The eighth and ninth holes at Crooked River Ranch roll down the canyon toward the clubhouse.

Editor’s note: This is another in a seasonlong series visiting each public and semiprivate golf course in Central Oregon.

CROOKED RIVER RANCH —

The first three holes of the day were not exactly confidence builders.

But with an easy par on the par-3 fourth hole, I was granted a bit more fortitude just in time for one of the great decisions in Central Oregon golf.

Do I go for the green on Crooked River Ranch’s 260-yard, par-4 fifth hole, taking a shortcut over a small piece of the breathtaking Crooked River Gorge? Or do I play it safe, drastically reducing the likelihood of scoring worse than bogey by hitting two short irons around a 90-degree dogleg left?

My playing partner, a longtime member of the Crooked River Ranch men’s club, posed another question regarding No. 5: “Where else in the world can I get an albatross?”

Exactly. When you get a shot at double eagle, you take it. So of course I went for it, playing the par 4 as a 215-yard par 3. No problem, as long as you steer clear of a patch of junipers to the right, or you don’t send your ball caroming hundreds of feet down to the bottom of the gorge.

The fifth at Crooked River is the most interesting and enjoyable hole on what is an interesting and enjoyable golf course set in a gorgeous valley that provides a unique and often spectacular setting.

At 5,669 yards from the blue tees (its championship tees, at 5,818 yards, are used mainly for tournaments), Crooked River Ranch is the shortest regulation golf course in Central Oregon.

The majority of holes at Crooked River are open with few trees in play, the fairways are wide, the greens are typically hard and fast, and the course is usually in near-perfect shape.

For those with just decent control, Crooked River is a course on which even average golfers can score well. Highly skilled golfers will have plenty of opportunities for birdie or better, including drivable par 4s on Nos. 3 and 5 (and for really long hitters, Nos. 8, 9 and 15). All three of the par-5 greens are reachable in two shots.

Add in Crooked River’s natural attributes, including its scenery (the gorge comes into play on three holes) and wildlife, including relatively common visits from golden eagles and red-tailed hawks, and you have a course that is as pleasurable to play as any in the region.

For such a short course, Crooked River has plenty of memorable holes.

The par-3 seventh hole my playing partners called the “shortest par 5 in Oregon,” borrowing the phrase from a golf pro who coined it.

The 149-yarder forces an uphill tee shot to an elevated green, making the distance tough to gauge. And the two-tiered green, which slopes toward the front of the putting surface, is as tricky as they come. Bad position can quickly turn a par or bogey into a much higher number.

From the back tees, the fairway on Crooked River’s panoramic par-4 13th is only reachable after carrying a sliver of the gorge.

And the par 4s on the 17th and 18th holes, both of which play longer than 400 yards, offer a strong finish to the round.

But one hole will always be a topic of conversation at the end of a round at Crooked River Ranch.

And how did I do on the fifth?

I struck a 3-hybrid well, but I hit my ball precariously left, sending it uncomfortably close to a free fall. As the ball sailed, I coaxed the shot with anxious cries of “Get right!”

The shot was close, but it was impossible to know the exact outcome from the tee with the juniper trees and desert brush cloaking the ball’s final resting place.

My playing partner spotted the ball first. It had found a patch of grass behind the green under a tree that blocked any real chance of chipping on. Sounds bad, but I was relieved. Luck had prevailed.

A punch-out, a chip and a missed 8-footer left me with bogey.

Not the score I wanted, but a worthwhile price to pay for a hole that will have every golfer talking no matter the mark on the score card.

Difficulty of course

Crooked River Ranch is rare in that it is both easily manageable for almost any golfer AND interesting.

For skilled golfers, Crooked River Ranch is a relatively easy golf course on which a low number is not only possible, but likely. In fact, the course can be a confidence booster that allows better golfers to be aggressive.

Wide-open fairways on most holes allow lesser-skilled golfers to keep the ball in play. And until the 17th and 18th holes, Crooked River is short enough for shorter hitters to still hit greens in regulation, allowing even novices to thrive.

