There are golf courses you play once and forget. And then there are courses that stay with you — the ones you talk about on the drive home, look up the rates for on a Tuesday, and find yourself booking again before the year is out.
The Arnold Palmer Signature Course at Running Y Resort is that kind of place.
Set on 3,600 acres at the base of Oregon’s Cascade Mountain range, just outside Klamath Falls, this 18-hole championship course is the only Arnold Palmer Signature design in Oregon — and one of only 16 courses in the world that Palmer himself named among his personal favorites. That distinction has a name: the Arnold Palmer Sweet Sixteen.
Whether you’re a scratch golfer chasing a bucket-list round, a couple looking for a trip that satisfies everyone, or a group of friends ready to finally take that golf trip you’ve been talking about — Running Y delivers. And the game is just the beginning.
A Course Born from a Legend: The Arnold Palmer Sweet Sixteen
When Arnold Palmer was asked to name his favorite golf course designs from a career that spanned more than 200 courses across 26 countries, he didn’t pick one. He picked sixteen.These elite few became known as the “Arnold Palmer Sweet Sixteen.”
Running Y made that list. It is the only Oregon course to earn the distinction, and one of a select few in the American West.
Palmer featured everything the Pacific Northwest has to offer, including meadows and wetlands. But it is the majestic views of the Cascade Mountains that keep people coming back. Palmer said his vision was “to leave the land as it lies,” and he considered Running Y Ranch to be one of his best designs.
That philosophy is visible from the first tee. The course doesn’t fight the landscape — it moves with it. Wetlands are preserved, not filled. Canyon walls frame the back nine rather than being graded away. Trees that have stood for decades line the fairways without apology.
The course opened in 1997, designed by Palmer alongside collaborators Ed Seay and Erik Larsen, and it has been earning recognition ever since. Running Y is honored by Golf Digest as one of “America’s 100 Greatest Public Golf Courses” and is consistently recognized as one of the best golf courses in Oregon. It has also landed on Golf Advisor’s Top 25 Course Conditions list in the U.S. and Golf Week’s Oregon Top 10.
This is not a resort course in the apologetic sense of the term — wide, flat, and forgettable. This is a course that demands real golf, rewards smart play, and looks different every time the light changes.
What to Expect on the Course
The Numbers
The 18-hole golf course was designed by Arnold Palmer and features a 7,138-yard design, along with a natural grass putting course, driving range and academy. The course plays to a par 72 with five tee boxes on every hole, making it genuinely accessible to players of all skill levels without sacrificing challenge from the tips.
The golf course takes advantage of all the beauty of Southern Oregon, preserving the landscape with such care that it was certified as an Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary. The layout features Palmer’s signature fairways that are both curvy and receptive.
Greens are bentgrass. Fairways are winter rye — firm, fast-rolling, and consistent.
Front Nine: Meadows, Wetlands, and Open Sky
Running Y plays like two very different courses. The front skirts meadows and flirts with an extensive historic wetlands area, where several water carries are required.
The opening holes ease you into the round with generous landing areas, but don’t mistake “generous” for “forgiving.” The front nine is laid out in the river basin and is more open and exposed to the winds, and water comes into play on several holes. Wind off the Klamath Basin is a factor here, and the water hazards woven through the restored wetlands demand careful club selection and clean ball-striking.
This is links-adjacent golf with an Oregon soul — big sky, open lines, and the kind of quiet that makes you aware you’re somewhere special.
Back Nine: Pine Forests, Payne Canyon, and Elevation
The back nine crisscrosses through Payne Canyon. The final holes are also laced with Scottish-style mounding and a few water hazards.
The back nine is more hilly, and fairways are framed by pine trees. The character shifts completely from the front: tighter corridors, more elevation change, and the kind of views that make you forget what you’re shooting.
The lodge itself sits perched high above Payne Canyon overlooking the 10th fairway — a reminder, even at check-in, of what’s waiting for you on the course.
Tips for Playing the Running Y Course
Whether this is your first time or your fifth, a few things will help you get the most out of your round.
Play the right tees. With five tee boxes on every hole, there is no shame in moving up. The course rewards smart positioning and creative shot-making over raw distance. If you’re unsure, start one set back from where you typically play and adjust from there.
Respect the front nine wind. The open basin character of holes 1 through 9 means afternoon wind can add a club or two to your approach shots and punish anything left of center. Early tee times tend to be calmer. If you can get a morning slot, take it.
Know hole 6 before you get there. Hole number six is the number one handicap hole on the course. It is a long, slightly uphill par four that is framed on both sides by large ponderosa pine trees. The green is severely sloped from left to right, but at first glance you do not realize how severe the slope is. Leave your approach below the hole. Anything above the pin on this green will test your patience.
Read the greens carefully — then read them again. These may be the best greens I’ve ever putted on. Deceptively hard to read the breaks. We had so many lip-outs and near-misses it was comical after awhile. These greens were pretty receptive on approaches, and so amazingly smooth on top. The bentgrass surfaces are fast, true, and full of subtle movement. Take an extra beat on the read and trust your line.
