ball flight, and frustrates anyone who tries to overpower it. The firm turf, severe contours and exposure mean two players can take very different routes around the same hole. It divides opinion precisely because it has a point of view, and we count that a strength. It is a centerpiece round of a Bend trip and pairs naturally with the area's other resort golf. For the wider picture, see our guide to golf in Oregon.
Tetherow Golf Club at a glance
- Opened
- 2008
- Designer
- David McLay Kidd
- Type
- Links inspired high desert
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- About 7,298 yds
- Green fee
- From about $150 (indicative)
Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from Tetherow and leading course databases: David McLay Kidd, 2008, par 72, about 7,298 yards. Published 2026 green fees ran from about $150 to $245 depending on season and player category, with carts and forecaddies included. Treat the figures as indicative for the 2026 season and always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
Tetherow asks you to play golf the old way. The fairways run firm and the ground feeds and repels the ball, so the smart play is often a running shot rather than a high carry. Land in the right spot and the slope gathers you toward the target; misjudge it and the same slope throws you into fescue or a deep bunker.
The greens are the heart of the test, large and dramatically contoured, where the wrong tier or the wrong side leaves a putt that breaks several feet. Approach play is about angles and trajectory, not just yardage, and the player who studies the contours and stays below the hole scores far better than the one who fires at flags.
Exposure adds the final layer: with little tree cover, the high desert wind shapes every club selection and rewards a controlled, lower flight. It is a course that improves with each round as you learn its quirks. Build a Bend trip around it and add the bolder desert drama of the Pronghorn Nicklaus Course across town.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Public and resort course; open to public play, with preferred access for guests staying on property at Tetherow |
| Green fee | About $150 to $245 in the 2026 season depending on season and player category, with carts and forecaddies included, indicative and subject to change (always confirm before booking) |
| Booking | Reserve online, through the resort or via the management network; staying on property unlocks the best access and value |
| On the day | Carts and forecaddies are included; the firm, contoured course rewards local knowledge, so listen to the caddie |
| Getting there | On the southwest side of Bend off Century Drive, about 15 minutes from downtown and 25 minutes from Redmond airport |
| Best months | Late spring through early autumn for warm, dry, firm conditions; the course plays at its links best in summer |
Access and fees verified June 2026 from Tetherow and leading databases. The course is public and resort access with seasonal rates, so confirm current pricing and availability directly before booking.
Where to stay nearby
Tetherow runs its own resort lodging, from the boutique hotel to rental homes, all within a short walk or cart ride of the first tee and the well regarded on site restaurants. Staying on property unlocks the best tee times and turns the course into the hub of a relaxed Bend getaway.
Downtown Bend, 15 minutes away, offers one of the West's best small town scenes for breweries, food and the outdoors, and a wider choice of hotels. Central Oregon is made for a multi course trip, so pair Tetherow with Pronghorn and consider adding a Portland leg taking in Pumpkin Ridge.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Tetherow.
Build a Bend golf trip
We secure Tetherow tee times, pair them with Pronghorn 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.
Tetherow Golf Club questions
Who designed Tetherow Golf Club and when did it open?
Tetherow was designed by Scottish architect David McLay Kidd and opened in 2008 in the high desert on the southwest side of Bend, Oregon.
What is the par and length of Tetherow Golf Club?
Tetherow is a par 72 measuring about 7,298 yards from the back tees, a links inspired layout running through fescue and rolling high desert terrain.
Can the public play Tetherow Golf Club?
Yes. Tetherow is open to public and resort play, with carts and forecaddies included in the green fee, and preferred access for guests staying on property.
How much does it cost to play Tetherow Golf Club?
Published 2026 green fees ran from about $150 to $245 depending on season and player category, with carts and forecaddies included. Treat this as indicative and confirm directly before booking.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.