Episode 20: Omni Homestead Resort (Cascades)

The Omni Homestead Cascades course was our first true mountain golf course of the Ultimate Golf Road Trip, and it did not disappoint.

 

Upon our arrival, we quickly learned from staff members that Sam Snead used to call this place home, honing his game here in his late teens before heading off to become the most winning player in PGA Tour history (82 wins).

The history of the Cascades course doesn’t stop there. The golf course sits on property that was once a farm, and boasts a clubhouse that used to serve as the owner’s home, along with an old farm stable, which both add some extra charm to today’s golf course.

The front nine of the Cascades course takes you up, down, and along the mountain-side, producing plenty of uneven lies and elevation changes from tee to green. Because you’re at about 3,000 feet above sea level, prepare to hit shots 10-15 yards further, too. No complaints there, right?

Two of my favorites on the front nine are the reachable, 289 yard par 4 3rd hole, which offers a great risk-reward opportunity, and the stunning, downhill 210 yard par 3 4th.

Making the turn to the inward nine, holes 10 through 12 work down and back through the mountain ranges. These are some of the prettiest holes on the golf course, and will test your game, too.

Thirteen begins the final stretch of holes that all sit in the lower portion of the property, which is much flatter but still yields some amazing views of the surrounding mountains.

It’s probably my favorite part of the property, and offers some really interesting holes.

Thirteen is a dogleg left par 4, with a stream meandering the entire left-side of the hole. Bunkers positioned perfectly off the tee mean you have to either play short, or work the ball from right-to-left around the corner.

Fifteen is a lengthy, 239 yard par 3 that requires a tee shot be threaded through the narrow gap of trees 20 yards off the tee. Deep bunker left and thick rough right add to the challenge of the hole.

Holes 16 and 17 are both reachable par 5s, that allow longer hitters the chance to cut the corner and have an iron approach for their second. Going for these greens in two is no easy task though as water lurks all around.

The other aspect that blew me away was how great the course conditions were, despite having just opened a few weeks earlier. I can only imagine the beauty of this property in the fall, when leaves are changing and the bent grass is enjoying the cool fall weather.

Though we stayed in our RV (as we almost always do), we took a quick look at the Omni Homestead Resort, a mere 10-minutes up the road. The jaw dropping exterior is a preview of what you’ll experience, as the resort has just about every amenity you could imagine.

Brittany and I both agreed, we’ll be back — and next time, we’re staying in this amazing resort!