Best golf courses in Washington.

University Place, WA

Chambers Bay in University Place, Washington, opened in 2007 on a former sand and gravel mine on the shore of Puget Sound. Robert Trent Jones Jr. designed it for Pierce County, which owns the course, and the mining terrain left behind steep grades, sand ridges and open ground with no trees at all except a single fir near the 15th green. The course is turfed in fescue and plays firm and fast, with holes routed along and above the water and a passenger rail line running between the course and the Sound. It is walking only. Several holes have multiple green sites and tee positions, so the routing can change day to day, and one hole can play as a par 4 or a par 5. Chambers Bay hosted the 2010 U.S. Amateur and the 2015 U.S. Open, won by Jordan Spieth. The greens were converted from fescue to poa annua in 2018 after criticism of their condition during that Open.

Brewster, WA

Gamble Sands opened in 2014 near Brewster, Washington, on a sandy bluff high above the Columbia River in the state's apple-growing country. David McLay Kidd designed it, and he built it deliberately wide after criticism that some of his earlier work was too difficult. The fairways are enormous, the greens are large and open in front, and the ground runs firm, so the course rewards golfers who use slopes and bounces instead of aiming at flags. The views stretch across the river valley from nearly every hole, and there are no trees and no housing anywhere in sight. It is comfortably walkable despite the elevation. The resort has since added QuickSands, a 14-hole short course, and Scarecrow, a second Kidd-designed 18 that opened in 2023 on adjacent land. All are open to the public, with lodging on site.

Walla Walla, WA

Wine Valley in Walla Walla, Washington, opened in 2009 and was designed by Dan Hixson. It sits on open wheat country in the foothills of the Blue Mountains, with no trees and no housing along the holes. The design is built for wind and ground game. Fairways are very wide, the fescue turf is kept firm, and greens are approachable with running shots from several angles, so the course can be played low and along the ground rather than through the air. It is a public course, walkable throughout, and plays as a par 72 with views across the valley from the higher holes.

Brewster, WA

Scarecrow is the second 18-hole course at Gamble Sands Resort in Brewster, Washington. David McLay Kidd designed it with his longtime design partner Nick Schaan, and it opened for public play on August 1, 2025, more than a decade after Kidd's original Gamble Sands course opened on the same property above the Columbia River. The course sits on 300 acres of steeper, more rumpled ground than its sister course, built where cornfields once stood next to the resort's apple and cherry orchards. Fescue turf is kept firm and fast, fairways are wide, and the holes run closer together than at the original course, giving Scarecrow a tighter, more layered feel while keeping sweeping views of the river valley. Scarecrow plays to a par of 71 and stretches to about 6,921 yards from the back tees. It is open to public play as part of Gamble Sands Resort, alongside the original Gamble Sands course and the short Quicksands course.

Bremerton, WA

The Olympic Course at Gold Mountain in Bremerton, Washington opened in 1996, designed by John Harbottle III. The city-owned course sits in Douglas fir forest on the Kitsap Peninsula west of Seattle. Holes are cut through dense timber, so tee shots are about placement rather than width, and the large, contoured greens hold approach shots well in the region's moist turf. From the back tees the course plays 7,038 yards at a 74.9 rating and 148 slope, with additional forward tee options. It shares its property with the adjacent Cascade Course and operates as public, daily-fee golf.

Pullman, WA

John Harbottle III design on the rolling Palouse hills at WSU

Brewster, WA

QuickSands is a 14-hole, par-42 short course at Gamble Sands Resort in Brewster, Washington, designed by David McLay Kidd. It opened for resort and daily-fee play on May 1, 2021. All 14 holes are par 3s ranging from 60 to 180 yards, set on rolling sand dunes next to the resort's main 18-hole course. The design favors ground-game shots over standard wedge play, with large sloped greens, no formal tee markers, and a course-wide sound system. It is walking-only and open to the public.

Last verified 2026-09-17

Auburn, WA

Washington National Golf Club is a public 18-hole course in Auburn, Washington, built in 2000. It is the home course of the University of Washington men's and women's golf teams, and its Husky theme carries through branded carts and a purple "W" near the 18th hole. Designed by John Fought, the course blends Pacific Northwest terrain with a strategic layout. From the back tees it plays 7,304 yards to a par of 72, with five tee options ranging down to 5,117 yards.

Yakima, WA

Apple Tree Golf Course is located in Yakima, Washington, built through a century-old apple orchard that continues to bear fruit alongside the fairways. The course was designed by architect John Steidel and opened in 1992. The front nine plays over rolling ground shaped by the orchard terrain with water coming into play on several holes, while the back nine winds through an adjoining housing development. The course is known for its par-3 17th hole, which features an apple-shaped island green exceeding 10,000 square feet. It plays to a par of 72 across 18 holes, measuring 6,961 yards from the back tees. Apple Tree operates as part of a resort property with lodging and a clubhouse restaurant, and it is open for daily public and resort guest play.

