Lost Tracks Golf Club Review

This coming week the weather is taking a turn….it will be 100 degrees and getting in a round of golf before that happens is a must. After a quick search in the Bend area, we found there are private courses and then there are expensive public courses. I had to dig around on the internet to find a reasonably priced golf course.

I found Lost Tracks Golf Club. The price was $100 – including cart. I still think it is a little much but, for the area that seemed to be one of the best prices.

Right away we could see that Lost Tracks Golf Club was going to be fun. As we checked in, Keldon made sure we had everything we needed. He gave us a great rundown of the course and the treats ahead. He told us to be careful of the doglegs. There were many of them and we should pay attention to the landing areas. He also gave us a course book that provided great tips for each hole that included hole layouts, yardage guides, and information on how to best play each hole.

Keldon also let us know that we would be paired with a couple of local players Chris and Clay. Kathy and I then got a small bucket of balls and headed to the driving range. 

Little note here. Kathy got stung by a bee a couple of days before the round at Lost Tracks Golf Club. Her hand and lower portion of her arm had become swollen and stiff from the sting. It defiantly impacted her grip and swing. But, she wanted to play golf. She decided early on to not keep score, and just play all of her shots from a good fairway lie. She just wanted to be sure she was able to finish the round in as little pain as possible. What a trooper. 

We stepped up to the first tee behind a men’s league tournament. The four of us, Kathy, Chris, Clay and me, commented that it may be a slow round of golf. However, it gave us a couple extra minutes to discuss the best way to attack the hole with Chris and Clay.

By the way, both Chris and Clay were good golfers and knew the course well.

And Clay had a very smooth powerful swing that was deadly accurate. 

Lost Tracks Golf Club has a great layout. There is a great mix of doglegs, as well as long, and reachable holes. There is even one par four that is 297 yards, that just begged me to go for it. The course is a great mix of holes – giving us plenty to think about while we were planning how to best play each one to yield the best outcome. 

Strategy was in great discussion on the 7th hole par 5. Clay said the best play would be a smooth shot down the left side leaving an open second shot down the center of the fairway. If I did this I would have an easy third shot to the green.

Chris on the other hand, suggested the Bryson line. Cut the dogleg. That meant I would have to go over the tall pines left. And if I wanted the best line I needed to split two pines like a field goal clearing 260 yards.

I took both recommendations into consideration. But of course with heavy leaning to the fact that I was striking the ball well. As well as – man what a great story it would be if I did make it.

So, with great instruction from Chris on what tree to aim for and what trees to split, I stepped up to the tee. Keep in mind Clay already hit a perfect ball down the left fairway just like he said it should be done. And Chris hit a ball cutting the corner but, not the best line. Now it was my turn to choose.

You all know, in golf I am a risk/reward type of player.

I just had to take the Bryson line.

There is no fun story in the safe shot. I took aim for the tree in the distance that would best give me a perfect shot between the two pines. With a slow and steady backswing and a powerful downswing, I crushed a straight shot exactly where I needed the ball to go. We all were excited to see where the ball landed. 297 yards later. The ball was a perfect 4 yards short of the water and an easy 189 yards from the green. Mind you Clay hit a great ball in the fairway and was on the green in three just like he said the hole should be played.

I stepped up for my second shot, excited to be on in two, I took my swing and… topped it. Now I am on in tree just like Clay. He one putted and I two putted.

The excitement and disappointment all in one hole was amazing! 

For me, that is how Lost Tracks Golf Club was – Amazing. I had a great day on a great course. As I said, the course used different style holes throughout and they had a signature hole that was beautiful. It was hole 16 par 3. So fun to play. It is an elevated tee with an island green that features a train car as the bridge. Walking through the train car was like a step back in time. The hole was a cool touch on a well thought-out course.

Lost Tracks Golf Club didn’t have a lot of sand bunkers. However, the ones that were there were in good shape and didn’t penalize you for a good shot. They also used grass bunkers. I am in favor of this style of bunker because it is easier for the greens keeper to take care of. Sand is different everywhere and even different on the same course. 

The only thing that was missing, was a beverage cart. It was a hot day and the week is going to get hotter. There needed to be a cart coming around with something cool to drink. We were playing during the week and having a beverage cart may only be a weekend thing. But, it was noticed.

Kathy and I disagree on one thing. She thinks the course is a par course. I think the course is a birdie course. No matter what, we both agree Lost Tracks Golf Club is a great course to play. If you are in Bend, Oregon you have to play Lost Tracks Golf Club. You won’t be disappointed. From the staff (espedially Keldon) to the course itself, it is a great day of golf.

Based on our scorecard I give Lost Tracks Golf Club a birdie. Of course it may be because Chris encouraged me to take the shot of the day and I made it.
You decide.

Fairways and Greens – We are 18 Holes and Counting

Written By: Marc Festa 

COURSE REVIEW SCORE CARD

Course: Lost Tracks Golf Course 

Type:  Public

Date Played:  31 July 2024