Cascade Golfer Fall 2019 by Varsity Communications

VOLUME 13 • ISSUE 3 • AUGUST 2019 • COMPLIMENTARY

FALL’S FORGED FAVORITES THE FUTURE OF SEATTLE’S PUBLIC GOLF COURSES BOEING CLASSIC BRINGS LEGENDS BACK AUG. 19-25 NORTHWEST GOLF NEWS & VIEWS • cascadegolfer.com

@cascadegolfer

WIN A SUMMER GOLF TRIP TO GAMBLE SANDS!

The Resort at Port Ludlow

Overall • By Price • By Region • For Women

PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID Permit #1 Seattle,WA

Volume 13 • Issue 3 • AUGUST 2019

CASCADE

GOLFER cascadegolfer.com

Cascade Golfer is published and owned by Varsity Communications, Inc. This publication is mailed free to more than 90,000 registered Puetz Golf Preferred members. Additional copies are printed and distributed throughout the Puget Sound region.

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EDITORIAL STAFF

P R E S I D E NT / P U B LI S H E R Dick Stephens E D I TO R Brian Beaky ART DIRECTION Robert Becker GR APHIC DESIGNER Robert Becker, Marcel Colon FOR EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS AND INQUIRIES: Brian Beaky • (425) 412-7070 ext. 103 editor@cascadegolfer.com

ADVERTISING & MARKETING STAFF VICE PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR OF SALES Kirk Tourtillotte

SALES & MARKETING Simon Dubiel, Ian Civey, Elijah Prokopenko

A LOOK

Departments 4 6

PUBLISHER’S PITCH

• Where will Topgolf go next? • Local teen wins $1,000 golf scholarship • Join us at Loomis Trail this month • Our favorite Pac-12 golf destinations • Short Game Extra: Boeing Classic returns

14 TEEING OFF

• Chuck Nelson kicks off the fall season

16 IN THE BAG

• New sticks from XXIO, Honma • Fall’s coolest new wedges • Titleist adds TS1, TS4 drivers • PING’s G Le 2 puts women first • Optic’s unique Z putters • Bag Boy’s magic cart

29 RISK VS REWARD • Apple Tree No. 14

48 SAVE SOME GREEN • Foothill favorites

PROUD CHARTER MEMBER

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You ranked ‘em, now read about ‘em — Washington’s top public courses, from the Peninsula to the Palouse, and everywhere in between.

38 THE BATTLE IN SEATTLE With debate raging, we take an in-depth look at — and offer an audacious proposal for — the future of Seattle municipal golf.

PUETZ GOLF SAVINGS 20-27 Page 16 ON THE COVER No course surged more in this year’s rankings than The Resort at Port Ludlow. Story on page 30.

PRINTING

PRODUCER AND OWNER OF THE

BEST OF THE BEST

• The best of the rest

Consolidated Press • Seattle, WA

All photos are courtesy of the course or individual unless otherwise noted.

BY TONY DEAR AND BRIAN BEAKY

50 POSTGAME

ACCOUNTING STAFF

COPYRIGHT 2019 Cascade Golfer. PRINTED IN THE USA. All rights reserved. Articles, photos, advertising and/ or graphics may not be reprinted without the written permission of the publisher. Advertising and editorial contained herein does not constitute endorsement of Cascade Golfer or Varsity Communications, Inc. Publisher reserves the right to edit letters, photos and copy submitted and publish only excerpts. The publisher has made every effort to ensure the accuracy of all material contained in this issue. However, as unpredictable changes and errors do occur, the publisher can assume no liability for errors, omissions or changes.

Features

SHORT GAME

FOR ADVERTISING INQUIRIES, CONTACT: Simon Dubiel • (425) 412-7070 ext. 100 simon@cascadegolfer.com DIRECTOR OF FINANCE Bobbi Kramer ACCOUNTS PAYABLE & RECEIVABLE Pam Titland

INSIDE

Congratulations to the winners of June’s CG Swag! We started the summer road trip season in style in our last issue, sending readers on journeys to both Wine Valley and Northwest Montana, plus a 36-hole adventure at two of our favorite Pierce County tracks:

This month, we’re paying tribute to our state’s top public courses by sending golfers on a series of outstanding adventures — including a twosome to the No. 2 public course in the state!

Wine Valley Stay-and-Play Blair French • Bellevue

• Twosomes to Gamble Sands & Highlander • Page 6 • Boeing Classic VIP Package • Page 12

Montana Stay-and-Play Mike Morris • Leavenworth

• Twosomes to Eaglemont & Whidbey G.C. • Page 46

Twosomes to The Home Course & Eagles Pride David Olsen • Woodinville

Enter to win today at CascadeGolfer.com!

AUGUST 2019

PUBLISHER’S PITCH

DICK STEPHENS

Seattle city golf courses under fire and making news

ost golf storytellers have our roots in journalism. We dreamed of being the next Woodward and Bernstein or Edward R. Murrow, on the leading edge of events and hard news in whatever field we chose. But, when you find a calling in golf and focus your energy on the regional and travel-related aspects of the sport, chances to cover “hard news” are few and far between. In this issue, however, Cascade Golfer is chiming in on what we feel is the most important news story in the Puget Sound area right now, at least as it pertains to our readers. That is, of course, the reports this summer that the City of Seattle is considering whether or not golf courses are the best use of public lands. In my opinion, this is the second-biggest regional golf news story of the last 20 years — only behind Chambers Bay being awarded the U.S. Open. The scrutiny that Jackson Park, Jefferson Park, West Seattle and Interbay Golf Center are under is real. There are some in Seattle who feel converting these courses into affordable public housing is the right move, and others — like myself — who want to tell those in power to back off and leave our sport and these hallowed grounds alone. I would consider myself liberal, fair-minded, Earth-friendly and very interested in the sustainability of Seattle and its citizens. Also, I love and value golf, and

AUGUST 2019

know that public accessibility to the sport here would take a huge blow if our municipal golf opportunities were curtailed in any way. For the record, affordable housing is a real problem, just as it is in Portland, the San Francisco Bay Area and other West Coast urban centers. But, tearing up one public service to build another is not a solution. Led by Tony Dear and Brian Beaky — both award-winning journalists — our coverage here will bring some new light to this situation, synthesizing information from multiple sources to highlight the important facts, legal decisions and other issues at play in this debate. Then, we’re doubling down and teasing an ambitious but potentially transformative solution — building a new Seattle public course, at Discovery Park. One that would take up just a fraction of the park’s acreage, incorporate walking trails and other access for non-golfers and leave hundreds of acres open to all the other important park purposes. And, one that would rank alongside Chambers Bay, Torrey Pines, Harding Park and other urban bucket-list tracks. Cascade Golfer has a large reach, which means you, as a Cascade Golfer reader, have a large voice. We want to hear from you. We hope you enjoy this issue, the rest of the summer and let us know your thoughts. And, as always, TAKE IT EASY!

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AUGUST 2019

SHORT GAME You Get a Topgolf, and You Get a Topgolf, and You Get a Topgolf! xactly one year ago, when we published our interview with Topgolf Executive Chairman and Bellevue resident Erik Anderson, the closest the Seattle area had come to a Topgolf experience was 2017’s Topgolf Crush at Safeco Field. Now, we have ... two Topgolfs in development? Three? Honestly, there’s been so much news about Topgolfs being built in the Seattle area, that it’s hard to keep track of what’s going where, when it will be built and what, exactly, it will look like. To catch you up — back in early 2018, Topgolf responded to the City of Tacoma’s request for proposals to develop a plot of land near the Tacoma Dome. Included in Topgolf’s proposal was construction of a full-size Topgolf center, similar to the three-level driving range, dining and entertainment facilities that have turned Topgolf into one of the nation’s most profitable golf businesses, and attracted millions of new golfers to the game (for the full history and impact of Topgolf, check out the “Golf 2.0” article in the August ‘18 CG, or online at CascadeGolfer.com). Area golfers were excited. In December, news broke that Topgolf was in preliminary discussions to build a “three-story building” in Renton, near Boeing’s 737 plant. This time, Topgolf’s director of real estate and development, Devin Charlton, even went on the record, stating, “We are actively working to bring Topgolf to Renton and hope to have some exciting details to share in the near future.” Area golfers were excited.

Photo courtesy Topgolf

Finally, in April 2019, the long-awaited official announcement came, when Topgolf publicized formal plans to build its first Washington state facility ... in Kirkland ... with simulators, instead of a full-size range — a smaller, more urban concept called “Topgolf Lounge.” Area golfers were confused. In the immediate aftermath of the Kirkland “Lounge” announcement, media members reached out to City of Tacoma representatives to determine what this meant for the Tacoma Dome project, which had been in development the longest at that point. Pat Beard, business development manager with the city’s Economic Development Services Division, assured the Tacoma News-Tribune’s Debbie Cockrell that the two parties were still in “active discussions,” and that the city had entered into a Memorandum of Understanding to fund studies regarding various logistics, which were still being completed. The project, it seemed, was still very much alive.

