Want to Own a VRBO Near the Best Golf Courses on the Oregon Coast? Here's Your Affordable In.

Posted by Three Mile Prairie | Florence, Oregon Coastal Living

Let's paint a picture.

It's 7:30 on a Saturday morning. Your guests — a foursome of retired golfers from the Bay Area — are already loading their clubs into the car parked outside your vacation rental. By 8:00 a.m., they're teeing off at one of the most acclaimed public golf courses in the Pacific Northwest, just a few miles down the road. By evening, they're cooking fresh Dungeness crab on your back deck, watching the sun melt into the Pacific.

You? You're back home, watching the rental income hit your account.

This isn't a fantasy. It's what owning a short-term vacation rental in Florence, Oregon can actually look like — especially as the central Oregon coast quietly emerges as one of the West Coast's most compelling golf destinations.

If you've been searching for affordable VRBO property near Oregon Coast golf courses, you've landed in the right place. And if you didn't know Florence was a golfer's hub, you're about to.

Florence, Oregon: The Oregon Coast's Best-Kept Golf Secret

Most people who've heard of Oregon Coast golf think immediately of Bandon Dunes — the world-class resort tucked into the southern coast that draws players from across the globe. But Bandon gets all the attention precisely because Florence stays under the radar.

And that's exactly why the investment opportunity here is so compelling.

Florence sits at the heart of Oregon's central coast, flanked by the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area to the west and the Siuslaw River to the east. It's a stunning setting. And right in the middle of it all sit two outstanding golf courses that serve as anchor attractions for visitors year after year.

The Golf Courses That Drive Visitors to Florence

1. Sandpines Golf Links — The Crown Jewel of Central Coast Golf

If you know anything about golf course design, the name Rees Jones means something. The same architect behind renovation work at Bethpage Black (host of multiple U.S. Opens) designed Sandpines Golf Links right here in Florence.

When Sandpines opened in 1993, Golf Digest named it "Best New Public Course in America" — a distinction that still draws golfers who want a world-class experience without world-class prices. The course later earned a 4.5-star rating from Golf Digest's Places to Play in the USA and was ranked one of Golf Magazine's Top 100 Courses You Can Play in the U.S.

The layout is a true masterpiece of coastal design. The front nine winds through a cathedral of towering coastal pines, blue lakes shimmering between fairways — an atmosphere locals compare to Pebble Beach's Monterey Peninsula feel. Then the back nine opens dramatically into traditional links terrain: rolling sand dunes, windswept fairways, and the kind of strategic, ground-game golf you'd expect to find in Scotland or Ireland.

The course plays to a par 72 at nearly 7,000 yards. The slope rating of 130 makes it a genuine challenge, but multiple tee options keep it enjoyable for players at every level. And because the entire course sits on natural sand dunes, drainage is exceptional — meaning playable conditions even after coastal rain.

For vacation rental owners, this matters: Sandpines is the kind of course that makes golfers plan entire trips around it. They'll come, they'll need somewhere to stay, and they'll be looking for a comfortable home base — not a generic hotel room.

2. Ocean Dunes Golf Links — Links-Style Golf at the Three Rivers Casino

Just minutes from Sandpines, Ocean Dunes Golf Links offers a different but equally memorable experience. Part of the Three Rivers Casino Resort, this 18-hole, par-71 course was designed by William Robinson to maximize the natural drama of its coastal dune setting.

At 5,894 yards, it plays shorter than Sandpines but doesn't sacrifice challenge. Narrow fairways, pot bunkers, a signature double green, and gorse plants (yes — actual gorse, straight out of a links course in the Scottish Highlands) create a course personality that's completely unique on the Oregon coast. The back nine runs along a coastal marsh area, adding both beauty and strategic complexity.

Local innkeepers often describe Ocean Dunes as the "warm-up round" for visiting golfers before they push south toward Bandon — or the "victory lap" on the way back. Either way, it keeps visitors in Florence for an extra day or two.

3. Bandon Dunes Golf Resort — A Day Trip That Seals the Deal

About 90 minutes south of Florence, Bandon Dunes Golf Resort is one of the most celebrated golf destinations in the world. With five distinct courses — including Pacific Dunes (ranked the #1 course in Oregon by Golf Digest), Bandon Dunes, Old Macdonald, Bandon Trails, and Sheep Ranch — it draws golf pilgrims from every corner of the globe.

Here's the thing: many golfers who book a Bandon trip don't want to pay Bandon's resort accommodation prices for every night of their stay. Florence becomes the obvious base camp — more affordable, equally scenic, and close enough for a comfortable day-trip drive south on Highway 101.

Your vacation rental in Florence becomes the smart, affordable alternative for golfers spending multiple days exploring the coast's full golf lineup.

4. Salishan Spa & Golf Resort — Another Anchor to the North

About two hours north of Florence, Salishan Spa & Golf Resort in Gleneden Beach rounds out the coastal golf circuit. Redesigned by Oregon golf legend and PGA Tour pro Peter Jacobsen, the course features nine holes set in ancient old-growth forest — a completely different visual and strategic experience from the dune courses to the south.

