Silvies Valley Ranch, an operating cattle ranch and resort located in Silvies, Oregon, will open two 18-hole reversible golf course in July.
A local family, the Campbells, are behind The Retreat at Silvies Valley Ranch, which will bring the Western mystique of the region to an intimate scale, full-service resort complete with lodging, multiple dining options, exclusive outdoor experiences, a spa, and a private airstrip for guests looking to fly directly onto the property.
The Western ranch was founded in 1883 and still raises certified, organic cattle and American Range goats using riding and driving horses. The ranch adheres to sustainable agricultural practices. It is located 3.5 hours from Boise, Idaho and 5.5 hours from Portland, Ore.
“Silvies Valley Ranch has been Western America’s best kept secret for more than 130 years,” said Dr. Scott Campbell. “Our family has had the opportunity to relish in the breathtaking vistas, abundance of wildlife and natural beauty of this region for generations, and we are eager to share our experience with the rest of the world.”
Silvies Valley Ranch will provide visitors with a one-of-a-kind golf experience, including two reversible 18-hole courses — the Hankins course and Craddock course, named after Pioneer families who homesteaded the site. The courses were designed by Dan Hixson, who also designed Bandon Crossings in Bandon, Ore. and Wine Valley in Walla Walla, Wash.
The course direction is reversed each day to create a different layout with a variety of pin placements and tee box options that create thousands of unique rounds, but none with a water hazard – a design directive of the owner who has lost too many balls in the water.
There are more than a hundred bunkers incorporated into the course design. The Retreat will also introduce golfers to McVeigh’s Gauntlet (that will open later in 2017), a stunning 8-hole course carved into a razor back. Though challenging in design, the course is meant to be a fun, care-free course to help players settle bets and test their accuracy on a series of undulating par-3’s and par-4’s. G
“It has been an honor and a huge responsibility to work on such a great piece of land, and become part of the Ranch team,” said Hixson, course architect. “Our goal was to create the most unique golf design in the world, providing dozens of golf rounds that are fun, challenging and picturesque. We were inspired by the purity of Scottish links, allowing for true personal connections as you play, and I think we achieved that. I am incredibly happy with the outcome of all our hard work and truly hope everyone who plays here has an unforgettable golf experience.”