Then, in May, Topgolf filed a land-use notice to build a driving range facility ... only, at the Renton site, not the Tacoma Dome. If your head is spinning by now, you’re not alone. So, we reached out to Topgolf to ask, in the words of 90’s alt band 4 Non Blondes ... what’s going on? Topgolf communications manager Morgan Schaaf confirmed that the company is “very interested in bringing Topgolf to both markets [Renton and Tacoma],” but wouldn’t share specific details about those plans. Schaaf did, however, say that it would be fair to report that discussions in both locations are ongoing, and that readers should not assume that an announcement of a Topgolf range in one city means the other is not happening. We could, in other words, very well get both. So, stay tuned. We may be one of the last major markets in the U.S. to get a Topgolf, but we may well soon be the envy of just about everyone else.

YOUR Win a Bucket List Golf Getaway to Gamble Sands

f you’ve played Gamble Sands, then you know the value of a free twosome to one of our state’s top destination tracks. If you haven’t — boy, are you in for a treat. We’re sending one CG reader and the playing partner of their choice (yes, we’re available, if you’re asking) to Gamble Sands for a twosome of golf you won’t soon forget. And, since we recognize that driving four hours to play 18 holes might seem like a big commitment, we’re throwing in a second 18 at another of our favorite Central Washington courses, East Wenatchee’s Highlander Golf Course. Enjoy 36 holes at two of the most scenic courses in the state, then drive home with another item crossed off your bucket list. You can’t win if you don’t enter, though — log on to CascadeGolfer.com today!

AUGUST 2019

Gamble Sands • Brewster

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Fife’s Maya Nguyen Earns $1,000 Scholarship from Duke’s Chowder House and Cascade Golfer

hen nominating students for the $1,000 Duke’s Junior Golf Scholarship, the parents, coaches, teachers and others who write into Cascade Golfer will often cite a student’s academic prowess, commitment to golf and record of community service. It’s not often, though, that a nomination includes a phrase like this one: “Maya Nguyen...has had a lasting impact on my life.” Those were the words of Kyle Guthrie, a coach with The First Tee of Greater Seattle, about 16-year-old Maya Nguyen, who recently completed her sophomore year at Fife High School. A two-time state championships qualifier — including 17th place in 2019 — and a regular in Washington Junior Golf Association and Rocky Mountain Junior Golf Association events, Nguyen is focused squarely on pursuing golf as a career, both in college and beyond. She should have no trouble getting in — her 3.9 grade-point average is outstanding, and her participation in the Future Business Leaders of America and inclusion in the National Honor Society will no doubt impress. She also devotes time to her community, volunteering with Northwest Harvest, mentoring elementary school students at Discovery Primary School in Fife, and giving back to The First Tee as a junior volunteer coach. “Maya is an amazing young person, with a huge desire not just for the game of golf, but also to help others in any way she can,” Guthrie says. “She is constantly trying to improve, and even with dedicated practice sessions and school, she always finds time to give back to her community. I have no doubt that Maya will continue to strive for success on and off the golf course, and I can’t think of anybody more deserving of this than her.” Well, Kyle, we agree. And, earlier this summer, Maya Nguyen became the 16th recipient of the Duke’s Junior Golf Scholarship — a $1,000 scholarship created to support a local golfer’s ongoing development in the game of golf. Nominees need only be of high school age or younger, with a demonstrated commitment to golf through participation in teams, clubs or tournaments, and a strong academic record. Scholarship funds can be used for any purpose, though the intent is to offset the cost barriers that often preclude young golfers from pursuing the game at the next level. “Wow! I am so surprised, humbled, and honored to receive this scholarship,” Nguyen says. “When I joined First Tee about six years ago, I never dreamt that golf would become such an important and integral part of my life. The game of golf has taught me so many life skills, such as communication, community, and perseverance. “This summer, I look forward to being a Coach for

cascadegolfer.com

Photo courtesy Nguyen family

Junior PGA League, competing in my first PNGA Junior Amateur Championship, attending Joe Louis Barrow, Jr. Skills and Leadership Academy at Boise State University, celebrating my 16th birthday in July and getting my driver’s license,” she continues. “I hope to continue to evolve my golf game during the rest of my high school years and have a chance to compete at the collegiate level while achieving my academic goals.” The nomination period for the Winter quarter of 2019 is open now. To nominate a deserving young person, simply email editor@cascadegolfer.com with the subject line “Duke’s Junior Golf Scholarship.” Be sure to include any information — academic record, community service, etc. — that you feel might bolster your candidate. Nominated individuals are kept in the mix until graduating high school, so don’t worry — if your youngster didn’t win this time, you might see their picture in the next issue! “I know firsthand how difficult it can be to pursue a career in competitive golf — from equipment costs, to travel costs, to tournament fees and more,” says John Moscrip, COO of Duke’s Chowder House. “It’s our hope that this scholarship will provide a boost to local families, and encourage young athletes not to give up on their dreams. Maya is an incredible young woman, and we look forward to seeing what she’ll accomplish in the future.”

Junior Golfer Scholarship

Win $1,000 For Your Young Golfer The Duke’s Junior Golf Scholarship is a $1,000 scholarship awarded in each issue of Cascade Golfer to a deserving young golfer from the Puget Sound region. If you know of a hard-working young person with a passion for golf who could benefit from $1,000, email editor@cascadegolfer.com today!

AUGUST 2019

SHORT GAME Join Cascade Golfer For Our First-Ever Tournament at Loomis Trail

hen we publish our top-10 Washington public course rankings every other year, we include top-10s for each of the four primary regions played by Western Washington golfers — the peninsulas, the central Sound region (roughly from Olympia to Lynnwood), the north (Lynnwood to Blaine) and then everything on the other side of the mountains. And, in the 10-year history of our Cascade Golfer Cup events, we’ve hosted events in just about all of them — all of them, that is, except one. Despite the multitude of highly rated courses in Skagit and Whatcom Counties, and their relative proximity to Seattle, we’ve never brought our series — prided upon playing only the state’s best courses — to what is, unquestionably, one of the state’s best regions. Until now. Later this month, we’re making like Jon Snow, loading up the CG horses and heading north to the No. 1 course in the region as voted on by CG readers — Loomis Trail Golf Course. A semi-private golf course until just last year, Loomis Trail has long been one of our favorite tracks to play, with a scenic wetlands layout that proves both challenging and rewarding. Now that it’s fully public — thanks to new owners the Lummi Nation, who also cut the peak greens fee to just $70 — we plan to make the 90-minute drive to Loomis Trail as often as we can, maybe pairing it with one of the other great Whatcom County tracks for a memorable 36-hole day. If that sounds fun to you, then grab a partner and join us for the Invitational at

Friends Johnny Carey and Paul Mitzel (gross), and the father-and-son team of Alex and Greg Taylor (net) won June’s Michelob ULTRA Open at The Home Course.

Loomis Trail on Aug. 17 — a handicap-based, two-player team event, featuring prizes for the top-15 net and top-10 gross teams. Designed to be a fun, laid-back tournament series (with prizes, though, worthy of the brand Cascade Golfer), a Cascade Golfer Cup event is a great way to dip your toe into the world of tournament golf. You’ll have fun, meet fellow golfers, and play one of the state’s top courses, to boot. And, with prizes for nearly half the field — including stay-and-play packages to Las Vegas and Central Oregon, twosomes and foursomes to our favorite Washington tracks — plus hole contests, tee prizes, free beer on the course and a post-round meal, you may very well walk away a winner! What’s more, every registered player receives a 2-for-1 to Loomis Trail, while Puetz Golf members (that is, golfers who keep their handicap through Puetz) receive a $10 Puetz gift card, so you’re already starting off ahead. Whether you’re a CG Cup veteran, or new to tournament golf, we’ll make you feel at home. To learn more or to register, visit CascadeGolfer.com/Cup.

Home of Golf in the Northwest FOR TEE TIMES

(866) 964-0520 or visit thehomecourse.com THE HOME COURSE 2300 Golf House Road • DuPont, WA 98327

AUGUST 2019

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SHORT GAME Couples Chapman Upcoming Tournaments

August 24-25 Entry Fee: $165 per player

Includes: 3 Rounds of Golf and 3 Meals Side Games Available

RIS Insurance Services

Fall 5 Ball Oct. 13th

Over $4,500 in Payout! Entry Fees: $65 Shareholder $70 Member • $85 Guest Includes Lunch

WhidbeyGolfClub.com • (360) 675-5490 2430 SW Fairway Lane, Oak Harbor WA 98227

AUGUST 2019

Head of the PAC

lanning to follow the Huskies or Cougars to a Pac-12 road venue this fall? You’re not going to want to go without your clubs. Here are our favorite must-plays in each of the 10 out-of-state Pac-12 cities (all rates peak rate from Sept.-Nov.):

ARIZONA Tuscon, Ariz. The Golf Club at Dove Mountain Just 10 minutes northwest of Tucson, Jack Nicklaus’ Dove Mountain is a treat not to be missed. Nicklaus’ favorite of the three nines is Wild Burro, but it’s the Saguaro/Tortolita combo that was ranked No. 3 in the state by Golfweek.

