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

REDMOND —

In more than four years of living in Bend, my golf partner had never once played a round at Juniper Golf Course.

He had heard about the high quality of Redmond’s municipal golf course, but until he accompanied me there for a recent round, he had never found the time for the relatively quick trip to southeast Redmond.

We had not yet reached the parking lot after 18 holes — played in rainy and breezy conditions, no less — when my partner said: “We should play this course more.”

His reaction was no surprise to me, as I recall thinking the same thing after playing Juniper the first time years ago.

Juniper reopened as a completely new design in 2005. (The old Juniper was situated on land owned by Redmond Airport. It opened in the 1950s but is now closed for good.)

And though it has been popular — Juniper is among the busiest Central Oregon courses, hosting roughly 40,000 rounds of golf a year — it is under new management after missing debt payments to the city of Redmond in 2009.

But California-based CourseCo Inc., which was hired by the city in 2010 to manage Juniper, has changed little of how the course plays.

That is wise. The gem of a desert links course, designed by John Harbottle III in 2005, is a spectacular test of golf.

What makes it so?

First, Juniper is among the better-conditioned municipal golf courses anywhere.

And Juniper’s putting surfaces, which have been purposely slowed down a touch by course management in recent years, are still the fastest and firmest greens of any public course in Central Oregon.

For golfers of at least moderate skill level, such greens provide an exhilarating challenge. Play the wrong line or speed, and a three-putt is imminent. Such surfaces force a golfer to think about every putt — even the gimmes.

Novices may struggle with the quickness of the greens, but not so much that lesser-skilled golfers should be deterred from playing the course.

Juniper’s holes range from monstrous (the 651-yard par-5 sixth hole, 483-yard par-4 ninth and 471-yard par-4 17th, for instance), to terribly interesting (the 449-yard par-4 fifth hole), to welcome reprieves (the 150-yard par-3 13th) from the course’s more challenging holes.

Few courses offer more variety in one round of golf than Juniper.

The most interesting hole is the fifth, a long hole with a large rock outcropping that juts out and cuts off the right side of the fairway, creating a blind approach into a long, narrow green with a lava-rock backdrop.

Any golfer not able to keep his or her tee shot left on No. 5 is in for an adventure.

The hole is visually spectacular, and a bit intimidating.

Or as my playing partner put it as we walked off the fifth: “That entire hole is scary.”

Juniper offers plenty more frightening shots. But with seven tee combinations from which to choose, golfers not ready for such a challenge can avoid such flirtations with disaster.

For me, I enjoy taking on those challenges — even if my game is not always up to it.

That is the joy of playing Juniper, a course far superior to what its “municipal golf course” tag may suggest.

Difficulty of course

At 7,186 yards from the back tees, Juniper is a tough test of golf even for the most skilled golfers.

The course winds through the high desert, utilizing numerous hills, lava-rock outcroppings, juniper trees and other impediments native to this region’s desert. Its greens are nearly PGA Tour-caliber, and they can run as fast as 12 or higher on the Stimpmeter.

Thankfully, with seven sets of tees — ranging in distance from 5,500 yards to nearly 7,200 yards — golfers can choose how difficult Juniper will play.

For novices who play the appropriate tee, Juniper offers wide fairways and no forced carries. However, Juniper’s greens will be a challenge for those inexperienced with playing firm, fast putting surfaces.

Favorite hole

Juniper’s par-4 17th hole is the toughest hole because of its sheer length at 478 yards.

But the par-4 fifth hole, a 449-yard beauty, is among the most impressive golf holes in the region.

From the tee, golfers are greeted not only by a panoramic view of the Cascades, but also by a massive rock outcropping that juts into the fairway and protects the green.

The fairway has plenty of room for tee shots to miss right, but the optimal play is down toward the left of the fairway. Shots that do miss right will leave a blind, uphill approach shot over the outcropping.

From the left side, golfers will have a wide-open look into the green, an elongated putting surface with two bunkers to its left and lava rock that can be used as a backstop for shots that sail long.

Strategy

For the most part, playing aggressively from the tee is not only rewarded, but on many holes doing so is necessary just to reach greens in regulation.

For instance, the par-4 17th hole, a 478-yard beast, takes two extremely long shots just to reach the elevated green safely.

