Bob
Cupp, former golf course architect with the Nicklaus
Design firm, has in recent years established himself
as a notable American golf architect - a credit that
could theoretically be based entirely on the man's
work in the state of Oregon. Consider his most
critically acclaimed works here (Witch Hollow and
Ghost Creek at Pumpkin Ridge, just outside Portland)
and this, the Crosswaters Course at Sunriver, and Cupp
lays claim to three of the top venues in the state.
Between the three designs, Cupp has shown his
diversity and his creativity, and at Crosswaters, the
top choice at Sunriver, these talents are on full
display.
What could
be so special about Sunriver? Well,
the setting for one. Playing through a broad
and vibrant meadow shelved by beautiful mountain
ranges, the Crosswaters layout is aptly named: players
must play forced carries over the Deschutes and Little
Deschutes rivers as many as seven times. Due to Sunriver's elevation of 4,160 feet, well up in the
Cascade Mountains, Cupp
made Crosswaters a 'big' course, and certainly
succeeded. Measuring a
whopping 7,683 yards from the gold tees, players on
the Crosswaters Course only receive marginal
assistance from the thinner mountain air. As the
yardage would suggest, it plays extremely long.
The
course is an excellent choice for the setting, with
the enormity of the course relating well to the vast
girth of the meadow. For
a course this long, Cupp appropriately gives the golfer
plenty of room off the tee.
However, hitting the fairway is not the only
objective, but hitting the proper side opens up the
greens for an easier approach.
The
course gets off to a gentle start with the shortest
par four on the golf course, but immediately turns the
corner with the great par-five second hole.
Measuring 582 yards from the tips, this
par five gives the golfer plenty of room to set up for
their third shot into this undulating green, fronted by
water and guarded in the rear by deep bunkers.
The prudent lay-up is to the right side of the
fairway, as it affords an open angle to the green,
allowing your shot to be run up while also diminishing
the psychological fear of the approach.
The
third is worth mention, as this is the first use of
the long rough, which doesn’t come into play on the
188-yard par three, but provides wonderful contrast. These aesthetics do not go unnoticed by the
golfer and enhance the surroundings.
The role of the
Deschutes and Little Deschutes becomes quite apparent
on the fifth hole, with a forced carry from the tee on
this 460-yard par four.
These forced carries from the back tees are
commonplace at Crosswaters, but what Cupp manages to negotiate
well is the lack of punishment for the shorter hitter
playing from more forward tees.
The
drive is across the river to a fairway running
diagonally to the left.
After safely negotiating the drive, the
approach is not an easy one to a well-protected,
albeit deep green.
The
front nine closes with another brute, the 456-yard
ninth hole, which has the largest green on the course,
measuring 53 yards in length. Again, the key strategy is not merely to get
the ball on the green, but to find the proper
quadrant, determined by the day's pin position.
The
12th hole on the back nine is intimidating from just a
glance at the scorecard, let alone the view from the
tee. Playing
687 yards from the back tees, this par five is a true
three-shot hole, with water guarding the entire left
side. For
such a lengthy hole, the green is surprisingly
shallow, and a long drive and second shot are needed
down the right side of the fairway, pinched by
bunkers, to leave the best angle of
approach.
Following
the grueling 12th, Cupp offers the golfer a breather
with the 171-yard, par-three 13th.
A solid iron shot to the center of the green
will offer a decent chance at birdie on this
receptive green.
After
a strong stretch from 14 to 16, the course comes at
the golfer with most challenging par three on the
course. Measuring
244 yards from the tips, the 17th is not only long,
but also very exposed to the elements should the wind
be blowing. The green is a monster, so try to place the ball
in the same region as the pin, a task much easier said
than done.
The finishing
hole at Crosswaters is an exceptional strong par four. Measuring
456 yards from the back tee, the second shot is
fittingly played over the river to a narrow, angled
green. This tough
finishing hole is a culmination of a very strong
stretch of holes on the inward half
The course is
certainly the definition of big, however, it is the
setting and the ability to incorporate the wetlands
and rivers into the design that are inevitably
Crosswaters' most redeeming features. The size of
the fairways and greens also allow the average golfer the ability to negotiate
the course in reasonable fashion, especially if the
proper tees are chosen.
The
wetlands, which are featured prominently in the
mountain valley setting, have been well preserved, and
as a result, the course has been recognized as a
certified Audubon Sanctuary.
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