ARIZONA STATE Tempe, Ariz. Papago Golf Course Just a year ago, we’d have told you to go to the ASU Karsten Course, but with that gem’s recent closure, we’ll head instead to Papago, just 10 minutes away. There are fancier (and pricier) tracks, to be sure, but this Phoenix muni is right in the CG wheelhouse of quality and price.

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Photo by Blake Marvin

2019

Cascade Golfer Cup Half Moon Bay (Old Course) • No. 18

Get Inside The Ropes!

CAL Berkeley, Calif. Tilden Park Golf Course It’s worth $49 just for the views of Oakland, San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge from the hillside leading up to Tilden Park. A course just as fun as it is challenging, lined at every turn with California oaks and sycamores.

COLORADO Boulder, Colo. Colorado National Golf Club Just 25 minutes east of Boulder, Colorado National is where to swing your sticks near the Mile-High City. Just remember to swing hard — the thin air means added distance, which you’ll need if playing the 7,600-yard tips.

OREGON Eugene, Ore. Tokatee Golf Club It’s worth the one-hour drive to leave Eugene behind and head into the Willamette National Forest to find the Ted Robinson-designed Tokatee. With tall pines on all sides and views of the Three Sisters, it’s like sneaking into Central Oregon’s backyard.

Loomis Trail

August 17th • 10 a.m. Two-Person Aggregate Stableford

GRAND PRIZE

Las Vegas Stay & Play

OREGON STATE Corvallis, Ore. OGA Golf Course There are decent courses in Corvallis, but we’d rather make a pit stop on the drive down (or back) at OGA Golf Course in Woodburn, just across the highway from all of those outlet stores. Outside of Bandon or Bend, there aren’t many better in Oregon.

STANFORD Stanford, Calif. Half Moon Bay Golf Links It’s a half-hour drive and pricier than other tracks, but oh boy, is Half Moon Bay worth every inconvenience (and less than half the price at twilight hours). The Old Course might have the prettiest finishing hole on the West Coast, while the Ocean is a windswept, links-style track in the mold of St. Andrews and Bandon Dunes.

UCLA/USC Los Angeles, Calif. Black Gold Golf Club When you think of golf in L.A., you’re probably not picturing rolling hills, beautiful landscape, and elevated views. But, that’s what you’ll find at Black Gold, located in the hills above Yorba Linda. Look, we’d love to send you someplace closer to downtown or Pasadena ... but there’s nowhere close that matches Black Gold for pure value.

UTAH Salt Lake City, Utah StoneBridge Golf Club Within the city limits, it’s tough to top StoneBridge. Designed by local boy and BYU grad Johnny Miller, its 27 holes feature water as a constant challenge, with beautiful views of the Wasatch Range in the distance. cascadegolfer.com

Puetz Golf Shootout Sept. 8 • 8 a.m.

White Horse Two-Person Best-Ball

To register or for more information visit

cascadegolfer.com Click on the Cup!

PRESENTING

GRAND PRIZE

Palm Springs Stay & Play

Contact: Simon Dubiel simon@cascadegolfer.com (425) 412-7070 ext.100

SUPPORTING

AUGUST 2019

SHORT GAME

EXTRA

Annual Boeing Classic at Snoqualmie Ridge A Must-Do For Golfers and Non-Golfers Alike

here are plenty of reasons why we love attending the annual PGA TOUR Champions Tour Boeing Classic. And, few of them have anything to do with golf. Yes, it’s a fantastic golf tournament — don’t get us wrong. We love watching players like Bernhard Langer, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Rocco Mediate, Jesper Parnevik, Tom Kite, Vijay Singh, Mark Calcavecchia, Darren Clarke and Tom Lehman. We love following Fred Couples around the course, and letting him know with every shot how much we appreciate his passion for his hometown. In years to come, we’ll love the chance to watch Phil Mickelson, Jim Furyk and the other soon-to-be-50s currently plying their trade on the PGA TOUR and around the world. But, The Boeing Classic is so much more than just a golf tournament. For starters, The Club at Snoqualmie Ridge is quite simply a beautiful place to spend a day. Whether you’re a fan of golf or not, the views of Mount Si and the Snoqualmie Valley are breathtaking, while the dramatic elevation changes on numerous holes offer plenty of opportunities to pad your Instagram feed. Locals seeking a pleasant hike in a scenic environment couldn’t ask for much more. One of our favorite events is the Seahawks’ annual Rumble at The Ridge, held Aug. 19 at 8:30 a.m., where current and former Seahawks players and coaches compete alongside local amateurs and other Seattle sports celebrities to raise money for the Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason Medical Center. Even for friends and family (and, especially, kids) who couldn’t give a lick about golf, it’s a rare chance to spend time up close with icons like Cliff Avril, Jordan Babineaux, P.J. Carlesimo, Steve Hutchinson, Dave Krieg, Bill Krueger, Lawyer Milloy, Steve Raible, Sidney Rice, Jason Terry, Jack Thompson, Jim Zorn and others. There’s also the Seahawks’ Closest to the Pin contest, held after practice at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Tues., Aug. 20, where current Seahawks like Jason Myers and Tyler Ott do battle with a PGA Champions Tour pro to reach an island green in Lake Washington. Friday is Kids Day, featuring face painters, ice cream, professional mascots from local sports teams and a fun putting course. All kids are admitted free with a paid adult, and can either walk the course with mom and dad, or hang out in the event tent by the 18th green enjoying golf-themed activities. Sunday, meanwhile, is Military Appreciation Day, where the course is lined with over 1,400 American flags and the event tent is converted to a “Patriot Outpost” featuring free food and beverages for military personnel. The day begins with a military flyover and ends with the champion plucking his ball from the cup beneath the 18th pin, topped by an American flag of its

own. It’s a great way to pay tribute to our region’s rich military history, and the many contributions being made daily by Seattle-area residents in service around the world. There will also be a free Youth Clinic on Tuesday, Aug. 20, where a Champions Tour legend will conduct a free lesson for hundreds of kids from throughout the region. And, every day features plenty of activity in the Fan Zone, the tournament’s unofficial hub, packed with booths, games, giveaways and activities from tournament sponsors. Only now do we finally get to the golf. One of our favorite aspects about the Boeing Classic is how the best spectator holes are all a short distance from the clubhouse — there’s no schlepping a half-mile up and down sandy banks only to find yourself blocked by a grandstand at this tournament. From the grassy bank atop the uphill, par-5 18th, you can see the entire hole laid out before you, and watch players try to cap their round with eagles. The first (another eagle opportunity) and 10th holes are also fun to follow, while the par-3 13th offers one of the most stunning views of Mount Si you’ll ever see. Best of all, of course, is the par-4 14th, whose green sits adjacent to the 18th tee box, making it an easy walk from tournament central. Golfers at the 18th green are used to hearing the roars roll up from down the hill — that’s because No. 14 is perhaps the greatest risk-reward challenge in Washington state. A dogleg-left par-4 over a yawning chasm known as Bear’s Canyon (named for course designer Jack Nicklaus), the hole dares bold players to carry the canyon from the highly elevated tee and play directly to the green below, a 280-yard carry as the crow flies. “There aren’t many holes where you show up and your heart is thumping,” said Tom Kite, who called No. 14 the most exciting hole on the Champions Tour. And, spectators have a front-row seat to every gut-check shot from the Canyon Club, a VIP skybox rising high above the 14th green featuring exclusive food and beverage offerings, big-screen TVs and an outdoor patio overlooking the action at both 14 and 18. Best of all, every birdie at 14 results in half-price beers for the next 10 minutes in the Canyon Club — when the spectators up at 18 hear that roar, they know the fans at 14 are living well.

Win Tickets to the 2019 Boeing Classic!

