D M Kidd's Tetherow in Bend, OR....Now with images!!!!

[Jim Nugent]

Most of the front nine at Wicked Pony was planted in August and September, those are the pictures you're seeing.  They've slowed the construction to a crawl for the winter months ... most of the back nine is shaped, but we can't plant anything more until April or May so there's no hurry.

Incidentally, it's not a two-hour drive to Bandon as someone said above.  More like four hours I think.

actually its about 5 hours..265 miles from Bend to Bandon, most of which is NOT interstate highway driving

Light plane or helicopter service?  

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

wow those pictures do talk to me. This may be Kids best work. I would like to see this in person asap.

[Jeff_Mingay]

I just finished reading "The Seventh at St. Andrews". Anyone else read the book, by Scott Gummer, yet?

I quite enjoyed it. In several instances I was reminded of the same type of shannanigans that go on throughout our own projects!

[W.H. Cosgrove]

There's no doubting this conclusion.  The Oregon high desert is a spectacular destination for people looking for golf and other recreation.  I went there about ten years ago and fell in love with the place.  Of course, I didn't invest.  From what I'm told the real estate is through the proverbial roof.

My then girlfriend and now wife of 17 years were sitting in a Bar in Downtown Bend in the mid 80's.  We were lamenting that Bend would be a great place to live but damned difficult to make a living. There were empty storefronts everywhere and tumbleweeds literally blowing down main street.  All we had to do was buy some real estate!

So much for 20/20 forethought!

For those who haven't been to Bend, it is quite possible to ski in the morning and play golf in the afternoon from April into May.  Bachelor usually has pretty good spring skiing that late.  Since Bend sits east of the Cascades their is plenty of sun in the high desert. I haven't made the 8 hour drive from Tacoma in several years, I think its time to go again!

[PThomas]

Most of the front nine at Wicked Pony was planted in August and September, those are the pictures you're seeing.  They've slowed the construction to a crawl for the winter months ... most of the back nine is shaped, but we can't plant anything more until April or May so there's no hurry.

Incidentally, it's not a two-hour drive to Bandon as someone said above.  More like four hours I think.

actually its about 5 hours..265 miles from Bend to Bandon, most of which is NOT interstate highway driving

Light plane or helicopter service?  

neither unfortunately...i took the a glamorous rented minivan with the kids an wife

[Tim Pitner]

Has anyone played Tetherow yet?  Any reports? 

[Michael Dugger]

I'm on the books for mid-August.

Opens officially July 29th I think.....

[Joel_Stewart]

I heard the C& C course is delayed, maybe forever?   Anyone know?

[Michael Dugger]

I heard the C& C course is delayed, maybe forever?   Anyone know?

Development in Bend has come to a grinding halt, like with the rest of the nation, but worse.

So yes.

[tlavin]

A slow down in construction is not the worst news for Bend.  As it is, Bend is a must-go destination.  This golf course is just another reason to make the trip.

[Michael Dugger]

For the record, Tetherow is going to be a private club with golf course access made available to hotel guests.

However, they don't have a hotel built yet so that makes things difficult.

In the meantime those interested in playing can call and speak with Martin Chuck, director of golf, and probably wrangle their way on.  If I can do it, surely those of you with memberships to some club in your region can too.  Martin is a super cool guy, so cool he even sent me some additional images of the course.

DM Kidd himself had the pick of the litter of the housing lots and is making this his new home.  The course looks extremely cool, it's much closer to the mountains than Pronghorn so I suspect the views will be epic.  More along the lines of the views from Broken Top and Crosswater.  Yet, the bunker styling looks in line with the Pronghorn Fazio course.  It will be interesting to see what is different about it.  I am totally pumped to give it a whirl.  Will report in about six weeks.

[Jed Peters]

I heard the C& C course is delayed, maybe forever?   Anyone know?

Development in Bend has come to a grinding halt, like with the rest of the nation, but worse.

So yes.

Friends living there have said the economy has taken a MAJOR dump/hit lately...so bad Tetherow is basically a ghost town right now, Broken Top cut their initiation in half and DOUBLED monthly dues to over a grand just to stay above water....

[Pete_Pittock]

You should have prepared for the opening hole by warming up on the elevated practice tees, which are located directly below the large patio area of the clubhouse. The opener is straight 400/381/337/265 with the landing area slightly below you. A decent drive which misses the bunkering will leave a medium to short iron into the elavated, three tier green. The moguls busying the fairway are beyond the normal driving area. Two mounds guarding the immediate right side are offset by a bunker on the left. A large bunker on the right is in play.
This photo is from the left front, showing the three, or four tiers.

[Garland Bayley]

Pete,

Did part or your post get lost in the ether? I don't follow what you are saying.

