Nicklaus Course at Pronghorn: A High Desert Wonderland
Pronghorn's Nicklaus Course shines with a stunning desert landscape, immaculate conditions, and an unforgettable back nine.
Bend, OR
Pronghorn Golf Club is part of Juniper Preserve resort, located in a secluded High Desert landscape about 30 minutes east of downtown Bend. In fact, it's about 30 minutes from anything else except the tiny Bend Airport, where the wealthy land their private jets (not to be confused with the Redmond airport, the main airport servicing Central Oregon).
The secluded nature of the resort makes playing the Nicklaus course at Pronghorn – or its sister course, the Fazio – feel like an escape. And what a gorgeous escape it is. This is a desert course, which distinguishes it from the other publicly-accessible jewels of Central Oregon golf – heathland Crosswater and links-style Tetherow – and contributes to the area's well-deserved reputation as one of the country's best golf destinations.
Comparisons between the Nicklaus and Fazio courses at Pronghorn are inevitable, but I'm going to table them for now – at least until I review the Fazio course in another post. Regardless of which one you favor, there's no question that they're both world-class golf courses, and you won't regret playing either of them.
Tee shots on the Nicklaus course often require a modest carry over desert brush. Some fairways are challenging to land safely off the tee, but your tee shot usually won't be the hardest shot of the hole. Approach shots are heavily-guarded by bunkers or, worse, surrounded by brush, dirt, and rock where a good lie is rare. Once you get it on the green, there aren't many surprises, and the conditions of the greens are so flawless that the ball rolls true. Putting on this course is a fair test of your game and a joy.
I had a blast the first time I played the Nicklaus course at Pronghorn, and my appreciation of the course has only grown each of the half dozen times I've played it since then. I've been particularly impressed with the quality of the course conditions at any time of the year – even at the beginning of the season, when the snowy winters in Central Oregon take most courses more time to get to top form.
If you haven't become smitten with the Nicklaus course at Pronghorn after the first nine holes, just wait until you get to the back nine. This stretch of holes, particularly from Hole 12 to Hole 17, boasts a level of challenge, uniqueness, and beauty that I've only experienced at Bandon Dunes resort. It's not a coincidence that every hole I highlight below is part of the back nine.
Hole 12: Par 4
An unforgettable stretch of holes begins here. The 12th fairway looks like an hourglass from the tee, and it ends with a dramatically elevated green that's perched above a facade of bunkers. Although the hole is visually intimidating, it's not long, and a well-placed tee shot will leave you with a wedge to the green. It's better to be long than short on your approach, as a ridge protects the back of the green.
Hole 13: Par 4
This is another stunner off the tee, and one of the most memorable holes on the course. You'll get a great view of the water running up the right side of the hole from the elevated tee box. The fairway bends to the right, presenting a classic risk-reward decision off the tee – the farther you try to drive the ball, the greater risk you'll end up in the water. But the most striking aspect of this hole is the green, which is backed by a dramatic rock wall, complete with a waterfall on the right side. Don't expect any friendly bounces off those rocks – a large bunker separates them from the green to catch any balls that go long.
Hole 14: Par 3
This is the shortest par 3 on the course. It gives you a chance to catch your breath before the two challenging par 5s immediately after it. It's also a sight to behold, with gorgeous views of the Cascade Mountains to the left of the green. There's a generous landing area for shots that go short left, but the right side is protected by deep bunkers.
Hole 15: Par 5
This is the first of two back-to-back par 5s, and it's one of the hardest holes on the course. The fairway curves back and forth like a rural road, and it pinches to a narrow sliver of short grass in multiple places, including the entryway to the green. It's easy to find yourself with a blind shot (or a couple of them) on this hole. Only the boldest of golfers would go for this green in two. Your best chance of scoring reasonably on this hole is likely to lay it up for a clean look at the green and hit a precise wedge from there.
Tips For Your Round