A 12

Photos by Kene Sperry

ttending the Boeing Classic is a blast. Attending with free tickets you won from Cascade Golfer, though? That’s a deal that can’t be beat. And, it’s exactly what you’ll receive if you’re the lucky winner this month — two tickets to the state’s only PGA TOUR event, plus passes to the Alaska Airlines VIP Canyon Club, where you can cheer every bold drive to the green, and celebrate each birdie with discounted beers all day long. So, what are you waiting for? Log on to CascadeGolfer.com and enter to win today! AUGUST 2019

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WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW THE SKINNY Dates: August 19-25, 2019 Location: The Club at Snoqualmie Ridge Field: 78 Champions Tour professionals Format: 54 holes of stroke play with no cut Purse: $2.1 million Par: 72 | 7,264 yards Television: Aug. 23-25, The Golf Channel

Now entering its 15th year, the Boeing Classic is firmly ensconced as one of the crown jewels of the Champions Tour, attracting the top players from around the world, willing to travel a little farther to play in such an esteemed event. Some of that is the course — Snoqualmie Ridge is truly one of our state’s finest gems — and some the management, which has won multiple awards for their execution and customer service over the years. Much of that, though, is you. From Kite, to Langer, to Couples, golfers over and over cite the support, enthusiasm, consideration and intelligence of Seattle golf supporters as one of their favorite reasons to play in this event. So, let’s make it special — not just for them, but for us, too. Tickets start as low as $20 for a single day, with weekly passes (granting admission to all events, Aug. 19-25) available for just $60. Canyon Club tickets — including tournament admission and access to the VIP tent by the green at No. 14 — are $35 in advance for a single day, or $85 for all three days. Parking is $10, with shuttles from marked parking lots nearby. Whether to see the game’s legends up close, meet and get autographs from Seattle sports icons, honor America’s military, participate in fun events for kids, or simply enjoy a beautiful day in one of Western Washington’s most scenic settings, make plans to hit the Boeing Classic this summer. You may come for the golf, but you’ll leave with memories of a whole lot more.

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TICKETS* Daily: $20 Weekly (Aug. 19-25): $60 Tournament (Aug. 24-26): $40 Kids under 14: Free with paid adult Seniors (60+): 50-percent off general admission prices Passes also available to VIP Club sections; see boeingclassic.com for details. * Advance prices indicated, prices increase by $5-$10 at the gate

THE SCHEDULE Aug. 19 - Seahawks Rumble at the Ridge - Practice Rounds Aug. 20 - FREE Youth Clinic - Practice Rounds Aug. 21 - Korean Air Pro-Am Aug. 22 - Korean Air Pro-Am Aug. 23 - First Round, Boeing jet flyover Aug. 24 - Second Round, Family Day Aug. 25 - Final Round, Military Appreciation Day VOLUNTEERS Volunteers receive golf shirts, jackets, meals, parking passes, and two weekly admission passes, plus tickets to special Volunteer Appreciation Party. Details at boeingclassic.com. DIRECTIONS / PARKING Parking is $10. From Seattle, take I-90 east to Exit 25 (Snoqualmie Pkwy). Turn left onto Snoqualmie Pkwy, passing under I-90. Signs will direct you to public parking.

AUGUST 2019

TEEING OFF

PRESENTED BY

Here’s the Kicker: Chuck Nelson Talks Don James, Boeing Classic And More AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW BY BRIAN BEAKY CG EDITOR Photo courtesy Chuck Nelson

rowing up in Everett — literally a short hop of the fence from Legion Memorial — Chuck Nelson recalls sneaking out with friends to play the holes farthest from the clubhouse, and participating in junior golf tournaments throughout the region. Years later, following a five-year NFL career, Nelson returned to his golfing roots and ran a golf tournament for the Boys and Girls Club of Snohomish County, raising more than $500,000; then, in 2004, he became the first-ever executive director of the PGA TOUR Champions Tour Boeing Classic, and played an integral role in establishing our region’s premier amateur event. Any of those facts alone would make Nelson a significant figure in the local sports scene — yet, none even represent his most impressive athletic accomplishment. That, of course, would be the NCAA-record 30 consecutive field goals that he made as a kicker at UW. Following his pro career, Nelson then spent 15 years alongside Bob Rondeau providing color analysis to Husky football radio broadcasts. With college football season kicking off, and the Boeing Classic right around the corner, we thought it was a perfect time to talk to Nelson about his career on and off the field, his golf game, and just what it is that makes kickers so special.

Do you have a favorite memory from your time at the Boeing Classic? “Too many. The biggest thrill I had was the Sunday night before the first one. We had done a massive buildout of skyboxes, tents, ropes, stakes, bleachers and Port-aPotties. I remember standing up there and thinking, ‘Boy, I sure hope somebody shows up.’ And, of course, they did. It was very fun, just a great mix of profession, passion and community. Despite having left in 2009, I’m still extremely proud of what it was, and what it has now become.” What do you love about golf? “It teaches so many great life lessons — how to be respectful, how to be competitive in a healthy way. The golf courses themselves are also some of the best parkland in the world. And, as an old guy, it’s nice to have a competitive outlet. It’s been good to me.”

He’d celebrate openly, which is definitely something you never saw on Saturday afternoons. For me, it was a great chance to get to know him a little bit on a personal level.” Were there any teammates you used to play with? “Not so much on the football side. Al Del Greco and I were peers in the NFL; when I started doing Husky football on the radio, he was still kicking for Arizona, so he and I had a memorable round down there once with Roy Green, the old two-way receiver/defensive back from the Cardinals.” I know all these guys from playing Nintendo’s Tecmo Super Bowl as a kid. [laughs] “Yeah, those guys are my peers, that’s my age group. Thanks for that.”

What are some of your more memorable rounds? “I played a number of times in a college football coaches tournament down at Pebble Beach, as a guest of Coach [Don] James. That was a really neat experience, not only to play those courses, but to meet some great coaches from around the country — Steve Spurrier, Lavell Edwards, Hayden Fry, Bill Walsh. As a football fan, it was fun to be around those guys, and playing golf.”

How exactly does one discover they’re good at placekicking? “I played all sports as a kid — baseball, basketball, football, soccer. I started playing organized football at the Everett Boys Club when I was nine years old, in 1969. Somebody had to kick and punt, and I could do it. I was real active in the Punt, Pass and Kick competition back in those early days, too. I actually made it to the national semi-finals as a nine-year-old.”

How was Coach James on the golf course? “Just like he was when coaching — detailed and competitive. [laughs] A little more fun-loving, probably.

Wow, I didn’t even realize they had that back then. “Well, golly gee, thank you for that one as well. [laughs] This was 1969, so there were no Seahawks. I

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went down to compete at Kezar Stadium, to represent the 49ers. I actually still have my little number 28 uniform that they gave me to compete in.” Did UW recruit you or did you have to sell yourself to them? “They came looking for me. They had one scholarship to offer and it was either going to be me or Mike Lansford, out of San Francisco Junior College. They decided they wanted the more experienced guy and gave the scholarship to Mike. But, I didn’t have any other offers — actually, just one, from Olympic Community College, and coach Dick Baird. Jim Lambright, who was also an Everett High grad, told me they still wanted me to come, so I backed up Mike for a couple of years, then started my last three years.” What do you remember about the streak? “The only time I remember being nervous was when I got close to the old record. I think it was 16, and so the one to tie and the one to break it, I remember feeling a little nervous. Other than that, though, everything went right down the pipe. I’ve always said, ‘I didn’t make 30 in a row, I made one in a row 30 times.’” What is the biggest misconception about kickers? “Well, A, it’s hard — those things aren’t very wide. I get frustrated at the attitude that it’s easy to go find another kicker. Colleges aren’t serious about recruiting them, and NFL teams replace them as soon as they get too good. Every team at every level laments when they don’t have a kicker, but they do very little to actually go get a better kicker, or to coach a kicker to be better. Colleges will give maybe one scholarship to a kicker, and if the kid comes in as a freshman and doesn’t light the world on fire, they say they wasted a scholarship. Meanwhile, they have 14 offensive tackles on scholarship, and only a few will ever play at all. All kickers do is score points and win games — so, let’s start treating it like it’s an important position.” How is it being a fan again these last 10 years? “It was definitely an adjustment. I’m enjoying it, though. I had literally never tailgated — between playing and working, I was 50 years old before I ever tailgated a college football game. [laughs] So, it’s not all bad.” cascadegolfer.com

IN THE

1 BAG PRODUCT REVIEWS and equipment news you can use BY BRIAN BEAKY — CG EDITOR

WHAT’S IN A NAME?

aylorMade, Callaway, Mizuno, PING — if you’re anything like us, these are probably among the first brands you look at when you’re in your local golf shop. These are, after all, the brands we’ve all grown up with, the ones our parents played, and the ones we most often see in the hands of PGA and LPGA Tour pros on television. In some ways, that works well for us — these major brands pour more money into R&D than anyone else in the world, and thus find themselves on the cutting edge of most new technology. But, hey, even PING was once just a Ballard shoemaker’s son crafting golf clubs in his garage, then laying them out on PGA TOUR practice greens in the hopes that someone would pick one up. Sometimes, it’s worth looking beyond the major brands — you might just find the next big thing. In this month’s “In The Bag,” we are going to look at a few of those lesser-known names, including clubs from premium Japanese brands Honma and XXIO (pronounced, “zex-ee-oh”), as well as Optic Putters’ unique z-neck flatsticks. And, we’ll hit the latest offerings from the big boys, too — the lesson is that it’s not the name on the club that matters, it’s what you do with it.