[Pete_Pittock]

 I will be posting many of my Tetherow pictures on a hole by hole basis as time permits. Tetherow is named for Solomon Tetherow, a wagon train leader. Instead of following the Oregon Trail he took the Meek Cutoff , with Meek as the guide) near Ontario, OR and their route generally follows US20. They became lost, were low on water and food when the natives helped them. They eventually rejoined the trail by heading north to The Dalles.
          The player rep moved my group to the tan (6100) tees. Complimentary yardage books with two pages per hole should be often referenced. Hole location sheet show green outline and contours.  I should have played the blacks (6700). Two forecaddies. Greens are fescue, half of the greens are more mature due to the construction schedule. When I played they were running about 8.5. I can't see them getting above 10 to 10.5 for serious competition. IMO these are the most complex greens in Oregon. Three putting is a serious possibility on many holes because of the contouring.
         A urban forest fire cleared most of the land about ten years ago, which probably helped the routing task immensely. After the first two holes provide a getway from the clubhouse a long trek crossing a bridge gets you to the next section of four holes. Another trek back across the bridge, then 7-9 takes your back up to the clubhouse. Good hotdog and a Belhaven. Somewhat of a drive to the 10th tee if you make the pitstop and back down the hill on 10-12, then a long walk to the 13th which goes to the farpoint. 14-18 work back to the clubhouse. A walkable course
        Tetherow is a must play course and will be very accessible for the next 18-24 months. Look for the completion of the hotel. I was able to make arrangements myself through the pro shop. I first had my head professional call their head pro or director of golf, and Tetherow informed my pro that I could make the arrangements.
        The only food is the grill shack on the patio. They have Belhavens.
        Tetherow is located in SW Bend, off the road to Mt. Batchelor. Once you reach the last roundabout (Mt Washington Blvd & Broken Top Club turn) it is 1.5 miles to the driveway.

[Pete_Pittock]

Garland,
Somehow I posted the same picture twice. I will rectify that, and re-read what I posted.

[Garland Bayley]

The correct picture clarifies.

[Pete_Pittock]

Hole # 2 546/514/505/392

Elevated tee shot to a split fairway. The main split ends about 225 from the green. It seems that the left side will provide a better angle to the green, but the right side chute will shorten the hole. From the top of the hill there is a big downslope. I do not consider myself long, but my second ended up about 10 yds short of the green, so this hole is defintely reachable.

This shot shows the end of the first divide at the hole's high pointe.

Moving a bit closer we can see that the right side of the green is guarded by three bunkers. Again there are three distinct tiers, with the highest on the left side with a false front. Tall grass guards the overagressive approach. If you get a back right pin, pray that your ball barely inches over the ridge because

this is the view from the back right showing the lowest sector which did not stop my putt from rolling 25 feet off the green.

[Pete_Pittock]

Hole 3 197/172/146/122
After holes 1 & 2 march north, we traipse across a large bridge to get the the next section of four holes. The third changes direction and heads west with some nice bling in the distance
The green again has three sections, with a mezzanine on the right side hidden behind the bunker and what Casey Martin feels is an unhittable lower left level which feeds toward the water. One of my playing companions proved Casey's contention is probably right

A picture of the green from the front right quadrant shows the contours. Sean, a very front pin position is possible.
 

[John Kirk]

The course has a nice color to it.  Pretty impressive so far!  Thanks for the photos, Peter.

[Pete_Pittock]

Hole 4 481/422/391/295 Uphill. #1 handicap hole, to be followed by the #5 and #3 handicap holes.



350 yards of ESA lateral water hazard up the left side gets your attention and the right side is no picnic if you miss the fairway. Hairy moguls are not in play unless you miss the drive. Large bunker anchors the right front green defense. Three major tiers with the highest back left and lowest back right. Fallaways left and right for the elevated green.   

You will probably hit a wood or hybrid into the green, which is forty yards deep. This is the view from about 150.

A close=up of the bunker.

Another view of some green contours from the right (cart path) side. Note the slight downslope for balls that just carry th bunker. My ball, closest,  is in TPL

[Pete_Pittock]

Hole 5 424/379/327/283
Downhill hole with a dangerous green.

The mogul at fairway center is about 100 yds from the green.
This photos from about 130 shows the central hazard about 50 yards short
I didn't really see the left side of the green or the hidden pottish bunker which indents into the complex green.

The left half of the green is open, with the hazard on the left lurking. Left half is the lowest part, and it continues across the back of the green. Highest level is front center, lower node back right. Hope you don't get this pin at the top edge of the slope, the most difficult location

[Michael Dugger]

bump to top....

[Dan Herrmann]

wow - from what I remember of Bend, it was almost all built on very hard, volcanic rock.  I'm amazed to see the amount of sand.

The course looks fantastic - Peter - did your membership at a club in PDX help you get on?

[Michael Dugger]

wow - from what I remember of Bend, it was almost all built on very hard, volcanic rock.  I'm amazed to see the amount of sand.

The course looks fantastic - Peter - did your membership at a club in PDX help you get on?

I'm not a member anywhere and I'm playing it on Monday.

Just call up.