Widgi Creek Golf Club would have some of the most spectacular mountain views in the region — if not for all those trees.

It’s the golf course’s ponderosa pines — and Widgi Creek has more than its share of them, even by Central Oregon standards — that make the southwest Bend golf course such a challenge.

Trees, and the way the course is designed between them, dominate the way a golfer plays at Widgi.

Players who hit tee shots accurately are going to find pay dirt at Widgi. Those who too often drift from the fairway will need to stop by the pro shop at the turn to buy a fresh sleeve of balls.

But because of the need for accuracy rather than distance, Widgi Creek is playable for most golfers.

Widgi plays at 6,920 yards from the back tees, 6,451 yards from the blues, and only 5,878 yards from the white tees.

“Position off the tee is crucial,” says Dan Ostrin, the head professional at Widgi. “With the various tees, length isn’t the most important factor.”

Widgi Creek is in remarkable condition, considering Central Oregon’s harsh winter and tough spring.

The fairways are nearly picture-perfect, and the greens are rolling nicely.

Those greens, however, provide a stern test.

Holes No. 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 14 and 18 all finish on tiered greens, and a number of those that are not tiered have distinct sloping.

Widgi purposely keeps the greens rolling at a moderate speed because of the undulations on nearly every green, Ostrin says.

And if the course’s greens were much faster, a three-putt would be considered a good effort.

“With the undulations on the greens, if you are not on the correct tier, you are in trouble,” Ostrin says. “With all of our tiers and some of the sloping, if we got (the greens) as fast as we could, it would be a nightmare. People would really, really struggle.

“They’re definitely smooth and they are quick enough to where you can put a pretty good roll on it. But they are not so fast that you are standing over a 4-footer and you are afraid for your life.”

The par 5s at Widgi Creek stand out as the strength of the golf course.

Only one, the 653-yard third hole, is unreachable in two shots. The other three par 5s at Widgi Creek all play at 600 yards or shorter from the back tees.

But length only partially tells the story.

Take No. 12, a 551-yard par 5. The hole takes a little insider’s knowledge because of a large gully cutting through the middle of the fairway.

Like many of the holes at Widgi, driver isn’t necessarily the best club to hit off the tee. Instead, the safer golfer will play the hole as a true three-shot par 5.

“I think our par 5s are some of the best par 5s in the state, strictly because there is so much risk-reward involved,” Ostrin says. “A big hitter does have the opportunity to go for the green in two (shots). But if you don’t hit a very good second shot, you can easily make a 6, 7 or 8.”

But it’s a par 3 at Widgi that will flummox most golfers.

The 216-yard 11th hole is tough in every way that can make a par 3 a challenge.

No. 11’s length is longer than most par 3s, which is enough to scare many golfers. But nearly all of the 200 yards to the green must be carried because of a fairway-consuming lake. And there really isn’t a bail-out area for skittish players to go around the water.

Even if a golfer hits to the correct yardage off the tee, the spacious, tiered green can easily snatch par away. If the pin is in the back left corner of the green, par is a true accomplishment.

“It’s a tough par 3,” Ostrin says.

Despite the challenge of No. 11, Widgi Creek provides a comfortable round if a golfer chooses the right tees for his or her ability.

Widgi is not cheap to play, at $84 for a weekend round and $69 Monday through Thursday. But those who can take advantage of Widgi’s twilight rates (after 3:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday) can play the course for $39.

And the course is friendly to those that choose to walk, which helps keep the cost for a round down.

No matter which rate a golfer chooses, Widgi offers plenty for the money.

“With our tee setup, it can be very, very challenging from the black tees,” Ostrin says. “So the better player is going to enjoy that. The guy with a higher handicap can easily go up to the blue or white tees and still have a really fun day.”

WIDGI CREEK: At a glance

Architects: Robert Muir Graves (1991, original nine; 1992 second nine). Slope: 128. Rating: 71.8. Par: 72. Yardage: 6,920*.

Hole Par Yardage

No. 1 Par 4 343 yards

No. 2 Par 3 204 yards

No. 3 Par 5 653 yards

No. 4 Par 4 400 yards

No. 5 Par 3 142 yards

No. 6 Par 4 334 yards

No. 7 Par 5 550 yards

No. 8 Par 4 425 yards

No. 9 Par 4 426 yards

Out Par 36 3,477 yards

Hole Par Yardage

No. 10 Par 4 425 yards

No. 11 Par 3 216 yards

No. 12 Par 5 551 yards

No. 13 Par 4 377 yards

No. 14 Par 4 366 yards

No. 15 Par 3 160 yards

No. 16 Par 4 423 yards

No. 17 Par 5 600 yards

No. 18 Par 4 325 yards

In Par 36 3,443 yards

*All distances from back tees

GREENS FEES

Through Sept. 28: Mon.-Thur., $69; Fri.-Sun./holidays, $84

Phone: 382-4449; Web site: www.widgi.com

On the web: Visit www.bendbulletin.com/golf for more about Widgi Creek and other golf content.

Architects: Robert Muir Graves (1991, original nine; 1992 second nine). Slope: 128. Rating: 71.8. Par: 72. Yardage: 6,920.

Through Sept. 28: Mon.-Thur., $69; Fri-Sun./holidays, $84.

Phone: 382-4449; Web site: www.widgi.com

Hole Par Yardage

No. 1 Par 4 343 yards

No. 2 Par 3 204 yards

No. 3 Par 5 653 yards

No. 4 Par 4 400 yards

No. 5 Par 3 142 yards

No. 6 Par 4 334 yards

No. 7 Par 5 550 yards

No. 8 Par 4 425 yards

No. 9 Par 4 426 yards

Out Par 36 3,477 yards

Hole Par Yardage

No. 10 Par 4 425 yards

No. 11 Par 3 216 yards

No. 12 Par 5 551 yards

No. 13 Par 4 377 yards

No. 14 Par 4 366 yards

No. 15 Par 3 160 yards

No. 16 Par 4 423 yards

No. 17 Par 5 600 yards

No. 18 Par 4 325 yards

In Par 36 3,443 yards

*All distances from back tees