AUGUST 2019

XXIO

X & Prime Irons

2 HONMA

TW-X Irons 2

PUETZ GOLF PRICE

X $199.99 per club Prime X $259.99 per club

PUETZ GOLF PRICE

ou may not be familiar with the XXIO brand. But, if you’re a mid- or high-handicapper looking to take your game to the next level, you may want to become familiar with XXIO’s X and Prime irons. The XXIO X line, released in 2017, was hailed as one of the most forgiving irons ever made, combining a lightweight shaft and titanium face to create an ultra-light iron that even slow swingers could whip through the impact zone. Furthermore, the weight saved in the face allowed XXIO designers to add two tungsten-nickel weights low and deep in the clubhead, increasing moment-of-inertia ratios and resulting in balls that fly higher and straighter off the face. The clubs were popular with gearheads and golf insiders, but it wasn’t until 2019, when XXIO released its Prime irons, that the brand truly caught on in the U.S.A. Starting with a shaft that weighs just 36 grams — roughly 40 percent less than traditional shafts — and including a juiced-up Super-Tix PLUS Titanium face that’s even lighter and hotter than the X’s, the new Prime irons are longer, faster and straighter (and yes, a little pricier) than their predecessor. Whatever your budget, the X or the Prime, they’re worth checking out — assuming, that is, you’d like to hit the ball farther.

$174.99 per club (steel) $199.99 per club (graphite) s we noted in the introduction, one of the barriers brands outside the big 5-6 have had to overcome in U.S. markets is the absence of a presence on the major professional tours. That changed for Honma in 2018, when multiple players — most notably, World No. 4 Justin Rose — started playing a prototype Honma driving iron. Rose was so impressed with the Honma offering, in fact, that in 2019 he became the first pro to start playing Honma clubs full-time. And, Honma was so pleased with the pros’ reaction to its driving iron — originally manufactured in just a 2- through 5-iron — that it has released an entire set of the clubs this year as the T//World-X. And, while the forged, muscleback design is sure to please low-handicap players, even mid- and high-handicappers can put the TW-X in play, thanks to a hollow construction and tungsten weights that keep the MOI low and deep and reduce twisting on mis-hits. Ultimately, though, it’s likely to be those low handicappers who will most appreciate the TW-X, which is designed to add distance without sacrificing the look and feel that better players prefer. You may not have swung a Honma iron before but, just like Justin Rose before you, once you do, you may never go back.

Order online at puetzgolf.com • Call Toll Free (866) cascadegolfer.com 362-2441

3 PING

Glide 3.0 Wedge PUETZ GOLF PRICE

CALLAWAY 3

$148.99

ING is one of the few brands known for releasing new products in the summer, and this year was no exception. Technically, the fourth generation of the Glide line — including last year’s Glide Forged — the Glide 3.0 includes the now-standard TS (thin sole), SS (standard sole) and WS (wide sole) designs, plus an all-new Eye2 model, which mimics the old Ping Eye2 sand wedge design with an extra-high toe and sculpted sole. Each offers a different benefit — thin soles being best for tight lies, and wide soles for cutting through rough, sand or spongy turf, while the Eye2 will hold the ball on the clubface a touch longer, giving a little extra spin to those tricky shots around the green. Also new for 2019 is the Dylawedge grip, five grams lighter than its predecssor and with a reduced taper to allow for more control and finesse when gripped down. Combine those elements with PING’s wheel-cut grooves and HydroPearl 2.0 finish, which repels water to improve grip, and PING has put together another short-game winner.

Sure Out 2 Wedge PUETZ GOLF PRICE

HONMA 4

$119.99

unkers can give even the best golfers a little anxiety. When designing its Sure Out wedge in 2017, therefore, Callaway worked with famed instructor Hank Haney to craft a club that utilized a unique sole design to give even slow swingers the confidence to play out of the bunker. The Sure Out effortlessly cut through the sand, reducing chunks and bladed balls, and becoming a must-have club for anyone who dreaded a trip to the beach. That design that made it so successful in the bunker, though, reduced its effectiveness somewhat on non-sandy lies, making the Sure Out a bit of a one-trick pony. When redesigning the club for 2019, therefore, Callaway made changes to the sole (notably providing more heel relief, and changing the sole radius and bounce angle) and face (increasing the number of grooves, to match its popular PM Grind wedges) that make the club more playable in all conditions. And, with a wider variety of lofts (56-, 58-, 60- and 64 degrees, all available in both left- and right-handed styles), and shafts, even more players should find the Sure Out 2 a good match for their game this year — whether trying to blast out of a bunker, or flopping over one.

cascadegolfer.com FREE SHIPPING on orders of $99 and more • exceptions apply

TW-W4 Wedge 5 PUETZ GOLF PRICE

$149.99

t was two years ago that we first introduced our readers to the Honma brand, noting specifically the incredibly detail-oriented process for creating every single club that leaves Honma’s Japanese headquarters. Almost every part of the club-making process is done by hand, a painstaking and time-consuming process that requires nearly 100 different, uniquely qualified staffers to handle a club before it is approved for sale. That care and attention to detail — including hand-painting shafts, shaping clubheads and more — may drive up Honma’s production costs beyond those of its more mainstream competitors, but it also ensures that every single Honma club that leaves the factory meets a standard of quality that would be impossible to achieve through automation alone. It’s not only quality you can see, though, it’s quality you can feel, including in every T//World-W4 wedge. Featuring variable CGs throughout the set — lower on the lower-lofted clubs, for a solid feel and consistent performance; and higher on the high-lofted clubs, for greater trajectory control and forgiveness around the greens — the TW-W4s look good and play great. Multiple loft and sole options mean you can find one to match your game — try them out at Puetz to see which one is best for you.

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IN THE BAG

CLEVELAND

CBX2 Wedge PUETZ GOLF PRICE

XXIO 6

$139.99 (steel)

X & Prime Drivers PUETZ GOLF PRICE X

$149.99 (graphite)

Prime X $849.99

ast year, Cleveland became one of the first manufacturers to put a cavity-back wedge on the market with the CBX. Honestly, it’s amazing that it’s taken this long for the game’s major manufacturers to take that next step — 84 percent of golfers play cavity-back irons, yet compact, blade wedges remained the standard until just recently. In the year since, everyday players have snapped up the CBX, eager to take advantage of the added forgiveness provided by the hollow-cavity, high-MOI design, resulting in shots that fly higher and straighter off the face. So, what’s new in this year’s CBX2? Well, admittedly, most of the changes are largely under the hood — subtle changes to Cleveland’s Feel Balancing Technology produces a softer, more satisfying feel; the fourth generation of Cleveland’s Rotex face-milling process creates slightly higher spin; a cutout section of the hosel creates a more favorable weight distribution; while a slightly wider toe, tapered flange and three different sole grinds give players a little more flexibility from variable lies. In testing, the CBX2 produced a dispersion two yards tighter than the CBX, and 15-17 yards tighter than Cleveland’s major competitors. If you’ve finally worn out your CBX from last year, the CBX2 is a worthy treat.

AUGUST AUGUST2019 2019

TITLEIST 7

$649.99

hese Asian brands aren’t only about crafting worldclass irons — they like to swing the big dog, too. In 2018, XXIO’s X driver became one of its first clubs to make a splash in the U.S. Ernie Els signed on as a global brand ambassador, and LPGA star Inbee Park used a XXIO X driver to win one LPGA event and earn three top-10 finishes at major championships. Designed — like all of XXIO’s clubs — specifically for players with slower swing speeds, the XXIO X combines an ultra-lightweight shaft with what XXIO calls “True-Focus Impact Technology” to increase swing speeds and reduce mis-hits by 28 percent. And, if you do miss? A larger sweet spot adds distance to those shots, too, making it the longest and straightest club XXIO had ever produced. Until this year, at least — the new Prime driver is like the X on steroids, with an even lighter shaft (made of carbon fiber more commonly seen in commercial rockets) and a Super-Tix PLUS titanium face that wraps around the crown and sole to create a hotter launch surface, plus a sole weight for higher launch and greater forgiveness. You can either buy a new driver every few years, or invest in a XXIO X or Prime — I certainly know what we’d recommend.

TS1/TS4 Drivers 8 PUETZ GOLF PRICE

$499.99

itleist’s TS2 and TS3 drivers have been among the most popular drivers on the PGA TOUR since they were released late last year — the TS3 being the pick of golfers who prefer less spin and more workability, and the TS2 the choice of golfers seeking a little more forgiveness, with each benefitting from the club’s improved ball speeds and distances. They’ve proven to be so popular, in fact, that Titleist designers are expanding the line to meet the needs of an even broader range of golfers — specifically, those seeking an ultra-low-spinning club, and another designed for players with moderate swing speeds, who may have thought previously that Titleist offerings weren’t for them. For that latter group, the TS1 will change your mind — 45 grams lighter than the TS2, the TS1 is both faster and easier to control, resulting in longer, straighter shots even when swung at slower speeds. The TS4, meanwhile, matches the ball speeds of the TS2 and TS3 while reducing spin even further with a low-forward center of gravity. It’s also smaller and more pear-shaped than its siblings, in line with the more classic look often preferred by top players. Make sure to be fit to find the TS driver that matches your swing — then, go out and watch that ball fly.

