Should You Buy in a Central Oregon Golf Resort If You Don't Play Golf?

Q: Do you have to pay for golf if you live in a golf resort?

Not always. Some resorts tie memberships or fees to the home and others keep golf optional, so read the HOA documents and ask the resort.

Q: Is a home on the course worth it if you don't play?

It depends on what you value. A fairway lot gives green space and also brings golfers and carts; a set-back or mountain-facing lot may suit you better.

Q: What should you ask before you write an offer?

Ask for current HOA dues, amenity or membership fees, what each covers, planned special assessments and rental rules.

Sherrene

5 days ago

2 min read

Golf course fairway and green with trees

Should you buy in a golf resort if you don't golf? It can make sense, as long as you value what else the community offers and are comfortable with what you pay for it. Open space, views, trails, pools and a quieter setting draw many buyers to Central Oregon resorts whether or not they ever pick up a club.

I'm Sherrene Hagenbach-Winters, a Realtor® with eXp Realty Oregon, helping buyers in Eagle Crest, Redmond, Bend and resort communities across Central Oregon.

Do you have to pay for golf if you live in a golf resort?

Not always, and this is the first thing to check. Some resorts tie certain memberships or fees to the home, others keep golf as a separate, optional membership. Course access differs too. Brasada Ranch, for example, says on its own site that its course is reserved for members and resort guests. Read the HOA documents and ask the resort directly what comes with the home and what costs extra.

What do non-golfers usually enjoy in these communities?

Walking paths, pools, fitness centers, restaurants and the open fairways themselves, which keep neighbors at a distance and views wide. Each resort's amenity list is different, so compare the ones you would use every week, not the ones that look good in a brochure.

Is a home on the course worth it if you don't play?

That comes down to what you value. A fairway lot gives you green space out back, and it also brings golfers, carts and the occasional stray ball. If you want the resort setting without that, a lot set back from the course or facing the mountains may suit you better.

What should you ask before you write an offer?

Ask for the current HOA dues, any amenity or membership fees, what each one covers, and whether any special assessments are planned. Ask about rental rules if you might rent the home part of the year. Those answers tell you the true cost of living there.

Curious about resort living in Central Oregon?

I can walk you through how the resort communities compare on dues, amenities and setting. Reach out through my contact page any time.

Brasada Ranch course access from brasada.com, checked November 2026. Photo: Pexels (free license), illustrative. Sherrene Hagenbach-Winters, Oregon License 201258554, eXp Realty Oregon. Equal Housing Opportunity.