Destination Golf Pacific Northwest

Central Oregon Golf Trail, Tetherow

A GOLFER’S GUIDE TO THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST

BY DESERT, MOUNTAIN, WATER OR WINE, THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST IS A VARIED ADVENTURE FOR GOLFERS

WRITTEN BY KEVIN GIFFIN

GOLF WASN’T invented in the Pacific Northwest, but it should have been. Curious onlookers would have seen deserts and wetlands, mountains and oceans, wooded forests and tall grasses rather than the uninspired omnipresent green that defines golf in flat, undifferentiated places. They would have played on Scottish-style links courses with natural long, blonde grasses surrounding them. They could imagine pulling too far to the right and watching their shot tumble down a cliff and into the Pacific Ocean. They would have noted the benefit to plunking down in the middle of a viticulture region, if for no other reason than the reward at the end of the game.

In the Pacific Northwest, they would have seen golf as much as an odyssey to experience the wondrous and vastly different climates and soils as it is a game of precision.

Prospector course at Suncadia

(photo: Greg Sweney Productions)

Our region of the country is, perhaps, not ideal for serious golfers, because we have seasons instead of different shades of summer. We have natural obstacles everywhere, such as mountains, rivers, grasslands—even an ocean to overcome. For the adventurous golfer, though, the Pacific Northwest offers a travel agenda imbued with beauty, wilderness and unmatched variety.

Instead of sorting courses by region or difficulty or reputation, we have put them together in small groups defined by climate and topography. Golfers can plan their next itineraries by what kind of natural surroundings they seek and cloak themselves in that terroir.

IN THE DESERT

TETHEROW BEND, OREGON

This course gets you into a high desert climate that puts you closer to a cactus-less Southwest feel. Tetherow in Bend is a startling incarnation of Scottish links. Designed by Scotsman David McLay Kidd, Tetherow feels like St. Andrews without the rain. The fairways run fast, and your errant shot slows only in the high fescue, if at all. The Row, one of the course’s restaurants, serves Scotch eggs, too. Tetherow is international travel made local. Learn more: www.tetherow.com

SILVIES VALLEY RANCH SILVIES, OREGON

More from the high desert, the new Silvies Valley Ranch brings together traditional golf with traditional ruminants—goats. While it amassed an impressive chest of medals from national golf publications in its opening year 2018, Silvies is becoming best known for its well-mannered American Range goat caddies. These friendly creatures carry your bag and work for peanuts—literally. South of John Day in Eastern Oregon, Silvies is a chance to get away and enjoy the resort, spa and shooting range. Learn more: www.silvies.us

Silvies offers goat caddies to carry your bag.

(photo: Silvies Valley Ranch)

PALOUSE RIDGE GOLF CLUB PULLMAN, WASHINGTON

The soft greens and browns of Palouse Ridge Golf Course in Pullman, Washington, are calming factors as you watch your ball run endlessly on the links-style course. A beautiful eighteen-hole championship course, Palouse Ridge is Washington State University’s home course. WSU alums who haven’t been back since it was completed in 2008, alumni association discounts await you. Learn more: www.palouseridge.com

IN THE FOREST

SNOQUALMIE RIDGE GOLF COURSE SNOQUALMIE, WASHINGTON

This Jack Nicklaus Signature Design championship course is home to the Boeing Classic. The Golden Bear built this course around mountain views, dense stands of fir trees and an eagle sanctuary on the fourteenth hole. When the fairway and Douglas fir green meet the blue sky and cumulus cloud white, there may be no more beautiful forested setting than Snoqualmie Ridge Golf Course. If you’re making a weekend of it, Salish Lodge & Spa overlooking Snoqualmie Falls is your moment of zen.Learn more: www.clubatsnoqualmieridge.com

PROSPECTOR GOLF COURSE CLE ELUM, WASHINGTON

Prospector Course at Suncadia was designed by Arnold Palmer and nature. It feels like a small and majestic clearing in the woods, a glade on the western slopes of the North Cascades. The tenth hole brings it all to the fore, ahem, with stunning views from the tee box above the treeline and a hole that finishes 100 feet below.Learn more: www.destinationhotels.com/ suncadia-resort

At Palouse Ridge, WSU alum get discounts.