Order online at puetzgolf.com • Call Toll Free (866) cascadegolfer.com 362-2441

IN THE BAG

9 OPTIC Z

Putters

PING

G Le 2

PUETZ GOLF PRICE

starting at $349.99

h, the dreaded yips. We’ve all had them from time to time — that moment (hopefully just a moment) where the connection between brain and body fails, and you suddenly can’t remember how to perform a routine task like throwing a baseball, shooting a free throw or swinging a golf club. Optic Putters founder Patrick Bloom — a long-time instructor at some of America’s top golf schools — can’t do anything about the first two; the latter, though, he can fix. Bloom’s Optic Z putters are designed with a Z-shaped neck that specifically blocks from view the moment of impact between putter and ball — the moment that, it has been determined, the “yips” occur. Furthermore, the Z-neck creates three different points of alignment with the ball, helping golfers not only with the mental part of their swing, but the physical part, as well. Optic currently offers seven styles of Z-neck putter, from classic blades like the ZK, ZK2 and Z3, to the Spider-like Z11, 2-Ball-style Z9, rounded Z7 and “batwing”-style Z8. All are fully milled, with a double-milled face pattern that produces a smooth roll and soft feel off the face. If you’ve ever struggled with the yips — or find yourself seeking a little more consistency — perhaps a Z putter is perfect for you.

$398.99 Fway: $248.99 Iron/Hybrid: $124.99 PUETZ GOLF PRICE Driver:

hen club manufacturers create “women’s” clubs, they often do so with a very specific woman in mind — typically, a slower swinger seeking maximum forgiveness. To create the second generation of its popular Le women’s line, however, PING focused instead on the fitting experience, and ensuring that the Le clubs offered enough versatility throughout the set to be fine-tuned to the swings of a variety of different players. The end result is a set that is PING’s most customizable women’s line of clubs yet, with a lighter, faster driver to maximize distance gains and a mix of long-hitting irons and high-MOI hybrids that golfers can mix and match to their specific needs. The Le driver offers 1.5 degrees of loft customization in either direction, giving women the same ability to customize ball flights that men enjoy, while the irons utilize PING’s COR-Eye Technology, with a deep, top-rail undercut to increase face flex and send balls flying down the fairway at higher speeds, and higher lofts. Clubs can be purchased individually, or as part of a set, including a new Le 2 putter and stylish bag — visit your local Puetz store to take advantage of the set’s new fitting options and find the right mix for you.

cascadegolfer.com FREE SHIPPING on orders of $99 and more • exceptions apply

BAG BOY

Nitron Cart 11 PUETZ GOLF PRICE

$229.99

ver the years, push cart manufacturers have tried to make it easier and easier to get carts in and out of the car — making them lighter, making them easier to open and close. Well, Bag Boy may have outdone them all in 2019 with a cart that opens and closes almost all by itself, using nitrogen-powered pistons that make the process about as effortful as picking your ball out of the cup. If you have a Bag Boy or Datrek golf bag, you’ll find the TOP-LOK feature handy, giving you the ability to simply snap your bag into the cart without having to worry about a bunch of straps — it works for other bags, too, though, with a steady base and adjustable straps that keep your bag from sliding around. And, of course, it has all of the other features we’ve come to expect on push carts in recent years — a versatile, three-wheel design, a durable and lightweight frame, an extra-large accessory bag for your various extras (wallet, keys, scorecard, water bottle, jacket, etc.), an umbrella holder and a hand-operated parking brake. There are certainly golfers out there who pride themselves on carrying their own bag — but with carts like these on the market, the argument for doing so is becoming weaker every day. AUGUST 2019 2019 AUGUST

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AUGUST 2019

RISK vs. REWARD Apple Tree Golf Course

Hole No. 14 Par 4 520 yards (white tees)

By Simon Dubiel

The Setup:

The Reward:

If it wasn’t for the fantastic 17th and its apple-shaped island green, 14 might be the hole that Apple Tree would be known for. The fairway is pretty forgiving, with a bunker left and a few small trees in play. Another bunker hugs the right side if you miss your layup target. The entire left side of the green, however, is protected by a pond with a picturesque, built-in waterfall close to the putting surface.

The approach shot rewards the frisky. Assuming you are in spot “A” off the tee, the aggressive play can get home with a purely struck 3-wood. Although left is dead, anything right should still keep par in play, maybe even birdie. A few small trees might make life difficult, but otherwise anything right of the putting surface is not a horrible spot to chip from. Just take a peek at the pin first, as you don’t want to short-side yourself.

The Risk:

Final Call:

Left is not good — not off the tee, not with your layup and and definitely not with your approach shot. If you pump a drive out there and find yourself in the 220-250 range, sure, you can get home in two, but you had better be very careful with your second. Depending on pin placement, you can bail out right with your approach and still have a shot to get up and down, but that is about the only mistake that won’t leave a mark. Let’s review: Left is no good. Nope. Not good at all. Not. Even. A. Little.

We always struggle to back off and resist the urge to get rich on every shot. This is one of the few holes, though, where playing it just a little safe might be the way to go. Although the brash player may pull a 3-wood and let ‘er rip, the average golfer just doesn’t have that shot consistently in their bag — present company included. My play is a 190-210 club aimed slightly up the right side, leaving me 30-50 yards short and right of the green, and a great angle to get up and down, regardless of pin position. I might not make eagle, but I won’t make double, either. And, birdie is still in play — as is the same golf ball I started the hole with.

PRESENTED BY

cascadegolfer.com

AUGUST 2019

TOP

Photo by Rob Perry / robperry.com

10 Best PUBLIC

Photo by Rob Perry / robperry.com

Photo by Rob2019 Perry / robperry.com AUGUST

COURSES

Photo by Rob Perry / robperry.com

Photo by Rob Perrycascadegolfer.com / robperry.com

With its new greens in place, Chambers Bay tops the list of Washington’s best public courses in 2019 By Brian Beaky CG Editor

wo years ago — in the last edition of our Washington public golf course rankings, released in all odd-numbered years since 2013 — newcomer Gamble Sands became the first course other than Chambers Bay to claim the No. 1 spot, routing the previously undefeated champ. Gamble Sands’ voting tally so outdistanced Chambers Bay’s, in fact, that it was fair to wonder if any existing course would ever retake the throne, or if we might just see Gamble Sands at the top until some new construction came along. It would seem, however, that we wrote off the former champion far too soon. Like Nicklaus at the ‘86 Masters or Ali against Foreman in Zaire, this wily veteran wasn’t quite finished yet. Chambers Bay stormed back into first place this year with 1,107 total votes — a record haul for any course — to slip past Gamble Sands and reclaim its spot atop the rankings. Interestingly, despite a significant increase in total votes — nearly doubling 2017’s tally — Gamble’s first-place mentions only increased slightly, from 40 to 49, while Chambers Bay jumped from 17 first-place votes in 2017 to 43 this year. Did Chambers’ voters get complacent in 2017, only to come roaring back strong this summer? Did Chambers Bay’s new greens inspire more first-place votes? Or, is it possible that Gamble Sands’ remote location puts an artificial ceiling on its voting potential, as many potential voters simply can’t make the four-hour drive? There’s definitely evidence for the latter — Chambers Bay’s 80-point margin over Gamble Sands can be entirely accounted for by the 32 voters who included the former in their rankings, but not the latter. Indeed, counting only the ballots that featured both courses, Gamble Sands placed ahead of Chambers Bay by a significant margin. Short of relocating to Western Washington, there may not be much more Gamble Sands can do to break through that ceiling. Those top-two tracks placed well ahead of thirdplace Wine Valley (809) and fourth-place Gold Mountain’s Olympic Course (761), which swapped places for the fourth-consecutive year. Salish Cliffs maintained its spot just behind those four with 675 points, while The Home Course broke into the top-six for the first time ever, tallying 536 points to knock perennial “Big Six” member Palouse Ridge (513) down a peg. Suncadia’s Prospector course (350), Trophy Lake (337) and White Horse (289) rounded out this year’s top-10. Voters included industry experts and golf insiders — golf writers, course raters, photographers, even a local celebrity or two — but the bulk of the ballots came in via e-mail, Facebook and CascadeGolfer.com from regular, cascadegolfer.com

