How to Play the Crosswater Golf Course

Taming the beautiful brute that is Crosswater Golf Course at Sunriver Resort requires more than just well-struck shots, it demands a clear, thoughtful game plan. This guide is your caddie's playbook, offering a hole-by-hole strategy and the essential course management principles you need to navigate this Bob Cupp masterpiece. We will break down exactly how to approach its heathland layout, manage the ever-present rivers, and score well on its demanding greens.

The DNA of Crosswater: Know What You're Facing

Before you even step on the first tee, understanding the course's design philosophy is fundamental to your success. Crosswater is a unique blend of Pacific Northwest scenery and a classic heathland design, meaning it behaves a bit like an inland links course. It's open, often windswept, and framed by native grasses and towering pines. But its true character, and its primary defense, comes from the Big Deschutes and Little Deschutes rivers, which influence play on 11 of the 18 holes.

Key Course Characteristics:

• Heathland Layout: Expect firm, fast-running fairways and vast, open vistas. The fine fescue framing the fairways is beautiful to look at but brutal to play from. Staying on the short grass is a priority.
• Constant Water Hazards: The rivers aren't just scenic backdrops, they are strategic hazards that cross fairways, defend greens, and line landing areas. They prey on mishits and mental errors.
• Challenging Bunkering: The bunkers are strategically placed to catch errant tee shots and guard the greens. They are often deep, requiring a well-executed escape. Avoid them at all costs.
• Massive, Tiered Greens: Crosswater’s greens are enormous and full of slope. They are usually kept very fast. Simply hitting the green isn't good enough, you must land your ball on the correct portion of the green to have a reasonable putt.

Your Crosswater Game Plan: Play Smarter, Not Harder

Success here is built on strategy, not brute force. This is not a "bomb and gouge" golf course. Treating it like one will lead to high scores and lost balls. Here’s how to think your way around the course.

Think Placement, Not Distance off the Tee

The fairways at Crosswater are generous in spots, but raw distance is rarely the right answer. Bob Cupp designed the holes to give you specific angles of attack into the multi-level greens. A 3-wood or even a long iron from the tee might leave you 20 yards farther back, but it will often provide a much better angle and a flatter lie for your approach. Before you pull the driver, ask yourself: “Where is the best place to hit my next shot from?”

Master Your Approach Shots

This is truly a second-shot golf course. Because the greens are so large and undulating, your proximity to the hole is determined by which tier you land your ball on. Landing on the wrong tier can leave you with a 60-foot putt that has to navigate a 4-foot slope. When you stand over your approach, your primary target is a specific *section* of the green. Sometimes, being short of the green in a collection area is a much better miss than being on the green but on the wrong level.

Respect the Rivers (and Your Limits)

The Deschutes River is a constant presence, mentally and physically. When faced with a shot over water, a plan is indispensable. There is no shame in laying up. On a hole like the formidable par-5 12th, trying to be a hero and go for the green in two is a low-percentage play that can ruin a scorecard. Play the hole as it was designed - as a three-shotter - and you can walk away with a par or a stress-free bogey.

Develop a Lag-Putting Mentality

You are going to have long putts at Crosswater. It's inevitable. Avoiding three-putts is the secret to a good score. Before your round, spend at least 15 minutes on the practice green hitting 40-, 50-, and 60-foot putts. Get a feel for the speed. When you're on the course, your main goal on your first putt is to get the ball inside a three-foot circle around the hole. Die the ball in, take your two-putt par, and move on. Being aggressive and running your first putt six feet by is a recipe for disaster.

A Hole-by-Hole Caddie's Playbook

Let's walk through some of the key holes. This isn't an exhaustive list, but it covers the holes where a smart strategy will save you the most shots.

Front Nine Navigation

Hole 2 – Par 4

Your first real encounter with the Little Deschutes River. The safe play is to aim down the left-center of the fairway, leaving a mid-to-short iron into a green well-guarded by water short and right. The more aggressive line is to challenge the bunker on the right, which shortens the hole but brings the river much more into play on your tee shot.

Hole 4 – Par 3

A gorgeous but demanding par 3 played entirely over wetlands to a wide but shallow green. Club selection is vital. Wind can be a huge factor here. The miss is short, going long will bring a tricky downhill chip back towards the hazard.

Hole 6 – Par 5 - “Caldera”

This is one of Crosswater’s signature holes, featuring a famous split fairway created by the sweeping arc of the river.

• The Safe Route (Left): offers a wide fairway and takes the river out of play on your tee shot. This will almost always turn it into a three-shot hole, but it’s a much safer path to par.
• The Heroic Route (Right): Hitting onto the island fairway is a true risk-reward play. A successful drive here sets you up with a chance to go for the green in two. However, any miss to the right is in the water. For most golfers, the left side is the intelligent choice.

Hole 7 – Par 4

Looks gentle on the scorecard but is anything but. This short par 4 has the Deschutes River running down the entire left side. The smart play is an iron or hybrid off the tee to find the fairway, leaving you a wedge into a small, tricky green. Driver is not the play here for most.

Back Nine Strategy

Hole 12 – Par 5

Arguably the most talked-about hole on the course. You must cross the river twice.

1. Tee Shot: Aim for the left-center of the fairway. Anything right flirts with the wetland area.
2. Second Shot: This is the most important shot on the hole. You must lay up to a comfortable wedge distance. Do not get greedy. The landing area for your layup narrows significantly the closer you get to the river. Lay back to 100-120 yards and you’ll have a full swing over the water into the green.
3. Approach Shot: Commit to your club and make a confident swing over the water. There is bailout room to the left of the green.

Hole 13 – Par 3

A beast of a par 3, often playing into a prevailing wind to a green perched above the river. Bunkers guard the front. Taking one extra club and playing for the center of this green is the prudent strategy. Par is an brilliant score here.

Hole 16 – Par 4

A stern test down the stretch. A long par 4 that doglegs hard to the right, with the Deschutes River guarding the entire right side from tee to green. You need a solid tee shot that favors the left side of the fairway to have a clear angle for your approach. Your second shot is to a long, narrow green protected by the river on the right and a deep bunker on the left. Favor the left side of the green.

Hole 18 – Par 4

A fantastic closing hole. The fairway is flanked by deep bunkers, demanding a precise tee shot. The slightly uphill approach is played to a well-protected green with the stunning Sunriver clubhouse as a backdrop. Find the fairway, and a par is very attainable. Miss it, and you’ll be scrambling to finish.

Final Thoughts

Playing Crosswater Golf Course is a strategic examination of your game. It rewards patience, careful planning, and precise execution over sheer power. By prioritizing smart positioning off the tee and focusing on hitting the correct sections of the huge greens, you can navigate its challenges and post a score you can be proud of.

Courses this strategic are where having a modern game plan partner really helps. For tough calls, like deciding on the risk/reward of the island fairway on hole 6 or determining the right club for the intimidating approach on hole 16, our Caddie AI can give you an instant, data-driven strategy. Imagine snapping a photo of your ball in the fescue and getting immediate advice on the best way to play it. We believe having an on-demand golf expert in your pocket takes the guesswork out of the game, so you can play with more confidence and enjoy the walk even more.