Designed by Bob Cupp, the Crosswater course at the Sunriver Resort in central Oregon is a private members facility that was built in 1995 to compliment the daily fee golf available at the resort.

Immaculately presented with its bent grass fairways and greens, the golf course is best noted for its interaction with the endlessly winding Little Deschutes River. The layout is arranged in two loops on either side of a central clubhouse with the river an integral feature on 3 or 4 holes, and set adjacent to a few others as well.

This is an attractive course and Cupp’s routing is certainly well spaced and balanced. The biggest issue with the course, however, is the lack of really interesting or outstanding design. Of the water holes, the carries are either too penal or too forgiving, and a number of greens placed near to the river, rather than right on the water, lack genuine strategic merit. One particularly odd stretch takes the golfer across some of the flattest terrain on the property, from an unforgiving all-carry approach across the river into the 8^th green to a bland par four at the 9^th which plays right alongside the water but offers no incentive at all to flirt with trouble. The approach into the 9^th green enjoys a gorgeous mountain backdrop, but would have been a much more interesting shot to hit had the river been used to influence strategy in some way.

Crosswater is a decent middle of the road resort style course with beautifully maintained fairways and speedy, flat green complexes. It won’t disappoint those looking for somewhere pleasant to play with friends, but is far from the most inspiring place in Oregon to chase a golf ball.