daily-fee golfers like yourselves. Our magazine was created by daily-fee golfers, for daily-fee golfers — so, when it comes to ranking our state’s best tracks, you’re the ones we really want to hear from. Some of you like the courses with big views, others like the ones that represent the best values, while still others voted simply for the best tracks in their local area. Heck, if you’re anything like us, what you consider “best” likely has a lot to do with how you score when you’re there. The only limits we placed on nominations were that a course had to be public (so long, Semiahmoo, we’ll miss you) and also had to be in the state of Washington (Circling Raven may feel like one of ours, but Idaho isn’t giving it away without a fight). As a result of such a broad criteria, this year’s ranking includes the broadest list we’ve ever seen — exactly 100 courses in all, including all of the state’s biggest destination tracks, plenty of local, family-owned gems, and a handful so obscure that we had to Google them to make sure they were actually Washington public courses. In the ensuing pages, we break down the list by price point and region, compare ballots by men vs. women, pit socalled “experts” vs. readers, and also take a look at which courses made the biggest jumps in this year’s poll (we see you, Port Ludlow and Apple Tree). We’re sure you’ll find places in these rankings where you agree with our voters, and others where you wonder if they’re playing the same courses you are. What no one can argue with, however, is the sheer depth of quality public golf courses in Washington state. Nineteen courses received at least one first-place vote in 2019, while the “second 10” — including Port Ludlow, Desert Canyon, Apple Tree, Washington National, Bear Mountain Ranch, Indian Canyon, Rope Rider at Suncadia, Druids Glen, Loomis Trail and Spokane’s Creek at Qualchan — would stack up favorably against the top-10 from almost every other state. Heck, Newcastle’s Coal Creek — with maybe the best views in all of Western Washington — can’t even crack the top-20! And, best of all, only a handful of our state’s best courses top out at over $100, with the vast majority playable for just $60 or less. It’s our hope that you’ll take inspiration from this list to try out golf courses you hadn’t previously considered, or to combine the region and price-point rankings on the following pages to craft long weekends and 36-hole marathon days that fit your time and budget. As your votes have once again indicated, there’s no shortage of incredible public golf courses in Washington state waiting to welcome eager golfers — here’s where your fellow readers suggest you begin.

How’d We Do It?

o rank Washington’s top-10 public courses, we canvassed the state this spring collecting top-10 lists from readers, media members and industry experts — even enlisting help from our friends at the Spokane Golf Show and ChipShots.net newsletter to ensure a fair number of votes from east of the mountains. Rankings were submitted via email, CascadeGolfer.com and our social media pages, and each individual course ranking was given a score — 10 points for a firstplace vote, scaling down evenly to one point for a 10th-place vote. Then, we simply added up the totals, and listed the courses in order: Course (First-Place Votes) Total 1. Chambers Bay (43)..........................1107 2. Gamble Sands (49)..........................1027 3. Wine Valley (20)................................809 4. Gold Mountain (Olympic) (11)...........761 5. Salish Cliffs (6)..................................675 6. The Home Course (4)........................536 7. Palouse Ridge (6)..............................513 8. Prospector at Suncadia (2)................350 9. Trophy Lake.......................................337 10. White Horse......................................289 Others Receiving Votes: Port Ludlow 260, Desert Canyon 240, Apple Tree 226, Washington National 214, Bear Mountain Ranch 211, Indian Canyon 148, Rope Rider at Suncadia 134, Druids Glen 127, Loomis Trail 123, Creek at Qualchan 119, Newcastle (Coal Creek) 117, Canyon Lakes 82, Hangman Valley 75, Links at Moses Pointe 71, West Seattle 48, McCormick Woods 47, Cedars at Dungeness 36, Gold Mountain (Cascade) 36, Shuksan 33, MeadowWood 28, Avalon 27, Alderbrook 26, Homestead Farms 26, Eaglemont 24, Highlander 24, Chewelah 22, Foster 21, Lake Spanaway 21, Jackson Park 20, Lake Chelan 20, Snohomish 20, The Classic 19, Kalispel 19, North Bellingham 19, SunCountry 19, Downriver 17, Horn Rapids 16, Leavenworth 15, Mount Si 15, Liberty Lake 14, Sudden Valley 14, Allenmore 13, Skamania Lodge 13, Battle Creek 12, Columbia Point 11, Riverbend 11, The Nile 10, Vic Meyers 10, Bellevue 9, Eagles Pride 9, Enumclaw 9, Hawks Prairie (Woodlands) 9, Mint Valley 9, Newcastle (China Creek) 9, Twin Lakes 9, Meadow Park 8, Rolling Hills 8, Sun Willows 8, Tahoma Valley 8, Auburn 7, Three Lakes 7, Cedarcrest 6, Kahler Glen 6, Lake Wilderness 6, Lynnwood 6, Redmond Ridge 6, Swinomish 6, West Richland 6, Elk Ridge 5, Tri-Mountain 5, Suntides 4, Desert Aire 3, Harbour Pointe 3, Hawks Prairie (Links) 3, Snoqualmie Falls 3, Three Rivers 3, Alta Lake 2, Capitol City 2, Echo Falls 2, Lake Padden 2, North Shore 2, Oakbrook 2, Village Greens 2, Fairways 1, Walter Hall 1. AUGUST 2019

Experts Only

urious to know how those who cover golf for a living rank the state’s top courses? A quick glance below indicates that they see things much the same as you. Here’s how the votes from our industry expert panelists add up: Media Voting 1. Gamble Sands (11)............................192 2. Chambers Bay (6)..............................185 3. Wine Valley (4)..................................160 4. Gold Mountain (Olympic) (1).............130 5. Palouse Ridge....................................104 6. Salish Cliffs (1)....................................98 7. White Horse........................................57 8. The Home Course................................38 9. Prospector at Suncadia.......................36 10. Trophy Lake.........................................35 Others Receiving Votes: Washington National 22, Rope Rider 18, Indian Canyon 17, Desert Canyon 16, Newcastle (Coal Creek) 12, Apple Tree 11, Bear Mt. Ranch 11, Port Ludlow 10, Druids Glen 7, Gold Mt. (Cascade) 7, Hawks Prairie (Woodlands) 6, Lake Spanaway 6, Eaglemont 5, Loomis Trail 5, North Bellingham 5, Avalon 4, Canyon Lakes 4, Creek at Qualchan 3, Kalispel 3, Eagles Pride 2, Lake Padden 1, Links at Moses Pointe 1, Oakbrook 1.

Ladies’ Choice

s votes came in, we noticed that certain courses (Port Ludlow, Mount Si and Foster) showed up more frequently on women’s ballots than on those submitted by men. So, we thought, what would the state’s top-10 look like if only women were allowed to vote? Women-Only 1. Port Ludlow (7)....................................70 2. Gold Mountain (Olympic) (1)...............61 3. Gamble Sands (5)................................51 4. White Horse........................................45 5. Wine Valley (1)....................................44 6. Trophy Lake.........................................36 7. Chambers Bay.....................................31 8. Prospector...........................................31 9. Salish Cliffs.........................................28 10. Loomis Trail.........................................27 Others Receiving Votes: Home Course 18, Creek at Qualchan 12, Canyon Lakes 10, Foster 10, MeadowWood 10, Mount Si 10, Vic Meyers 10, West Seattle 10, Cedars at Dungeness 9, Indian Canyon 9, Lake Chelan 9, Leavenworth 9, SunCountry 9, Alderbrook 8, Chewelah 8, Bear Mt. Ranch 7, Bellevue 7, Three Lakes 7, Avalon 6, Gold Mt. (Cascade) 6, Kahler Glen 6, Riverbend 6, Apple Tree 5, Druids Glen 5, Highlander 5, Snohomish 5, Hangman Valley 3, Palouse Ridge 3, Alta Lake 2, Rope Rider 2, Sudden Valley 2, Horn Rapids 1.

AUGUST 2019

Chambers Bay University Place

If you come at the king, you’d best not miss. Gamble Sands took its best shot in 2017 but, far from administering the knockout blow, seems only to have motivated Chambers Bay to come back even stronger in 2019. We were among the first in line to visit Chambers Bay this spring and play its new greens, and we can say confidently that any fears that they would distract from the course aesthetic, or wouldn’t play as firm and fast as Chambers’ old fescue greens, so far prove unfounded. Yes, they’re a little brighter in color than the fescue, and there was some evidence on a couple of greens of areas where the grass is growing in a little stronger than in others. But, they play almost identically to the old greens, while being more consistent in roll, and easier to maintain. The greens were considered one of the major hurdles Chambers Bay needed to overcome to attract another USGA championship. If our readers’ votes count, I think we can consider that test officially passed.

