Worth the Dirt Road Detour: 3 Pacific Northwest Golf Resorts Begging to Be Added to the Bucket List

Great golf courses rarely announce themselves with billboards and neon signs. More often, they hide behind weathered cattle gates, at the end of gravel roads, past towns where the diner doubles as the gas station and the lone traffic light blinks eternally yellow.

So when your GPS recalculates for the tenth time and you pass that awfully familiar looking leaning barn, you know you’re on to something good.

If you’re willing to trade convenience for discovery, these are the golf courses that really reward the journey. And trust me, they’re absolutely worth the detour.

The Retreat at Silvies Valley Ranch - Seneca, Oregon

“Be aware of deer and beavers crossing the road.” That’s just one of the instructions for getting to Silvies Valley Ranch. You might also spot Rocky Mountain elk, mule deer, pronghorn antelope, black bears, coyotes, or porcupines. You get the gist - it’s a bit wild out here.

Located on Oregon’s eastern frontier, Silvies Valley is actually a working ranch covering 150,000 acres. Home to 4,500 cattle, 3,000 goats, dozens of horses, and a team of cowboys and ranch hands, it’s a place that’s humming with life.

But at its heart, Silvies is a golfer’s playground - one that dares to be different. Really different. Its two 18-hole courses, the Hankins and Craddock, are technically reversible, meaning no two rounds are ever the same - but not “reversible” in the traditional sense, like at Forest Dunes (more on that one next). The two tracks at Silvies actually share a total of just 27 greens and only eight holes, four on each course, don’t overlap at all.

And just when you thought I was done talking about animals, enter caddy goats. These four-legged loopers will happily carry your clubs (and even your beers) around McVeigh’s Gauntlet, a playful seven-hole layout, or The Chief Egan, a scenic 9-hole par-3 course. There’s even a putting course on-site, and naturally, it’s reversible too. Because at Silvies, ordinary simply doesn’t exist.

Dining and Lodging

And the food is just as memorable as the golf. The ranch’s gourmet kitchen serves organic beef alongside ranch-grown herbs and locally sourced vegetables. Each evening, guests and ranch hands gather at the Ranch Table, sharing stories and laughter at a true family-style 19th Hole. Sip from a selection of over 110 scotches, 50 whiskeys, or a carefully chosen wine, and don’t miss the sourdough bread, baked fresh on the ranch from a 100-year-old family starter.

After dinner, lakeside log cabins await - crafted in timber, warmed by firelight, and offering every modern comfort. There’s more to say, of course, but some things are best left to discover for yourself.

Tips for Visiting

Best time to go: June through October, or early spring if you want to catch the newborn wildlife.

Off-course activities: Rocking Heart Spa, hiking, biking, horseback riding, shooting ranges, and ATV tours across the ranch.

Connectivity: Wi-Fi is available in and around the ranch buildings, but there’s no cell service on the golf courses - an intentional invitation to truly unplug.

Getting there: Most folks fly into Boise, Redmond, or Portland and then tackle the scenic drive to Silvies. I recommend sending your clubs and luggage ahead with ShipSticks—you’ll thank yourself when you and your buddies actually have room to stretch your legs (and not squash your clubs) in the rental car.

Gamble Sands - Brewster, Washington

Getting to Gamble Sands doesn’t exactly require a convoy of Jeeps or a map to hidden treasure, but it is about a 2½- to 4-hour drive from major airports along winding mountain and desert roads - enough to feel like a proper escape from the everyday.

One word visitors consistently use to describe the course? Fun. But that barely scratches the surface. Designed by David McLay Kidd, famed for his work at Bandon Dunes, Gamble Sands represents a new chapter in his design philosophy. Moving away from some of his more punishing layouts, Kidd crafted a course that celebrates playability, creativity, and pure enjoyment.

And with the recent opening of the resort’s second 18-hole layout, golfers have yet another reason to head west. Scarecrow, which just opened in August of this year, is the product of a design collaboration between David McLay Kidd and Nick Schaan, and it’s one of the most visually compelling courses in the country.

Kidd’s flair for imagination doesn’t stop there. Quicksands, the resort’s 14-hole short course, challenges just about every shot in your arsenal. Ranging from 60 to 160 yards, each hole comes with a name that teases what’s to come: Crater, Donut, Boomerang, and Corkscrew, to name a few.

Dining and Lodging

At The Inn at Gamble Sands, every room has a view worth bragging about. Choose from rooms that overlook the Columbia River Valley and the Cascade Putting Course, or those that face the new Scarecrow course. Either way, you’ll want to linger on the balcony a little longer.

Recharge at Danny Boy Bar & Grill, where every bite hits just right, from juicy burgers and tender prime rib to sides that steal the spotlight (I’m looking at you, Tower of Tots). For something a bit livelier, wander over to The Barn, where a new rotating dinner buffet and big-screen TVs await.

Tips for Visiting

Putter around: The Cascades Putting Course covers a whopping 100,000 square feet. Don’t miss it.

Stay & play: Gamble Sands offers a variety of packages, from overnight stays to multi-night buddy trips, making it easy to customize your trip.

When to visit: Late spring through early fall offers the most comfortable weather and the best conditions for both golf and exploring the Columbia River Valley.

RELATED: Love Letter To Bandon Dunes

Tetherow Resort - Bend, Oregon

Tetherow, another David McLay Kidd creation, is a return to his roots - a rugged, demanding take on links golf, made possible by a developer willing to let him push the limits. Built in 2008 on a charred expanse of land just outside Bend, Oregon, where a forest fire once stripped the earth bare, Tetherow rose from the ashes as a course that divides opinion about as sharply as it carves through the high desert.

This isn’t golf laid out neatly in front of you. Tetherow hides its intentions behind elevation changes, blind shots, and contours that deceive the eye. On its toughest days, it can feel like three-putt purgatory. On its kindest, it’s a masterpiece of strategy, daring, and discovery.

Golfers love it. Golfers hate it. Often, they feel both emotions in the same round. Scorecards may suffer, but the experience lingers, and that, perhaps, is Kidd’s truest design signature.

Dining and Lodging

Enjoy a post-golf cocktail on The Patio along with sweeping views of the golf course and the peaks of the Cascades just beyond. Need something quick? The Café has you covered with grab-and-go favorites. And for a more social, sit-down experience, head to The Row - a lively pub-style spot open for every meal of the day.

A wide array of rental homes invites you to vacation like you live there. Think cozy nights by the firepit, sunset views from a private deck, and soaking away your cares in a bubbling hot tub. For those traveling with a smaller party, the resort’s Boutique Hotel offers all the comfort you need just steps from the action.

Tips for Visiting

Lean on the locals: Forecaddies are provided, and thankfully so. They know every hidden ridge, deceptive break, and safe landing spot. At Tetherow, their advice is priceless.

Off-course bonus: This resort isn’t quite as remote as others. After your round, swap spikes for sneakers and hit Bend’s legendary breweries, coffee shops, bike trails, or fishing spots on the Deschutes River.

Ship all your gear: Already sending your golf clubs with ShipSticks? Don’t stop there—send bikes, fishing rods, and other gear too, so everything’s ready to go when you arrive.

RELATED: 18 Golf Trip and Travel Essentials, According to Editors

Every editorial inclusion across Skratch.Golf is independently selected by editors. We comprehensively stand behind every travel destination we feature editorially, but want to disclose that this content was made in partnership with our friends at ShipSticks.