Pronghorn Golf Club – A Little Piece of Awesome in Central Oregon

Posted in Golf, Outside the Lines | 6 comments

BEND, Ore. – I’ve been staying at Pronghorn Golf Club the last couple of days with the Go 2 Wife and Go 2 Twins. Unfortunately, the Go 2 Pup made the trip with us, but our three-bedroom condo is not one of the pet-friendly condos they have here so we had to drop him off at Happy Tales in Redmond, Ore.

I feel bad about that because he would enjoy it here, running around the fairways, chasing bunnies and birds, swimming in the pool at night after I smuggle him in.

But I didn’t want to smuggle him into our condo because there was a $500 penalty if you were caught with a dog in your place PLUS these really nice people here are comping our stay – in return, I’m writing a story about Pronghorn for Cascade Golfer magazine. That would have been awfully bad form to get free accommodations and sneak your dog in when he’s not allowed.

I’m such a sap when it comes to Willie the golden retriever that I left my Washington State sweatshirt with him so at least he’d have something familiar to him in his kennel. We’re picking him up tomorrow morning, and I already can’t wait to see his smile and wagging tail and expression of “where in the hell were you, and why did you leave me here?”

We played the Nicklaus course at Pronghorn yesterday and had a blast. I’m not sure if Adam our forecaddie felt the same way though. My 7-year-olds are pretty good little golfers, but they’re not the fastest players in the world. Neither is my wife. It took us 3 ½ hours to play the front nine. We let three groups play through us in the first four holes.

I usually dislike slow play, but I was with my wife and kids so it didn’t matter. Plus I had one Bud Light going and another on ice. And better than that, I took a lesson earlier in the day from Mike Palen at the Pronghorn Tour Academy that had me hitting the ball better than I have in a long time.

I come over the top and swing outside-in and basically do everything you shouldn’t do. He showed me on video how I need to be coming at the ball from the inside, telling me to act like I’m hitting the ball to right field while releasing my hands through the ball. Then he wanted me to hold my finish.

When I followed his advice, I hit 7-irons 175 yards with a slight draw. When I hit my driver on the Nicklaus course, I hit a few that went 275 yards. Palen told me there’s no reason I couldn’t be an 8- or 9-handicapper – I’m a 14 now – but he added that he hadn’t seen my short game. If he’d seen my short game, I have no doubt in my mind that he wouldn’t believe I’m a 14 instead of a 20. For instance, I T.C. Chenned a chip the other day at The Home Course, double-hitting a simple green-side shot.

Anyway, enough of that, we planned to play 18 but I felt so bad for Adam the forecaddie that we quit after 9 so that he could head out and have dinner with his mom.

I’ll leave you with this embarrassing Go 2 Guy moment, which I believe is a first here at Pronghorn. This is an exclusive joint filled with high-rollers as members, including Rick Neuheisel and Richie Sexson, who I saw at the pool with his wife and kids yesterday. Said hello to Richie, have no idea if he even knew who I was, and if he did, I’m sure he muttered to his wife: “What in God’s name is that guy doing here?”

I needed a golf glove and gave the guy at the pro shop $20 for the $19 glove – no tax in Oregon, so I had it covered. But they don’t accept cash so he had to use my debit card, and it was denied. I’m guessing that’s a Pronghorn first – a debit card being denied. As is frequently the case, I reacted with an “oh well” and headed to the first tee.

This morning we’re going on a rafting trip with Sun Country Tours and I’m playing the Fazio course this afternoon while my wife and kids hang out at the pool. Heading back first thing tomorrow to arrive in time for the Calabro show at 3.

If you’ve read this far, thanks. And thanks for visiting the website. Have a good day.

Go Cougs.