Featured Golf Trip: Silvies Valley Ranch

In 2006, a local family bought a fading historic ranch in eastern Oregon and set about restoring it. Soon, what had once been a patchwork of troubled ownership was revived into one of the state’s largest working cattle operations—and, in time, a destination where recreation and tourism would thrive. Including, of course, golf.

Fast forward to today, and Silvies Valley Ranch has become about as unique, intimate, secluded, and natural a golf destination as you’ll find, an unplugged trip to the middle of nowhere. Your traditional, 18-hole golf will be played at the 76th best public in America, the reversible Hankins/Craddock course. The Craddock on even days, Hankins on odd. And it will be spectacular, from all reports, a linksy Dan Hixson design (or, designs) that is uniquely representative of its rugged American west terrain, played at 5,000 feet above sea level with big-time elevation change.

There are fun touches all around, like an award for making an eagle—presented at dinner later that night—and a free flask and cocktail for anyone who smashes their longest drive on Hankins 18, which features a 100-foot drop-off from tee box to fairway. If that’s not enough, the ranch keeps the variety coming: try your hand at the Chief Egan par 3 course, McVeigh’s Gauntlet (7 outrageous holes with a goat—literal goat—caddie), and Claire’s Course, an 18-hole putting course that, keeping with the theme, is also reversible.

Beyond golf, Silvies embraces its ranching heritage. Across the 140,000-acre ranch, guests can try their hand at cattle roundups, hiking, fishing, shooting, or simply soaking in the quiet of Oregon’s wide-open spaces. Ah, yes, and then there’s the food. Golf course restaurants aren’t the hotdog-or-burger offerings of your past, but Silvies takes great golf dining even further, with a nightly, five-course gourmet meal featuring ingredients from the ranch, served at big communal tables.

Pair that with some stellar, rustic-luxe on-site accommodations, and it’s fairly clear that this trip is best experienced via a group stay-and-play. For $696 per day (or as cheap as $386 for big groups), you’ll get unlimited golf, nightly dinners, carts, and a sunrise cabin. For the golf traveler, Silvies Valley Ranch represents something rare: a trip that blends high-concept golf with a genuine escape into the wilderness.

Pricing details

Overall range (golf + lodging): $1,020 – 2,088
• Assumes three days, three nights

​Golf: $675 – $900
• Greens fees: Daily rates not posted, although Golf Digest has them at $225.
• Group stay-and-play: $696/person daily (including nightly gourmet dinner)

Stay: $345 – $1,650
• Rooms with two kind beds generally range from $230 – $350 during off-season or $500 – $1,100 during peak season.

​Travel considerations
• You’re three hours and some change from Bend or Boise. Buckle up.

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This piece originally ran in the GTG newsletter. Subscribe here for free and get pricing details alongside the weekly featured stop—plus news on openings, redesigns, and more—in your inbox each Thursday afternoon.