PRIEST LAKE GOLF COURSE PRIEST LAKE, IDAHO

In a sea of towering green conifers on the eastern edge of Northern Idaho’s Colville National Forest and the western bank of Priest Lake, Priest Lake Golf Course is an eighteen-hole championship course. If you’re staying at the adjacent Hill’s Resort across the lake, you can boat over and tie up to tee off. Learn more: www.plgolfcourse.com

ON THE WATER

OLD MACDONALD BANDON, OREGON

Perhaps the most glorious of all courses is Bandon Dunes’ Old Macdonald, set as it is on western dunes and Scottish gorse and rolling above the Pacific Ocean. Designed by Tom Doak and Jim Urbina, the course puts you in the ocean air and on another planet. This is just one of four other-wordly beautiful courses at the resort. Learn more: www.bandondunesgolf.com

COEUR D’ALENE RESORT COEUR D’ALENE, IDAHO

Coeur d’Alene Resort Course is a tale of two land masses. This beauty is set on the banks of Lake Coeur d’Alene and plays over it. The fourteenth hole is a massive floating island that operates on submarine cables, changing the length of the hole from 90 yards to 220 yards and anywhere in between. Golfers are ferried out for successful green landings. The failures are collected each year by divers. Learn more: www.cdaresort.com/play/golf

THE HOME COURSE DUPONT, WASHINGTON

Located on a nice piece of real estate between Olympia and Tacoma on the Nisqually Reach in DuPont, The Home Course has earned the #2 ranking for best public courses in Washington. Some research shows that Hudson Bay Company traders may have laid out a six-hole course here in 1830s, making it the first known golf course in the Pacific Northwest. Learn more: www.thehomecourse.com

IN THE MOUNTAINS

ALPINE MEADOWS ENTERPRISE, OREGON

Alpine Meadows is a small nine-hole course set in the big world of the Wallowas. Nearly encircled by the stunning peaks of the Wallowa Whitman National Forest, Alpine Meadows is played in a constant state of awe. Traveling to the remote area requires lodging at The Jennings Hotel, the Wallowa Lake Lodge or equivalent. Don’t miss the topnotch local breweries and Stein Distillery.Learn more: www.golfalpinemeadows.com

GLAZE MEADOW AT BLACK BUTTE RANCH SISTERS, OREGON

The dark beauty that is Black Butte overlooks the iconic Black Butte Ranch Glaze Meadow course, in a placid setting in the Deschutes National Forest. Designed by architect John Fought, Glaze Meadow has elevated greens and views of Mount Washington and North Sister in the Cascade Range. This resort is perfect for a family adventure, with horse stables, hiking, tennis courts, restaurants and a full spa for pampering.Learn more: www.blackbutteranch.com/golf

INDIAN CREEK GOLF COURSE HOOD RIVER, OREGON

The majestic snow-covered Mount Hood looms large over Indian Creek Golf Course, providing stark relief from the greens and water blues below. Set in the Fruit Loop region of the Hood River area, the bounty of this fertile land is on display everywhere—from the apple and pear orchards to the countless vineyards and farm-to-table restaurants. The nineteenth hole here offers more than its peers.Learn more: www.indiancreekgolf.com

WINE COUNTRY

WINE VALLEY GOLF CLUB WALLA WALLA, WASHINGTON

Just ten minutes west of the densely wine-cellared downtown Walla Walla is Wine Valley Golf Club. This beautiful eighteen-hole course with fairways as wide as the Eastern Washington skies provides the perfect gamesmanship before heading to town for wines from some of the world’s finest winemakers. Stay and Play packages are available at the historic Marcus Whitman Hotel, Hampton Inn and Courtyard Marriott in Walla Walla.Learn more: www.winevalleygolfclub.com

Chehalem Glenn is a lovely course close to wine country.

