Broken Top in Bend: Is the Golf Membership Worth It?

Broken Top opened in the early 1990s: an 18-hole golf course designed by Tom Fazio, views of the Cascade Range, and a location minutes from downtown Bend. Buying here involves financial commitments beyond the purchase price.

The Golf Course

The centerpiece of Broken Top is its 18-hole golf course, designed by Tom Fazio. The layout winds through high desert terrain with native grasses, juniper, and ponderosa pine, and several holes offer unobstructed views of Mt. Bachelor, Broken Top (the mountain the community is named for), and the Three Sisters.

This is a private club, so tee times go to members rather than resort guests. You will not be waiting behind a foursome of visiting golfers on a Saturday morning.

Membership is separate from home ownership. Buying a home in Broken Top does not automatically make you a club member, and membership involves its own initiation fee and monthly dues. Current initiation fees vary by membership type but generally range from $25,000 to $75,000, with monthly dues around $500 to $800. Social memberships with pool and dining access but no golf are also available at lower rates.

Location and Access

Broken Top sits on Bend's west side, off Mt. Washington Drive. Downtown Bend is about a ten-minute drive. The Old Mill District is roughly eight minutes. You are close to west-side amenities like NW Crossing's village, various restaurants along Century Drive, and quick access to the Cascade Lakes Highway for skiing, hiking, and lake activities.

The community is gated, with a staffed entry gate during business hours. This provides a degree of privacy and traffic control but is not a full-security operation. The gate keeps through-traffic out, which keeps the interior roads quiet and safe for walking and biking.

For skiing, Mt. Bachelor is about 25 minutes away via Century Drive and the Cascade Lakes Highway. The route is scenic but can be slow in heavy snow. Most winter weekday mornings, Broken Top residents can be on the mountain within 30 minutes of leaving their driveway.

Home Styles and Price Ranges

Broken Top's homes span a wide range of ages, sizes, and styles. The community was developed over roughly two decades, so you will find everything from original 1990s construction to homes built in the 2010s with more contemporary finishes.

• Townhomes and smaller homes: $800,000 to $1,200,000. These are typically 1,600 to 2,200 square feet, two to three bedrooms, and offer a lower-maintenance entry into the community.
• Mid-range single-family homes: $1,200,000 to $2,000,000. Generally 2,200 to 3,500 square feet with three to four bedrooms. Many have golf course frontage or mountain views.
• Premium custom homes: $2,000,000 to $3,500,000 and above. Larger custom builds on the community's best-view lots, often 3,500 to 5,000+ square feet with high-end finishes, outdoor living spaces, and direct Cascade views.

Price per square foot in Broken Top typically runs higher than Bend averages, reflecting the golf course access, views, and community amenities. As with any golf community, homes on the course or with direct mountain views command significant premiums over interior lots.

For current availability, check homes for sale in Bend and filter by community.

The Cascade Views

Many Broken Top homes have direct, unobstructed views of the Cascade Range, including Mt. Bachelor, Broken Top, South Sister, and sometimes all three. Unlike some Bend neighborhoods where views are partially blocked by other homes or trees, Broken Top's layout and the golf course's open fairways create longer, unobstructed sight lines.

Not every lot has these views. Interior lots surrounded by trees may have limited or no mountain views. If views are a priority, work with an agent who knows the community well enough to tell you which streets and lot positions deliver and which do not. Our team can walk you through the specifics.

HOA and Community Fees

Broken Top's HOA fees typically run $300 to $500 per month, depending on property type. These cover common area maintenance, road maintenance within the community, gate staffing, landscaping in shared spaces, and access to community trails.

The HOA fee is separate from club membership dues. A homeowner who does not join the club still pays HOA fees and gets access to common areas, trails, and the community, but not the golf course, pool, fitness center, or dining facilities. Many non-golfing homeowners choose a social membership to access the pool and restaurant.

Between the HOA and a full golf membership, the ongoing costs beyond your mortgage can run $800 to $1,300 per month. Budget accordingly.

Amenities Beyond Golf

The club facilities include:

• Swimming pool and hot tub (seasonal outdoor, open roughly Memorial Day through Labor Day)
• Fitness center with modern equipment and group fitness classes
• Tennis and pickleball courts (the pickleball courts were a recent addition responding to the sport's growth in Central Oregon)
• Clubhouse dining room and bar with seasonal menus featuring Pacific Northwest cuisine
• Practice facilities (driving range, putting green, short game area)
• Community event space for holiday parties, member dinners, and social gatherings

The community itself has several miles of internal walking and biking paths that wind through the development and along the golf course. These paths connect to the broader Bend trail system, giving you access to the Deschutes River Trail and other west-side routes without driving.

Who Lives in Broken Top

The demographics skew toward established professionals and retirees, which is typical for golf communities. You will find a mix of:

• Full-time residents: Retirees who moved to Bend for the lifestyle, business owners, remote workers in tech and finance, and medical professionals at St. Charles.
• Part-time residents: Some homes are second homes or seasonal residences, particularly for people from Portland, the Bay Area, or Seattle. This is less prevalent than in resort communities like Sunriver but still noticeable.

Many residents have been here for a decade or more.

Investment Perspective

Broken Top is fully built out, with no new construction and no additional home sites planned. The private golf course and west-side Bend location are fixed features of the community.

Golf community real estate has its own dynamics, and club membership costs can affect resale values.

Unlike newer developments where additional phases can add inventory, Broken Top is fully developed. There are no new lots being created and no new construction phases planned.

For broader market context, visit our Central Oregon housing market page.

Is Broken Top Right for You

Broken Top is a private golf community inside Bend, not a standalone resort, with mountain views and a quiet residential setting near club amenities.

It is less suited for buyers on a tight budget, those who want large acreage, or people who prefer a casual community without architectural review and HOA oversight. Budget for the ongoing fees from day one.

Broken Top combines private golf, mountain views, and a quiet community within ten minutes of downtown Bend.

If Broken Top matches what you are looking for, explore current listings or connect with our team to tour available properties and review specific lots and locations.