Cle Elum, WA

Suncadia Resort's Rope Rider Golf Course, in Cle Elum, Washington, opened in 2011 and was designed by Jacobsen Hardy Golf Course Design. Built on the site of three former Roslyn coal mines, the par-72 layout plays 7,238 yards from the back tees and works in old mine foundations, portals and a roughly 120-foot hill of coal tailings known as Tipple Hill. The course is named for the miners who rode cars through the steep mine shafts, and every hole has a youth tee alongside six sets of adult tees. Shorter three- and six-hole loops are available.

Kingston, WA

White Horse Golf Club is a public course near Kingston, Washington, on the Kitsap Peninsula, routed through roughly 450 acres of old-growth cedar, spruce, fir, and hemlock with views toward the Olympic and Cascade mountains. The course was designed by Cynthia Dye McGarey of Dye Designs Group and opened in 2007. The layout shapes fairways with significant natural movement while keeping greens more subtly contoured, creating a course often described as a second-shot test since most drives find generous landing areas but approach shots are demanding, aided by more than 130 bunkers at opening. A downhill par-4 18th bordered by a lake serves as the closing hole. After early ownership changes, the Suquamish Tribe acquired White Horse out of bankruptcy in 2010 and later commissioned a bunker and green-softening renovation by architect John Harbottle. The course operates as a public facility with a full practice area.

DuPont, WA

The Home Course in DuPont, Washington, opened in 2007 and is co-owned and operated by Washington Golf and the Pacific Northwest Golf Association. Designed by Mike Asmundson, it stretches to 7,420 yards from the back tees and offers views of Puget Sound, the Olympic Mountains, and Mount Rainier. The course sits on the former site of a dynamite plant run by the DuPont company, for which the city is named. The first hole, "Apple Tree," borders the remnants of Fort Nisqually, and apple trees planted by Hudson's Bay Company settlers in the 1830s still line it. The Home Course is open to public play, with five sets of tees plus the shorter Little Home Course for beginners.

Last verified 2026-09-12

Kennewick, WA

Canyon Lakes Golf Course is a public, 18-hole layout in Kennewick, Washington, designed by Tri-Cities architect John Steidel and opened in 1981. The par-72 course spans about 7,026 yards from its back tees, with bent-grass greens and multiple tee sets for varying skill levels. It has been recognized locally as one of the Tri-Cities' premier golf venues and underwent a multimillion-dollar renovation after new ownership took over the facility. The course includes a practice putting green and bunker.

Newcastle, WA

The Coal Creek course at the Golf Club at Newcastle is a public 18-hole layout in Newcastle, Washington, on a hilltop site above Lake Washington. Robert E. Cupp designed the course in consultation with Fred Couples, routing it over rolling, well-bunkered terrain with elevation changes and undulating green complexes. From the tournament tees it plays to 7,024 yards, par 72, with a course rating of 74.8 and a slope of 140. The facility also includes a second 18-hole course and a large event clubhouse.

Port Orchard, WA

Trophy Lake Golf & Casting sits on the Kitsap Peninsula in Port Orchard, Washington, on land that was previously a Christmas tree farm. The 18-hole course was designed by architect John Fought and opened in 1999, built by OB Sports at a cost of about $11 million. The layout moves through dense Northwest forest with sloping fairways, large greens and more than 80 deep-faced bunkers, along with views toward the Olympic Mountains and Mount Rainier. Two on-course ponds are stocked with rainbow trout, giving the property its dual golf-and-fishing identity and its fishing lodge-style clubhouse. Trophy Lake operates as a public course managed by Oki Golf, with a pro shop, café and practice facilities open to daily-fee play.

Shelton, WA

Salish Cliffs Golf Club is owned and operated by the Squaxin Island Tribe on land near Shelton, Washington, adjacent to the Little Creek Casino Resort. The course was designed by architect Gene Bates and opened in 2011, routed through more than 240 acres with rock outcroppings and elevation changes of up to 200 feet. The layout emphasizes the region's natural surroundings, with forested corridors and views that reflect the Squaxin Island Tribe's heritage; it was the first course in the world to earn Salmon-Safe certification. Championship tees play to roughly 7,269 yards. Salish Cliffs is a public course available to both resort guests and outside golfers, with a log-and-cedar clubhouse, restaurant, GPS-equipped carts and full practice facilities.

