The terrain that gives the Pacific Northwest its lush beauty will also test the skills of most golfers. Wetlands, lakes, rivers, forested hills, large trees, lava fields, sagebrush-filled ravines, and desert outcroppings have all been incorporated into golf course landscapes in Oregon and Washington. The following eight locations offer great golf and a little more.
Along the Oregon coast you’ll find many scenic courses; You can play the Scottish-style courses, drive against strong ocean winds, play within 100 yards of the Pacific Ocean, and choose from courses designed by world-class golf legends. Green fees range from $6 to $225 along the coast; knowing when to play can make even the most expensive courses affordable.
Portland is one of Oregon’s top golf destinations due to the large number of public courses that are within a 30-minute drive of downtown; there are nearly three dozen 9-hole and 18-hole courses to choose from. The variety of terrain will have you using all your clubs.
Kah-Nee-Ta Resort, east of Portland, is a great place for the golfing family. Mineral spas, swimming pools, teepee campgrounds, resort accommodations, a casino, horseback riding, and 18 holes of golf are among the attractions here. And, in a rainy state like Oregon, the fact that the sun shines 300 days a year on Kah-Nee-Ta is a real bonus for the golfer.
Central Oregon is a great place for a serious golf vacation. Between Black Butte and Sunriver there are more than a dozen 18-hole public golf courses. Black Butte Ranch has two courses; both are over 7,000 yards long. At Crooked River Ranch, the course is played along a 300-foot-deep gorge. Redmond’s Eagle Crest Resort offers three 18-hole courses; two additional courses can be found in the city. There are four 18-hole courses in Bend, and Sunriver Resort has two more public courses, bringing the total to 14. Resort accommodations are also plentiful.
Washington’s newest public golf course opened at Cle Elum last August; Rope Rider covers 7,271 yards and is steeped in local mining history. This is the fourth 7,000+ yard course to open in central Washington, making this area a great place for long-distance players.
The southeast corner of Washington also has four public courses over 7,000 yards; They are located in Kennewick, Pullman, Richland, and Walla Walla. Canyon Lakes in Kennewick and Palouse Ridge in Pullman are among the top-rated courses in the state. For great golf courses on the other side of the state, visit Southeast Washington.
The San Juan Islands, west of Seattle, have three islands that offer public golf courses. On Orcas Island, the Orcas Island Golf Club is situated in an evergreen forest dotted with ponds. The San Juan Island Country Club offers links-style public golf courses with beautiful water, island and mountain views. Accessible only by boat or plane, the Lopez Island Golf Course is adjacent to the island’s small airport. That makes this part of the San Juan Islands a great place to play island-hopping golf.
The Tacoma area has 20 public golf courses, eight are in Tacoma proper and at Fort Lewis, the military base offers public play on three 9-hole courses. You’ll also find three public courses in Auburn, two each in Sumner and Spanaway, and one each in DuPont, Puyallup, Union, and Gig Harbor. That makes this a great spot for golfers from Seattle and Tacoma.
That’s a lot of great golf, but with 350 public courses in all, it’s just a glimpse of what’s available.