Chena Bend at Chena Bend Golf Course

Chena Bend Golf Course occupies land on Fort Wainwright, a U.S. Army installation near Fairbanks in interior Alaska. Designed by Jerry Matthews and opened in the 1970s, the course serves military personnel, their families, and authorized guests. The layout takes advantage of the subarctic landscape, with the Chena River influencing the property's character and providing both scenic backdrop and strategic consideration on several holes. The terrain features a mix of relatively flat stretches and gentle elevation changes typical of the Tanana Valley region.

The course operates under the extreme seasonal conditions of interior Alaska, where summer brings nearly continuous daylight during the playing season—allowing for late-evening rounds under the midnight sun—while winter temperatures make golf impossible for much of the year. This compressed season creates a distinctive rhythm for the facility and its community of players. The routing incorporates stands of boreal forest, primarily spruce and birch, along with open areas that reflect the transitional landscape between river corridor and surrounding wilderness.

As a military course, Chena Bend functions primarily as a recreational amenity for the Fort Wainwright community rather than as a destination layout. The design emphasizes playability and maintenance practicality given the short growing season and challenging climate, while still offering variety across its holes. The course represents one of the northernmost regulation golf facilities in North America, making its very existence a testament to the game's adaptability to diverse environments.