The good news is that Juniper’s fairways are generous, including on No. 17, allowing golfers to reach for a little extra yardage with their drivers.

Controlling approach shots into the firm and fast greens is paramount. Play the ball short of the pin and let the ball work toward the target. Drifting too far from the pin can make three putts a virtual certainty.

Though putting is almost always the difference between a good round and a mediocre round of golf at any course, the difference can be more pronounced at Juniper. Not only are its greens speedy, but subtle breaks can be difficult to read for those not accustomed to playing at the desert course.

Extras

Juniper’s short-game practice area — which rests behind the clubhouse and just off the 16th green — is one of the best in the area, with a spacious green and plenty of room around the putting surface to work.

Juniper’s driving range is a shade narrow, but it still has room for most golfers on all but the busiest days.

Its practice putting green, between the driving range and the clubhouse, is large and gives a golfer a true read on the speed of the greens. That is important to adjust to, because the putting greens at Juniper typically are among the speediest in the region.

The restaurant and bar area has ample space, including a back patio that overlooks the golf course and offers a spectacular view of the Cascades.

Value

Juniper has kept its peak green fees relatively level in recent years — $59 during weekdays, $65 on weekends. Redmond residents have it better still: $10 off Juniper’s regular rate. That is reasonable for such a high-quality golf course.

But the municipal facility has far more bargain offerings than in the past. The rate after noon drops to $44 on weekdays, $54 on weekends; and after 4 p.m. it falls to $39 (weekdays) and $49 (weekends), including the use of a golf cart.

In addition, golfers can occasionally find better deals at Juniper at golfnow.com.

For a golf course that ranks among the best Central Oregon has to offer, Juniper is certainly one of the region’s better values.

Juniper Golf Course

The basics

General information about Juniper Golf Course:

Number of holes: 18

Status: Open year-round, weather permitting

Location: 1938 S.W. Elkhorn St., Redmond

Tee times: 541-548-3121

Course stats: Par 72, 7,186 yards

Green fees: Through Sept. 19, $59 weekdays, $65 weekends/holidays before noon; $44 weekdays, $54 weekends/holidays from noon until 4 p.m.; $39 weekdays, $49 weekends/holidays including cart after 4 p.m.; Nov. 1-28, $39. After Sept. 20, $49 before noon; $39 after noon.

Power cart: $15

Head golf professional: Bruce Wattenburger

Course designer: John Harbottle III (2005)

Extras: Driving range, putting green, practice pitching green, restaurant, banquet facility

Website: www.playjuniper.com

Breaking down the course

A closer look at Juniper.

Difficulty

At 7,186 yards from the back tees and with lightning-fast greens, Juniper has the chops to challenge a golfer of even the highest skill level. But with seven tees, including one at 5,500 yards, and generous fairways, the municipal course is playable for novices.

Strategy

Aggressiveness from the tee is encouraged by Juniper’s generous fairways. But be mindful of the course’s firm, fast greens, which hold the key to a good score. Aim for below the hole on approach, allowing for the momentum of the shot to roll the ball toward the cup.

Extras

Juniper’s short-game area, just behind the clubhouse, offers plenty of room for golfers to work on their chipping. The course’s restaurant offers a spacious back patio area that overlooks the ninth, 16th and 18th greens and has wonderful mountain views.

Scorecard

The scorecard for Juniper Golf Course:

Hole Par Yardage

No. 1 Par 4 446 yards

No. 2 Par 4 388 yards

No. 3 Par 3 178 yards

No. 4 Par 4 366 yards

No. 5 Par 4 449 yards

No. 6 Par 5 651 yards

No. 7 Par 5 564 yards

No. 8 Par 3 234 yards

No. 9 Par 4 483 yards

Out Par 36 3,759 yards

No. 10 Par 5 519 yards

No. 11 Par 4 429 yards

No. 12 Par 4 270 yards

No. 13 Par 3 150 yards

No. 14 Par 4 419 yards

No. 15 Par 4 438 yards

No. 16 Par 3 198 yards

No. 17 Par 4 478 yards

No. 18 Par 5 526 yards

In Par 36 3,427 yards

*All distances from back tees