CHEHALEM GLENN NEWBERG, OREGON

In wine country, it’s all about the terroir. At Chehalem Glenn Golf Course in the heart of the northern Willamette Valley wine country, the terroir is challenging for any level golfer. Steep hills, feisty bunkers and lovely greens define this course. The Chehalem Mountain AVA is also home to the soil that produces wines such as Elk Cove, Arbor- Brook, Anne Amie and Ponzi. Go straight for the pin-ot. Learn more: www.chehalemglenn.com

GAMBLE SANDS BREWSTER, WASHINGTON

Along the northern reaches of the Lake Chelan wine growing region, Gamble Sands in Brewster, Washington is another good place to travel and taste. Hit the links with another masterpiece from Scottish course designer, David McLay Kidd. Long before the course was built, winemakers coveted the soil in the region for themselves, making it one of the top up-and-coming wine regions in the state.Learn more: www.gamblesands.com

MORE PLACES TO PLAY, OREGON

1. ALPINE MEADOWS www.golfalpinemeadows.com Enterprise, Oregon Length from back tees: 6,072 $20-$47

2. CHEHALEM GLENN www.chehalemglenn.com Newberg, Oregon Length from back tees: 7,062 $29-$40

3. GLAZE MEADOW AT BLACK BUTTE RANCH www.blackbutteranch.com/golf Sisters, Oregon Length from back tees: 7,007 $47-$82

4. INDIAN CREEK GOLF COURSE www.indiancreekgolf.com Hood River, Oregon Length from back tees: 6,261 $35-$59

5. OAK KNOLL GOLF COURSE www.oakknollgolf.org Ashland, Oregon Length from back tees: 6,047 $20-$24

6. OLD MACDONALD www.bandondunesgolf.com Bandon, Oregon Length from back tees: 6,944 $50-$335

7. RUNNING Y RANCH RESORT www.runningy.com Klamath Falls, Oregon Length from back tees: 7,138 $55-$95

8. SILVIES VALLEY RANCH www.silvies.us Silvies, Oregon Length from back tees: 7,170 $75-$175

Silvie's Valley Ranch

courtesy of Silvie's Valley Ranch

9. TETHEROW www.tetherow.com Bend, Oregon Length from back tees: 7,293 $50-$190

IDAHO

COEUR D’ALENE RESORT GOLF COURSE www.cdaresort.com/play/golf Coeur d’Alene, Idaho Length from back tees: 7,189 $79-$99

PRIEST LAKE GOLF COURSE www.plgolfcourse.com Priest Lake, Idaho Length from back tees: 6,200 $22-$56

TRAIL CREEK GOLF COURSE www.sunvalley.com Sun Valley, Idaho Length from back tees: 6,968 $85-$179

WASHINGTON

The golf club at Newcastle

Rob Perry

APPLE TREE RESORT www.appletreeresort.com Yakima, Washington Length from back tees: 6,961 $52-$79

BEAR MOUNTAIN RANCH www.bearmtgolf.com Chelan, Washington Length from back tees: 7,231 $50-$100

GAMBLE SANDS www.gamblesands.com Brewster, Washington Length from back tees: 7,169 $60-$95

THE GOLF CLUB AT NEWCASTLE www.newcastlegolf.com Newcastle, Washington (Bellevue) Length from back tees: 7,024 $80-$165

THE HOME COURSE www.thehomecourse.com DuPont, Washington Length from back tees: 7,424 $24-$49

INDIAN CANYON GOLF COURSE www.my.spokanecity.org/ golf/indian-canyon Spokane, Washington Length from back tees: 6,255 $20-$49

PALOUSE RIDGE GOLF CLUB www.palouseridge.com Pullman, Washington Length from back tees: 7,308 $105

PROSPECTOR GOLF COURSE AT SUNCADIA www.destinationhotels.com/ suncadia-resort Cle Elum, Washington Length from back tees: 7,100 $64-$139

WINE VALLEY GOLF CLUB www.winevalleygolfclub.com Walla Walla, Washington Length from back tees: 7,600 $145

STAY & PLAY CASINOS

KALISPEL GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB NORTHERN QUEST RESORT & CASINO www.kalispelgolf.com Spokane, Washington Length from back tees: 6,663 Packages start at $149 (overnight plus one round of golf for two)

Kalispel Golf & Country Club.

SALISH CLIFFS GOLF CLUB LITTLE CREEK CASINO RESORT www.little-creek.com Shelton, Washington Length from back tees: 7,269 Stay & Play prices vary; golf only $63-$109

Salish Cliffs Golf Club

Brian Oar

SWINOMISH GOLF LINKS SWINOMISH CASINO & LODGE www.swinomishcasinoandlodge.com Anacortes, Washington Length from back tees: 6,177 Stay & Play prices vary; golf only $21-$38