Yawn … Bend and Central Oregon are the subject of yet another glossy puff piece, this one in the latest issue of World Golf magazine.
The story, which focuses on the Pronghorn, Tetherow, Crosswater and Aspen Lakes courses, begins with an unusual metaphor, followed by the usual recital of the attractions here in our glorious high desert “paradise”:
“Full of different little destinations, central Oregon is like a Russian nesting doll.
“One minute you’re driving over a snowy mountain pass in the Cascades. Just a few miles later, you’re in lower altitudes in the forested foothills. Then head down the road and find yourself in the region’s epicenter: Bend and the high desert.
“Bend has become central Oregon’s high desert boomtown. At an elevation of over 3,000 feet, it’s just a short drive to skiing at Mt. Bachelor. The bustling downtown district, though still easily walkable from one end to another, has brought in trendy restaurants and festive microbreweries.”
The name “Brandon Tucker” appears at the top of the story, but The Eye thinks there’s really just one writer holed up in a secret windowless office at the Central Oregon Visitors Association cranking out all these pieces under different bylines.
And here’s the capper: “Golf is a year-round sport here,” Tucker writes.
That surely will come as welcome news to our area’s golfers as they wait for the greens to thaw in May.
This article appears in Aug 14-20, 2008.
MAKE LOCAL JOURNALISM HAPPEN
Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license.
Maybe “golf year-round” will be added to Bend’s standard arsenal of PR bullsnot, along with “300 days of sunshine.”
It’s true. One can golf year around here, assuming an endangered Polar Bear doesn’t park his furry ass on your ball, trying to hatch it…
It’s true, you can golf here, all year round. Last spring/winter/fall they paid kids with propane tanks to walk the green’s and melt the frost at Widgi and other courses that were ‘ice bound’. Yes, the summer here is short, but with enough propane, and an army of Bend citizens our 24 area golf courses can be kept free of frost, & snow.
I’m sure if its put before city-hall to finance the 24/7 all year all 24 open golf-course tourist PR & Marketing, that Bend City-Hall will approve the expense.
And hereรข โขs the capper: รข Golf is a year-round sport here,รข ย Tucker writes.
*
Didn’t there used to be a putting-green out by Lowes? I think its closed now, and they had some indoor training stuff, I’m sure thats what Tucker is referring to.
Also many of the pro-shops have indoor training all year, Bend is a great place to golf. Well 90% of the pro’s here head to Arizona & Palm-Springs Oct-May, but there are some wanna-be pro’s that stay here fall-winter-spring. So we got the pro-shops, and the golf-boutiques, we just need all year round golf tourists to buy condos. Then we’ll be set.
DISCLOSURE: Most of city-hall gets a percentage of HOA maintenance fee’s. The city’s love of golf, and the sale of Golf-Condo’s have nothing to do with one another.
Belza and bendover: LOL!
Maybe Bend builders can handle the propane green-thawing chores in lieu of paying SDCs. Just a thought …
I have lived in Bend all my life. The area has definately changed. It is still agreat area to live. All you who do not like our little piece of paradise, please leave!!!
“All you who do not like our little piece of paradise, please leave!!!”
I don’t see anybody here saying they don’t like Bend. What I see is people saying the hype gets ridiculous sometimes.