Last verified 2026-09-17

Sequim, WA

The Cedars at Dungeness is an 18-hole public course in Sequim, on Washington's Olympic Peninsula, sited in one of the driest pockets of the state's typically wet west side. The course dates to the 1960s and has been updated over the decades, with a design credited to Jack Reimer and later renovation work by Mark Miller. The layout includes a widely photographed crab-shaped bunker and a mix of open and tree-lined holes across five sets of tees, allowing golfers of varying ability to select an appropriate yardage. The course has hosted the Washington Senior Open and is used regularly for club and league play. The Cedars operates as a public, year-round facility with a pro shop and food service on site. Its dry local climate, roughly a third of Seattle's annual rainfall, makes it a popular option for golf outside the typical Pacific Northwest rainy season.

Blaine, WA

Semiahmoo Golf & Country Club is an 18-hole, par-72 resort course in Blaine, Washington, designed by Arnold Palmer and opened in 1986. It measures 7,005 yards from the back tees, with a course rating of 74.0 and a slope of 138. The tree-lined layout includes 67 bunkers and five water hazards, with eight sets of tees ranging from about 4,300 to more than 7,000 yards. A full practice facility with a driving range, putting greens, and a chipping green is available to golfers.

Spokane, WA

Downriver Golf Course is a municipal, 18-hole course owned by the City of Spokane, Washington, that opened in 1916, making it one of the oldest courses in the region. It sits along the Spokane River near Riverside State Park, with gently rolling, heavily treed terrain. The course is operated through the city's public golf system and remains accessible to players of varying skill levels. Downriver has served Spokane golfers for over a century as one of the city's original municipal layouts.

Chelan, WA

Bear Mountain Ranch Golf Course is a public, 18-hole championship layout in Chelan, Washington, that opened in 2005. Built as a recreational centerpiece for the Bear Mountain Ranch community, the course sits on elevated terrain above Lake Chelan with mountain and valley views. It was designed with input from architects including Don Barth, and has drawn recognition among the region's newer courses. The course operates as a daily-fee facility with cart-based play.

Spokane, WA

Indian Canyon Golf Course is a municipal, 18-hole course owned by the City of Spokane, Washington, designed by H. Chandler Egan in 1930 and opened for play in 1935. Set atop a canyon at the western entrance to Spokane, the heavily forested, hilly layout requires accuracy from tee to green. It has hosted USGA championships including the U. S. Amateur Public Links in 1941 and 1984 and the U. S. Women's Amateur Public Links.

Last verified 2026-09-29

Spokane, WA

Latah Creek Golf Course is a Spokane County-owned public course located in the Hangman/Latah Creek valley south of downtown Spokane, Washington. The facility operated for decades under the name Hangman Valley Golf Course, a reference to the 1858 hanging of Native American leaders by the U.S. Army, before county commissioners voted in December 2020 to rename it Latah Creek, aligning it with the area's older, federally recognized name. The change followed years of debate among local residents and Spokane Tribe members about the appropriateness of the earlier name. As a county-operated public facility, the course remains open to all golfers on a daily-fee basis. The layout occupies a valley setting along the creek with the terrain and tree cover typical of the region's river bottomlands.

Bremerton, WA

The Cascade Course is one of two 18-hole layouts at Gold Mountain Golf Club, a city-owned facility in Bremerton, Washington on the Kitsap Peninsula. It opened in 1971 and was designed by architect Ken Tyson, giving it a longer history than its sibling, the Olympic Course, which shares the same clubhouse and property. The setting is wooded, with tall Pacific Northwest timber framing most holes. Cascade plays through tree-lined fairways with generous driving areas and greens considered forgiving compared to Olympic's more demanding complexes. Terrain is relatively flat with minimal elevation change, making it a walkable course. From the back tees it stretches to roughly 6,775 yards. Gold Mountain is owned by the City of Bremerton, and tee times are open to anyone. The course is a friendly, approachable complement to Olympic, suitable for golfers of varying skill levels.

Chelan, WA

Lake Chelan Golf Course is a municipal 18-hole course in Chelan, Washington, sitting on a bluff above the south shore of Lake Chelan in the north-central part of the state. Local business people organized its construction in the mid-1960s, aiming to give the community both a home course and a golf destination alongside the area's water recreation appeal. The layout is a relatively short, roughly 6,430-yard track from the back tees, but its main defense is a set of small, elevated greens that reject imprecise approach shots. The front nine plays fairly flat, while the back nine introduces sharper elevation change and sidehill lies as the course climbs and descends the bluff overlooking the lake. Owned and operated by the City of Chelan, the course is open to the public with a pro shop, rental clubs and carts, and an on-site restaurant. Tee times can be booked up to 30 days in advance.