Golfers doing a full Oregon Coast golf road trip — Bandon in the south, Florence in the middle, Salishan in the north — need somewhere central to anchor their trip. Florence, with its charming Old Town, excellent restaurants, and access to the Oregon Dunes, is the natural hub.

Why Florence Is Prime VRBO Territory Right Now

Let's get practical for a moment.

Florence's median home price sits around $485,000. In a market like this, finding a property that pencils out as a short-term rental investment is increasingly difficult. Hotels in the area are limited. Demand from visitors — golfers, dune riders, fishermen, beach lovers — is steady and growing.

The golfer demographic, in particular, is an ideal vacation rental guest: they tend to be older (read: more responsible), they travel in groups of two to four, they plan ahead, they stay multiple nights, and they have disposable income. A well-appointed home with a spacious living area, a garage for clubs, and a good outdoor space is exactly what they're searching for on VRBO and Airbnb.

The Case for a New Construction Home as Your VRBO Investment

Here's where things get interesting — and where Florence offers something most coastal markets can't.

At Three Mile Prairie, we offer new construction homes starting around $329,000 in a location that puts guests within minutes of both Sandpines Golf Links and Ocean Dunes Golf Links, and a scenic 90-minute drive to Bandon Dunes. That's a $150,000+ gap compared to the median home price in the area.

Today's precision-built, factory-constructed homes aren't what most people picture. They're engineered indoors to exact specifications — energy-efficient, built to the same quality standards as site-built construction, and often better in terms of consistency and craftsmanship precisely because they're never exposed to weather delays or on-site complications.

For the investor-minded buyer, that difference in purchase price translates directly to faster ROI on a vacation rental property. Lower acquisition cost means lower carrying costs, which means you hit profitability faster — and your margin per booking is higher from day one.

Think about it this way: A four-night stay at a well-reviewed coastal VRBO in Florence can command $200–$350 per night. At even modest occupancy, the income potential is real. When your acquisition cost is $150K less than the comparable site-built alternative, you're starting the math in a significantly better position.

What Makes Florence the Right Location for a Golf-Focused VRBO

It's not just the golf. Florence sells itself to short-term rental guests across multiple categories:

• Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area — one of the largest coastal sand dune systems in North America, drawing ATV riders, hikers, and photographers year-round

• Sea Lion Caves — a beloved Oregon Coast attraction just north of town

• Heceta Head Lighthouse — one of the most photographed lightspots on the entire Pacific coast

• World-class sport fishing — the Siuslaw River and nearshore ocean are productive for salmon, steelhead, halibut, and rockfish

• Old Town Florence — a walkable, charming downtown with galleries, restaurants, and boutiques along the bay

• 28% lower cost of living than Eugene, making it approachable for budget-conscious visitors who still want quality

This breadth of appeal means your VRBO isn't solely dependent on golf season. You're filling nights in the summer with dune visitors, in the fall with anglers and hikers, and year-round with couples seeking a coastal escape.

Frequently Asked Questions: Owning a VRBO Near Oregon Coast Golf Courses

How close is Florence to Bandon Dunes? Florence is approximately 90 minutes north of Bandon Dunes along the scenic Highway 101 corridor — close enough for a comfortable day trip, making it a natural base of operations for a multi-day Bandon golf trip.

Are the Florence golf courses open year-round? Yes. Because both Sandpines Golf Links and Ocean Dunes Golf Links are built on natural sand dunes, they drain exceptionally well and remain playable throughout Oregon's mild coastal winters. This is a key selling point for off-season occupancy.

What's the typical nightly rate for VRBO rentals in Florence, Oregon? Rates vary based on size, amenities, and season, but well-reviewed properties in Florence typically command $180–$350+ per night, with premium rates during summer months and holiday weekends.

Can I use a new construction home in a planned community as a short-term VRBO rental? Yes. Homes on owned land in appropriately zoned communities can be used as short-term rentals in Oregon, subject to local regulations. We recommend consulting with a local real estate attorney to confirm zoning specifics for any given property.

What's the price difference between a new construction home at Three Mile Prairie and a traditional home in Florence? New construction homes at Three Mile Prairie start around $329,000 compared to a Florence median home price exceeding $485,000 — a difference of $150,000 or more, which has a dramatic impact on investment returns.

Ready to Explore the Opportunity?

If you've been looking for an entry point into Oregon Coast real estate — whether as a primary residence, second home, or short-term vacation rental investment — Three Mile Prairie in Florence offers something genuinely rare: new construction quality, a premium coastal location, and a price point that makes the math work.

We'd love to show you around. The golf courses are just the beginning.

Contact us today to learn about available homes at Three Mile Prairie and start the conversation about what coastal living — and coastal ownership — can look like for you.

Three Mile Prairie is a new construction home community in Florence, Oregon. Homes start at $329,000. Located near Sandpines Golf Links, Ocean Dunes Golf Links, and within easy reach of Bandon Dunes Golf Resort.