Plan for the transition. There are many long walks between greens and the next tee-boxes. Use the cart path time to reset mentally. The shift from the open front nine to the canyon-framed back nine is one of the course’s great pleasures — let yourself notice it.
Book tee times early. Lodge guests can book up to 60 days in advance. Day visitors can book up to 14 days out. If you’re visiting during peak season or on a weekend, don’t leave your tee time to chance.
Warm up properly. A double-sided driving range and two putting and chipping greens are on property. The course rewards feel and rhythm — spending 20 minutes on the practice green before your round is time well spent, especially given the speed of the bentgrass surfaces.
A Golf Itinerary: Three Days at Running Y Resort
The best rounds at Running Y aren’t rushed. Here’s how to build a stay that does the course justice — and doesn’t shortchange the rest of what the resort offers.
Day 1: Arrive, Settle In, Shake Off the Drive
Afternoon: Check in to the lodge and let the elevation and quiet do their work. The lodge sits perched above Payne Canyon with views of the course and the surrounding Cascade landscape — rooms face the mountains or the fairways, and both are the right answer.
Take a walk. The resort sits on 3,600 acres with 12 miles of hiking and biking trails. Stretch your legs before tomorrow’s round.
Evening: Dinner at the Ruddy Duck Restaurant. The restaurant features floor-to-ceiling windows and a seasonal menu built on regional flavors. This is a good night to go easy on the evening — tomorrow you’ll want a clear head and loose shoulders on the first tee.
Day 2: Your Round
Morning: Breakfast at the resort, then warm up on the driving range. Hit a bucket, work through your short game on the chipping and putting greens, and give yourself time to feel the course before the round starts.
Mid-Morning through Afternoon: 18 holes on the Arnold Palmer Signature Course. Take your time. Walk the canyon holes slowly. Pause at the viewpoints on the back nine — the patio above hole 10 offers some of the best views on the property. This is not a round to rush.
Late Afternoon: If the legs feel good and the day is long enough, a replay round is one of the best things this course offers. You’ll play the holes differently the second time, especially once you know the greens.
Evening: Post-round drinks at Howard’s on the Greens, the outdoor patio bar adjacent to the course. Then dinner and an early night — or a spa booking if you planned ahead.
Day 3: The Slower Morning
Morning: This is the day to sleep in. A slow breakfast, a walk to the lake, or a morning spa appointment. The resort’s spa offers a full menu of treatments, and there is something specifically satisfying about a massage the morning after 36 holes.
Late Morning: One more loop if you can’t help yourself — or a leisurely checkout and the drive home with the course already living in your memory.
Golf Packages and Options at Running Y Resort
The Buddy Trip
One house (or a few lodge rooms). One plan. One course worth traveling for. The Running Y Buddy Trip is a 3-night group golf package built for 4 to 16 players — designed to make planning straightforward and keep the weekend focused on what matters: great golf, great company, and zero logistics headaches.
The package delivers 20% off flex pricing with a choice between a full vacation rental or lodge rooms, plus golf per player. The resort’s vacation homes are ideal for groups who want to stay under one roof — spacious layouts, stocked kitchens, private decks, and the kind of setup that turns a golf trip into a proper weekend away. For groups who prefer lodge rooms, that flexibility is built in too.
Best for: Groups of friends, annual buddy trip traditions, golf societies, and groups that have been “almost booking this” for a few years. Book: 60 to 120 days out for best tee time availability. Spring and fall shoulder windows are the sweet spot — quieter fairways, cooler mornings, and the canyon holes at their most striking.
Par & Pamper
The Par & Pamper package offers a discounted room rate, one round of golf, and one $100 credit for the Spa. To ensure preferred tee times, booking rounds when reserving the package is recommended. Use promo code PARPAMPER at booking.
This is the package that solves the classic couples travel question: one person wants golf, the other wants the spa. The answer is both. A morning round followed by an afternoon of spa treatments, then dinner at the Ruddy Duck — it’s the kind of day that makes the three-hour drive from Portland feel like nothing.
Best for: Couples where golf and wellness interests don’t perfectly overlap (which is most couples), anniversary trips, birthday getaways. Pro tip: Book your spa treatment at the time of package reservation. The spa fills up, especially on weekends.
Season Passes
For golfers who live within 120 miles of Klamath Falls, a Running Y Season Pass is one of the best-kept secrets in Southern Oregon golf. The 2026 passes are available in two options — Single at $3,990 and Couple at $6,405 — both valid seven days a week for the full season.
Pass perks include complimentary cart use (up to 150 rounds), driving range privileges, book-ahead tee time windows of 16 days in advance, 20% off soft goods merchandise and 10% off balls in the pro shop, 10% off at Ruddy Duck Restaurant, discounts on club fittings and lessons, OGA/PNGA membership and GHIN handicap, and special reciprocal rates at other courses. Payment plans are available.
Best for: Local and regional golfers who want to play this course the way it deserves to be played — often. How to get it: View the Season Pass flyer or contact the golf shop at 541.850.5580.
Stay & Play
Resort guests receive preferred tee times on the Arnold Palmer Signature Course, making it straightforward to plan your rounds around your stay. Pair your room with golf and let the resort coordinate the details — it’s built for exactly this kind of trip.
