7 More of America’s Best Boutique Golf Resorts

Thanks to Dave R., Eileen G., Matthew C., Marc K., Ken H., Marty B., Bob M., and everyone else who commented on last week's tip about America's best boutique golf resorts east of the Mississippi River.

Today you'll find out the best in the West.

Again, our definition is a property with only 12-100 rooms and usually one golf course…that you can often have all to yourself.

Black Jack’s Crossing/Lajitas Resort – Lajitas, Texas
Okay, Lajitas has 101 guest rooms, but I'm including it anyway. The resort sits on the banks of the Rio Grande southeast of El Paso by about five hours. Lanny Wadkins carved a fine course out of the inhospitable scrubby environs and the resort is an oasis of its own.
LajitasGolfResort.com

CordeValle – San Martin, California
Originally envisioned as a thoroughly private enclave for the titans of Silicon Valley, CordeValle has been converted into a ritzy, small resort whose Robert Trent Jones, Jr. course hosts the PGA Tour’s Frys.com Open and will host the U.S. Women’s Open in 2016. Lodging comes in the form of Fairway Homes, Bungalows and Villa Suites.
CordeValleGolf.com

Entrada at Snow Canyon – St. George, Utah
This Johnny Miller-designed course is a private club but is playable by guests of the Inn at Entrada, which is located by the ninth hole and has one-, two- and three-bedroom suites available for rental.
GolfEntrada.com

Rancho de los Caballeros – Wickenburg, Arizona
If you’ve wondered what the crossover between dude ranch and golf course might be like, here’s your chance. With thoroughly southwestern aesthetics in its 65 rooms and dozen suites and one of the highest-rated golf courses in Arizona, staying there is a unique, rustic yet comfortable experience.
RanchoDeLosCaballeros.com

Running Y Ranch – Klamath Falls, Oregon
Situated a little ways south of famous Crater Lake National Park, Running Y boasts Oregon’s only Arnold Palmer Signature course. And fresh off $3 million in renovations, the Lodge at Running Y Ranch is a comfortable complement, as is the on-site Ruddy Duck restaurant.
RunningY.com

Tetherow – Bend, Oregon
Somewhat overshadowed by the likes of the coastal Bandon Dunes Resort, Tetherow is nonetheless a rugged, cozy place to hunker down for a few days of golf. Should you choose to get out and about in Bend, you will find a charming Western town. Back at Tetherow, you will enjoy the David McLay Kidd golf course. Your accommodations overlook the course and come in a variety that will suit most any group. And if you’re a skier, Mount Bachelor is only 18 miles away, should you want to hit the slopes after holing out the morning’s final putt.
Tetherow.com

Wilderness Club – Eureka, Montana
With a stunning golf course designed by Nick Faldo and a cadre of Golf Cottage Suites neighboring the clubhouse, the Wilderness Club brings just enough order to a wild, exciting landscape. A four-season destination, the warmer times of year provide hiking, fishing and equestrian opportunities in addition to golf.
TheWildernessClub.com

What are your picks for best boutique golf resorts — in the USA or around the world?

Please share your thoughts or read what others are saying below.

Tim Gavrich is a Senior Writer for GolfPass. Follow him on Twitter @TimGavrich and on Instagram @TimGavrich.
6 Comments

I have played both Entrada and Tetherow. Both great courses and would return as often as possible. I did not thing Tetherow was as difficult as Bill mentioned. This is a course that rewards the low ball and most greens have a "back stop".

Don't know if it's a boutique course or not but Couer d'Alene is one of best maintained and most beautiful golf courses that I have played west of the Mississippi. I have played Pasatiempo, Spanish Bay and Spyglass Hill.

My wife and I have stayed and played at Running Y Ranch several times. The course is a fair and fun challenge, for both men and women. The setting is beautiful and just far enough out of Klamath Falls to make it feel remote without being that far from town. A very peaceful and relaxing resort with a very enjoyable golf course. If you played Running Y after playing Tetherow, you would feel like you were at a "golf spa", as you can just relax and enjoy your round at Running Y. The only drawback is limited dining options on the property.

Being an Oregonian and loving our spectacular coast, one might try Salishan at Gleneden Beach, Oregon just south of Lincoln City. Have not stayed at the resort but have played the course several times over the years. Nice facelift by Peter Jocobson to an already fine course several years ago. Not technically a seaside course like the Bandon courses (which are 3 hours south), but some nice ocean and bay vistas on a few holes. I understand the lodge is first cabin all the way. In addition to the aforementioned Bandon, a topnotch public course: Sandpines, is an hour and a half south. The Oregon coast is awesome, check it out!

Tetherow is an interesting course. The property is beautiful and scenic but the course is brutally hard. I have played all over the world and I consider Bandon Dunes one of my top three favorites in the world but David Kidd has failed me past that effort. Like most of his other course designs post Bandon the course is unnecessarily hard. I'm not sure why members in that area would want to torture themselves each and every round. It's a shame because the rest of the place and the scenery are incredible. If the course was softened up it would be quite a gem. I played it several years back and like many of Kidd's recent designs I would not be shocked to hear he was brought back to make the course more playable. I play to a single digit handicap as did the rest of my group and at Tetherow at least 4-5 holes were won by simply finishing the hole because everyone else had picked up. Kidd's design in Scotland just down the road from the Old Course was the exactly the same experience, beautiful scenery but the course was tricked up especially on a number of greens.

Played the Black Jack's Crossing course in Lajitas TX last Friday. Beautiful layout, desert, mountains, the Rio Grande, and the best place to stay while visiting the spectacular scenery of the adjacent Big Bend National Park. A long way from anywhere, but worth the effort.

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7 More of America’s Best Boutique Golf Resorts