Favorite hole

How a golfer plays the par-4 fifth hole will be what he or she talks about most after the round.

But purely from a golf standpoint, the 17th and 18th holes offer a pair of strong, difficult finishing holes. The twisting 405-yard 17th emphasizes an accurate tee shot that, if hit well, could funnel down a hill and leave a mere wedge into the green.

The 401-yard 18th plays longer than its distance. The hole is almost entirely uphill and forces a difficult approach shot into an elevated green.

Strategy

Playing aggressively has its rewards at Crooked River Ranch. In fact, for those willing to take some risk, opportunities for birdies or better at the short course are plentiful.

Keeping the ball in play is not much of an issue, as wide fairways on most holes are welcoming even to poor tee shots.

Adjusting to the speed and firmness of the greens, particularly during summer, is the biggest challenge to a golfer looking to post a low number. Make those adjustments, and take advantage of the course’s shorter holes, and a golfer just might set a career best at Crooked River.

Extras

Crooked River Ranch offers plenty. It has a full-size driving range and two practice putting greens, one set at the beginning of each nine.

The course also has a chipping and bunker practice area and a large pro shop. For those there for more than just a round of golf, just steps away from the pro shop is a restaurant with a full bar. A snack bar is open during the summer for a quick bite at the turn.

For those staying longer, Crooked River Ranch has an RV park, a swimming pool and tennis courts.

Value

At $41 for a weekday round, Crooked River Ranch is a solid deal for a golf course that nearly every golfer will enjoy. Weekend mornings are a bit steeper at $48, which is not bad for a prime-time round, but waiting until noon is a better deal at $44.

The basics

General information about Crooked River Ranch:

Number of holes: 18

Status: Open year-round, weather permitting

Location: 5195 Club House Road, Crooked River Ranch

Tee times: 541-923-6343

Course stats: Par 71, 5,818 yards

Green fees: May through September, $48 weekends before noon, $44 after, $41 weekdays; October, $40 weekends, $36 weekdays; November through February, $30 daily

Power cart: $15

Head golf professional: Pat Huffer

Course designers: Original nine: William McPherson (1978); second nine: Jim Ramey (1994)

Extras: Driving range, pro shop, chipping and bunker practice area, two practice putting greens

Website: www.crookedriverranch.com

Crooked River Ranch

Breaking down the course

A closer look at Crooked River Ranch.

Difficulty

Skilled golfers playing close to their ability should be able to post a low number at wide-open and short Crooked River Ranch. Lesser-skilled golfers will experience few impossible shots and should have relatively little trouble keeping the ball in play.

Strategy

Crooked River Ranch begs a golfer to be aggressive, and those seeking a low score should take advantage. All three par 5s can be reached in two shots, and the course has two par 4s that even moderate hitters off the tee can drive. That is That makes for a lot of birdie possibilities.

Extras

With a full-size driving range, two practice putting greens and a short-game area, Crooked River Ranch has plenty of room to sharpen golf skills. A full bar and restaurant are steps away from the clubhouse for those who would rather unwind after the round.

SCORECARD

Hole Par Yardage

No. 1 Par 5 461 yards

No. 2 Par 4 355 yards

No. 3 Par 4 279 yards

No. 4 Par 3 144 yards

No. 5 Par 4 260 yards

No. 6 Par 5 504 yards

No. 7 Par 3 149 yards

No. 8 Par 4 318 yards

No. 9 Par 4 317 yards

Out Par 36 2,787 yards

No. 10 Par 4 353 yards

No. 11 Par 3 173 yards

No. 12 Par 4 398 yards

No. 13 Par 4 354 yards

No. 14 Par 5 494 yards

No. 15 Par 4 318 yards

No. 16 Par 3 135 yards

No. 17 Par 4 405 yards

No. 18 Par 4 401 yards

Out Par 36 3,031 yards

*All distances from back tees