Best Golf Communities in Central Oregon: A Local's Guide
For a region its size, Central Oregon has a ridiculous amount of championship golf. Here's the honest map of the communities that are built around it — who each one fits, what you actually pay, and the trade-offs nobody puts in the brochure.
The short version
Top of the market: Tetherow (modern, resort, Mt. Bachelor side) and Broken Top (established, gated, country-club) — both westside Bend, both running roughly $800K into the multi-millions.
Best value: Eagle Crest near Redmond — three courses and resort amenities at prices that often land 30–50% below westside Bend.
Family / second-home: Sunriver — a large resort community south of Bend with golf, a marina, the SHARC aquatic center, and miles of bike paths.
Also worth knowing: Juniper Preserve (formerly Pronghorn), Brasada Ranch, and Caldera Springs round out the high-desert resort options.
| Community | Where | Best for | Entry pricing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tetherow | Westside Bend | Modern resort golf | ~$800K–4M |
| Broken Top | Westside Bend | Established, gated | ~$800K–4M |
| Eagle Crest | Near Redmond | Value + retirees | Lower-priced |
| Sunriver | South of Bend | Families, second homes | Wide range |
| Juniper Preserve | NE / Powell Butte | Destination golf | Upper-end |
| Brasada Ranch | Powell Butte | Ranch-resort feel | Upper-end |
| Caldera Springs | Next to Sunriver | Newer resort builds | Upper-end |
Tetherow — modern golf on the Mt. Bachelor side
Tetherow is the most recognizable of Bend's resort communities — a David McLay Kidd–designed course winding through high-desert juniper, with on-site dining, a boutique hotel, and a strong active-retiree presence. It's contemporary where Broken Top is traditional, and it's the closest of the golf communities to Mt. Bachelor. Budget for resort club dues on top of the HOA, and expect pricing from roughly $800K well into the multi-millions. Full Tetherow guide.
Broken Top — established, gated, country-club
Broken Top is one of Bend's original gated golf communities: mature ponderosa pines, custom homes on generous lots, and a country club with the pace established residents prefer. If the newer resort communities feel too "new construction" for your taste, this is the one that usually fits. Inventory is thin and pricing runs roughly $800K to $4M. Full Broken Top guide. If you're weighing it against Tetherow specifically, I wrote a head-to-head comparison of the resort communities too.
Eagle Crest — the value play near Redmond
If you love the resort-golf lifestyle but the westside Bend price tags give you pause, look 25 minutes north. Eagle Crest, on the sunny edge of Redmond, has three courses, pickleball, miles of trails, and homes that frequently land 30–50% below comparable westside Bend communities. The trade-off is a 25-minute drive to downtown Bend instead of 8 — for a lot of active retirees, that math works. Full Eagle Crest guide.
Sunriver — golf plus a whole resort town
Sunriver is less a golf community than a self-contained resort town about 20 minutes south of Bend. Alongside its golf (Crosswater, Meadows, and Woodlands), you get a marina on the Deschutes, the SHARC aquatic center, a small commercial village, and one of the most extensive bike-path networks in Oregon. Homes range from condos to riverfront estates, and a large share are second homes or vacation rentals — so it lives differently than a primary-residence neighborhood. More on Sunriver.
Also worth knowing
Juniper Preserve (formerly Pronghorn) sits northeast of Bend toward Powell Butte and is the region's destination-golf heavyweight, with Nicklaus and Fazio courses and a resort/wellness focus — upper-end pricing and a more remote, exclusive feel.
Brasada Ranch, in Powell Butte, trades the in-town convenience for big high-desert ranch views, a strong amenity package, and a destination-resort vibe. Caldera Springs, right next to Sunriver, is the newer master-planned option for buyers who want current construction with resort amenities. All three skew upper-end and are worth a look if the marquee Bend communities don't fit.
So which one fits you?
The honest filter is lifestyle and budget, not the golf itself (the golf is good everywhere here). If you want to be closest to Mt. Bachelor and like modern, Tetherow. If you want established and gated, Broken Top. If value and sunshine win, Eagle Crest. If you've got a family or want a second-home resort town, Sunriver. And if you're shopping the retirement angle specifically, my guide to the best 55+ communities breaks these down by what each kind of retiree actually wants.
Want help narrowing it down?
I know these communities, the HOA and club-dues fine print, and which streets and lots are worth the premium. Grab the relocation guide, or book a 30-minute call and we'll match your budget and lifestyle to the right one.