The Grand Opening Round
On July 4, 1993, Tom Weiskopf and head professional Randy Shannon teed off the very first round in front of a few hundred early members and property owners, cementing the club’s place in Bend golf history.
Golf Course Review & Scouting Report
Broken Top Club
Bend, Oregon
Established
1993
Architect
Tom Weiskopf & Jay Morrish
Access
Private
Par
Par 72
Length
5,281 – 7,161 yds
The verdict
Elite Bend-Area Private Experience
Broken Top Club delivers classic Weiskopf/Morrish strategy with mountain and high-desert drama. State-ranked for years, it’s polished, visually striking, and offers enough shot variety to reward repeat play.
Course DNA
Difficulty
80
Scenery87
Conditioning90
Shot Variety81
Walkability68
Green Complexity83
Wow Factor78
Design Quality82
Don't miss
Catch the sunset panoramas from the patio or the 18th green—they’re some of the most breathtaking in Bend.
At a glance
Quick facts
Architect
Tom Weiskopf & Jay Morrish
Opened
1993
Course Setting
Central Oregon high desert
Elevation
Approx. 3,600 feet above sea level
Slope/Rating (back tees)
73.7 / 142
Signature Architect Feature
Dramatic, driveable par fours
Hosted Event
2012 Oregon Open
The design
The architecture
Broken Top Club blends Weiskopf/Morrish’s classic, playable lines with high-desert drama, undulating fairways, and sculpted modern green sites. The routing crafts shot variety around elevation changes and native landscapes, presenting each hole with a different strategic set-up and risk/reward test. While the bunkering and green shaping bring modern visual flair, the overall course retains a timeless, naturalistic feel typical of early-1990s championship builds.
Weiskopf and Morrish’s collaboration at Broken Top fuses traditional design nuance with risk/reward modern flair, a hallmark of their best work.
Defining features
- Strategic, driveable par fours
- Dramatic raised greens and cliff edges
- Sizable, multi-contoured putting surfaces
- Architecturally routed through native landforms
- Premium high-desert mountain views
- Emphasis on both classic and modern shot demands
Hole by hole
Signature holes
Hole 6
Desert Perch Par 3
PAR
3
YARDAGE
223
A stern long-iron test over natural terrain, the 223-yard sixth is the front nine's ultimate gut-check. Framed by native rock and high desert, the green sits slightly elevated and exposed to swirling wind.
Play it smart
Aim for the center and respect the crosswinds—a forced carry and challenging pin locations punish short or off-line approaches.
Where it bites
Miss right and you risk deep bunkers and tough desert recovery; left brings a steep runoff.
Course management
Shots to think about
Facing the driveable par four on the back nine
Think carefully about club selection—bite off only as much as your shot shape allows and play to a preferred wedge yardage if needed.
Second shot on a par five where fairway angles dictate approach
Prioritize a perfect layup spot for good green access—don't chase distance at the cost of your approach angle.
Long par three (hole 6) into swirling wind
Play for the center of the green and trust a committed, lower-flighted long iron or hybrid.
Approaching cliffside greens, especially the 11th
Distance control is everything; favor the short side to avoid severe downhill recoveries.
Strong downhill putts on contoured greens
Err on the cautious side—putt defensively and play extra break to stay below the hole.
Navigating the closing stretch under pressure
Stay disciplined on tee shots—keep the ball in play and avoid high-desert rough at all costs.
On the day
What to expect
Conditions
Pristine turf, top-tier private club grooming, smooth greens, and consistently fast playability.
Pace
Steady, member-paced rounds with little waiting between shots.
Vibe
Upscale and quietly polished; you’ll play in a tranquil, member-focused atmosphere with spectacular mountain and high-desert views.
Dress code
Standard private club attire; collared shirts required, no denim.
Before you tee off
Your game plan
01
Altitude Adjustment
The course sits at 3,600 feet elevation—expect your shots to fly a bit farther than at sea level.
02
Club Guest Access
Access is strictly for members and invited guests—arrange your round ahead through a member connection.
03
Bring Layered Apparel
Central Oregon’s weather shifts rapidly; start cool, finish warm, and expect mountain breezes.
The lore
How it came to be
- 1990
Weiskopf/Morrish selected to design new course
- 1992
Club established
- 1993
Course officially opens for play
- 2012
Hosts the Oregon Open
Stories & legends
What makes it special
Once Timber, Now Turf
The course was built on the site of former timber and mining land, transforming the rugged high-desert ecosystem into a polished, championship-caliber club while preserving natural landforms.
Driveable Par Four Drama
Weiskopf’s design signature—included at Broken Top—is the strategic, driveable par 4, offering tempting risk/reward decisions and rewarding both aggression and craft, notably showcased on the back nine.
For the group chat
Fun facts
1
Course was constructed on former timber and mining lands.
2
Tom Weiskopf played the opening round himself on July 4, 1993.
3
Deschutes River and Cascade Range vistas are visible from multiple holes.
4
Clubhouse architecture is by renowned firm WATG, separate from course designers.
5
Golfers can witness spectacular sunsets over the Cascade Mountains from the property.
Build the trip
If you’re planning a Bend golf trip
CourseAccessWhy it's on the listTrip
Tetherow Golf Club
Resort
Top-ranked public modern course with David McLay Kidd creativity, dramatic scenery, and visitor-friendly booking.
Pronghorn Resort – Nicklaus Course
Resort
Signature Jack Nicklaus design with bold hazards, unique lava tube, and national golf destination cachet.
Pronghorn Resort – Fazio Course
Resort
Showcases Tom Fazio’s flair for dramatic land shaping and pure green sites.
Widgi Creek Golf Club
Public
Challenging, affordable Bend local’s favorite with tree-lined fairways and a different feel than the mountain resort tracks.
Black Butte Ranch – Glaze Meadow
Resort
Classic Oregon resort golf settings, perfect for a relaxed trip north of Bend.
Downtown Bend or the Westside hotel corridor for prime access to restaurants, breweries, and area golf.
Course DNA
If You Like Broken Top Club
Courses with the most similar DNA profile — matched by deviation shape across all eight playing characteristics.
Strong DNA Match8.3
The Broadmoor Golf Club West Course
Colorado Springs, ColoradoConditioning
Why it matches: The Broadmoor Golf Club West Course is a natural next stop after Broken Top Club: it offers similarly polished playing surfaces.
Strong DNA Match7.8
Steelwood Country Club
Loxley, AlabamaConditioning
Why it matches: Steelwood Country Club is a natural next stop after Broken Top Club: it offers similarly polished playing surfaces.
Strong DNA Match8.4
Loraloma Golf Club
Spicewood, TexasConditioning
Why it matches: What links these two? Puts the same premium on presentation — a familiar feeling, expressed in Loraloma Golf Club's own setting.
Community Sentiment
See something inaccurate in this listing?