Best for: Dedicated golf-focused stays and groups who want the convenience of booking lodging and rounds in one place.
Group Golf and Tournaments
For corporate outings, tournaments, and organized golf events, Running Y offers custom group packages for groups of all sizes. The combination of an Arnold Palmer-designed course, flexible lodging between lodge rooms and vacation homes, and on-site dining makes it a turnkey event venue.
How to inquire: Use the Group Golf Inquiry Form on the Running Y golf page. Response time and planning support are part of what makes this work.
More Than Golf: How the Resort Makes the Trip Complete
The golf is the reason most people book. The resort is why they come back.
The Spa: Full-service spa and wellness center with a complete treatment menu. Book ahead — availability is limited and the spa fills quickly around weekends and holidays.
The Ruddy Duck Restaurant: The resort’s signature dining experience, with floor-to-ceiling windows, seasonal menus, and the kind of post-round dinner that rounds off a day on the course properly. Breakfast before your tee time and dinner after your round — let the restaurant hold both ends of your day.
The Trails: Twelve miles of hiking and biking trails wind through the resort’s 3,600 acres. For non-golfers in the group — or for the golfer who wants to decompress differently on day three — the trails offer access to terrain that most resort guests never see.
Crater Lake: An hour’s drive from the resort, Crater Lake National Park is one of the most striking natural sites in the American West. Deeping blue water, volcanic rim views, and trails that feel genuinely remote. Build it into a three-night stay as a day-trip anchor and the round at Running Y becomes part of a larger Southern Oregon story.
The Lodge and Vacation Homes: The 81-room lodge puts you above Payne Canyon with course views from your window. Vacation homes and chalets are available for groups and families who want more space — some sleeping up to ten or more guests, with full kitchens and private decks.
When to Go
Spring (April through June): The course is in-season and the shoulder timing means quieter fairways and easier tee time windows. Wildflowers are visible along the wetland holes. The weather is mild and the greens are in prime condition.
Summer (July through August): Peak season. The course is at its most vibrant, with long daylight hours and the kind of warm evenings that make the patio at Howard’s worth lingering on. Book tee times early — this is when the course runs fullest.
Fall (September through October): The consensus favorite among golfers who’ve played the course across seasons. Aspen color on the canyon holes, crisp morning air, and shoulder-season availability that makes the round feel like a private discovery. If you can only come once, come in the fall.
Winter (November through March): With more than 300 days of sunshine, the course is playable through much of the winter, though conditions vary and golf is weather-dependent. Call ahead to confirm tee sheet availability. Winter stays pair naturally with the spa, Crater Lake in snow, and the quieter pace of the resort’s off-season.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes the Running Y golf course different from other Oregon courses? It is the only Arnold Palmer Signature Course in Oregon, and one of only 16 worldwide named to Palmer’s personal “Sweet Sixteen” list of favorite designs. The course plays through two distinct landscapes — open wetland meadows on the front nine and pine-forested canyon terrain on the back — and has been ranked in Golf Digest’s America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses.
How long is the course and what is the par? The course is 7,138 yards and plays to a par 72, with five tee boxes at every hole.
Do I need to be staying at the resort to play? No. The course is open to the public. Day visitors can book tee times up to 14 days in advance. Resort guests can book up to 60 days out, which is a meaningful advantage during busy periods.
What is the dress code? Standard golf attire is required. Collared shirts for men. No T-shirts, tank tops, swimsuits, cut-offs, sweatpants, or heeled shoes. Soft spikes are required on the course.
What practice facilities are available? A double-sided driving range, two putting greens, and a chipping green are all on property. Private lessons and clinics are available through the resort’s assistant golf professional.
What golf packages does Running Y offer? Current packages include the Buddy Trip (3-night group golf for 4–16 players), Par & Pamper (golf and spa for couples), Stay & Play (lodging with preferred tee times), and seasonal group and tournament pricing. Season passes — Single at $3,990 and Couple at $6,405 — are available for the full season, seven days a week.
Is the course good for beginners or high-handicap players? Yes. Five tee boxes on every hole, wide fairways, and the Palmer design philosophy of “challenging but fair” make this a course that rewards all levels. The greens are the place where it earns its handicap — they are fast, contoured, and worth learning to respect.
When is the best time of year to play? Fall (September through October) is frequently cited as the most beautiful time, when aspen color frames the canyon holes. Spring and early summer offer ideal conditions with more tee time availability. Summer is peak season and books fastest.
Is there a restaurant at the golf course? Yes. Howard’s on the Greens is an outdoor patio adjacent to the course, open for food and drinks. The Ruddy Duck Restaurant inside the resort is the full-service dining option for pre-round breakfast and post-round dinner.
How do I book a tee time? Tee times can be booked directly through the Running Y Resort website. Lodge guests should book rounds at the time of room reservation when using packages like Par & Pamper to secure preferred times.
Can I bring a golf group or organize a tournament? Yes. Running Y has hosted golf groups from 4 to 16 players and offers custom tournament and corporate outing packages. Use the Group Golf Inquiry Form on the golf page to start the conversation.