Gamble Sands Brewster

Put Gamble Sands in — oh, let’s say, Marysville — and we’re reasonably confident that it would finish No. 1 on this list. Gamble Sands consistently places ahead of Chambers Bay in ballots that include both courses; it simply doesn’t show up on the same volume of ballots that Chambers does. While it’s certainly possible that there are golfers who have played Gamble Sands and don’t think it’s a top-10 track, it’s more likely that most of those who don’t include it simply haven’t made the four-hour drive to Brewster to see it for themselves. But, that location is a large part of what makes Gamble spectacular — the sheer acreage that allows the course to sprawl across a Columbia River ridge, with broad fairways and massive greens, the mountain and river views that extend for miles in nearly all directions, the Central Washington sun loosening up your muscles and adding 20 yards to every drive, and the feeling that there’s nothing in the world that matters except the next shot in front of you. Driving to Brewster isn’t the price we have to pay to play Gamble Sands — it’s the reason we want to go in the first place.

Wine Valley Walla Walla

The same dynamic at play between Chambers Bay and Gamble Sands shows up each year in the battle for third place in our rankings, between Wine Valley and Gold Mountain’s Olympic Course. In all four rankings we’ve conducted since 2013, Wine Valley has earned more first-place votes than Gold Mountain — 33 in all, to just 16 for the Olympic — yet, the two have flip-flopped the No. 3 and No. 4 ranking each year. The fact is, golfers who have played Wine Valley love it — but, a significantly larger number have played the Olympic, and thus the latter course appears on more ballots. Why does Wine Valley consistently receive more first-place votes than any course outside the top-two? Perhaps because it features a little bit of everything — the open, links style of Gamble Sands, the expansive Eastern Washington views of Palouse Ridge, the intriguing green complexes of Chambers Bay, and the exquisite conditioning of Salish Cliffs. Sure, it’s a drive — but, if you could play one course that combined the best of all those others, wouldn’t you say it’s worth it? Voters who have played it certainly do, and we couldn’t agree more.

cascadegolfer.com

AUGUST 2019

By Region

Peninsula 1. Gold Mountain - Olympic (Bremerton) 2. Salish Cliffs (Shelton) 3. Trophy Lake (Port Orchard) 4. White Horse (Kingston) 5. Port Ludlow (Port Ludlow) 6. McCormick Woods (Port Orchard) 7. Cedars at Dungeness (Sequim) 8. Gold Mountain - Cascade (Bremerton) 9. Alderbrook (Union) 10. Discovery Bay (Port Townsend)

Salish Cliffs Shelton

No course has finished as consistently in the rankings, year after year, as Salish Cliffs — always behind Chambers Bay, Wine Valley and Gold Mountain’s Olympic (and, since it opened, Gamble Sands), and always ahead of everyone else. It’s a course that scores well with every demographic — men, women, industry experts and the general public all rank it in their respective top-10s, a credit to the diverse range of ways the course can be played and enjoyed. Long hitters go back to the tips and challenge themselves with forced carries and greens that favor approaches from specific angles if you’re seeking birdies. Shorter hitters, meanwhile, love the eagle opportunities at No. 1, No. 2 and No. 18, the elevated tee shots on three of the course’s four par-threes, and the opportunity to score well if one can simply stay out of trouble. Always one of the best-maintained tracks in the state, it’s another course that makes us jealous of those folks on the other side of the Sound ... and, not the last one we’ll see on this list, either.

North 1. Loomis Trail (Blaine) 2. Avalon (Burlington) 3. Eaglemont (Mount Vernon) 4. Shuksan (Bellingham) 5. Homestead Farms (Bellingham) 6. Snohomish (Snohomish) 7. North Bellingham (Bellingham) 8. Whidbey (Oak Harbor) 9. Harbour Pointe (Mukilteo) 10. Swinomish (Anacortes)

AUGUST 2019

Seattle/Tacoma/Eastside 1. Chambers Bay (University Place) 2. The Home Course (DuPont) 3. Washington National (Auburn) 4. Druids Glen (Covington) 5. Newcastle - Coal Creek (Newcastle) 6. The Classic (Spanaway) 7. West Seattle (Seattle) 8. Lake Spanaway (Spanaway) 9. Mount Si (North Bend) 10. Eagles Pride (Tacoma)

6 Photo by Rob Perry / robperry.com

Central/Eastern Washington 1. Gamble Sands (Brewster) 2. Wine Valley (Walla Walla) 3. Palouse Ridge (Pullman) 4. Prospector at Suncadia (Roslyn) 5. Desert Canyon (Orondo) 6. Apple Tree (Yakima) 7. Bear Mountain Ranch (Chelan) 8. Rope Rider at Suncadia (Roslyn) 9. Indian Canyon (Spokane) 10. Creek at Qualchan (Spokane)

Every couple of years, a new course comes along to challenge for a spot in the top-10. Newcastle, Trophy Lake, White Horse, Salish Cliffs, The Home Course, Palouse Ridge, both courses at Suncadia — all were built since Gold Mountain’s Olympic Course first opened its doors in 1996. And, all still sit below the Olympic in our state’s rankings. What the late John Harbottle did at Gold Mountain was create a course that embodies everything we love about Washington golf — tree-lined fairways, mountain views, beautiful landscaping, dramatic elevation changes, and some of the best risk-reward plays you can find. What truly sets the Olympic apart, though, is a greens fee that peaks at $70, and drops as low as $20 on a weekday or weekend evening. When we want to show off for an out-of-town guest, we take them to the Olympic. Once we have them marveling at the beauty, intrigue and sheer joy of the course, we let them know how much we paid to play it. Inevitably, they continue to bring it up to us years later — just as we’ll still be writing the Olympic’s name on this list for years to come.

The Home Course DuPont

In 2017, the gap in our rankings between the sixthand seventh-ranked courses (110 points) was bigger than the gap from third to sixth (96 points). It seemed that we had a “Big Six” of courses that voters clearly preferred over any others — which is what makes The Home Course’s jump from seventh in 2017 to sixth in 2019 one of this year’s biggest surprises. While the ranking — just a one-spot improvement — may not seem all that big of a deal, consider the fact that in 2013, The Home Course was ranked one spot behind Washington National; in 2015, it was just behind Rope Rider — this year, those two courses couldn’t even get within 300 points of The Home Course’s total, representing a nearly 14-fold increase in points from 2013 to 2019 that dwarfs any other course in the state. Credit the surge to an increase in traffic from CG readers, the ongoing efforts of an outstanding staff who maintain one of the state’s most enjoyable courses, or a greens fee that tops out at just $66. Whatever the cause, the “Big Six” is clearly a thing of the past — welcome to the era of the “Big Seven.”

cascadegolfer.com

Photo by Brian Oar

Photo by Rob Perry / robperry.com

Bremerton

n addition to our top-10 courses statewide, here’s a roundup of our favorites in each region, to help with planning your next golf getaway. We’ve mixed premium tracks with local favorites, too, so you can play for days without busting your budget:

Gold Mountain (Olympic)

Palouse Ridge Pullman

Chalk another one up to the East-West dynamic. Just as with Chambers vs. Gamble, and Gold Mountain vs. Wine Valley, Palouse Ridge found itself battling in the rankings this year with a course that is much more accessible for a majority of CG readers. Indeed, Palouse Ridge scored an average of 5.7 points on the ballots on which it appeared, to just under 5.3 points per ballot for The Home Course. But, the latter course was included by 11 more readers than Palouse Ridge — a small number, to be sure, but more than enough to account for the 23-point difference in the final rankings. We made our first trip to Palouse Ridge in 2015, and came back blown away by the incredible views, and inspired design (another John Harbottle creation, his second of three tracks on this list). Whether you play it as a whirlwind day trip (like we did), on a fall football weekend, or as part of an Eastern Washington golf getaway, just play it. If you do, we’re confident it will be on your ballot in 2021.

Roslyn

Boeing Classic weekend will have perfect weather, the Mariners will go on a long losing streak, and a Suncadia course will be ranked No. 8 in the state of Washington. Not much is guaranteed in life, but those are three things you can go ahead and bet the house on each August. The older of the two public tracks at Roslyn’s Suncadia Resort, Prospector has finished eighth in our rankings three times since 2013, the only outlier being 2015, when its younger sibling, Rope Rider, earned the eighth-place honor. Truthfully, either course is a worthy addition to the list. Prospector has the most scenic holes, including a par-4 10th that is one of the most photographed holes in Washington state, plus generally tighter fairways and more water than Rope Rider. The latter, though, has some of our favorite risk-reward holes, one of the best finishing stretches in the state, and a clubhouse that doubles as one of the state’s top wineries. The fact is, you can’t go wrong at Suncadia — barely an hour’s drive from the Eastside, but a world unto itself.

Port Orchard

cascadegolfer.com

ant to get the most bang for your buck? Here are our favorite courses at each price point, ranked by value: $45 and Under 1. Hangman Valley...............................$41 2. Gold Mountain (Cascade).................$45 3. Snohomish........................................$40 4. West Seattle....................................$38 5. Eagles Pride......................................$35 6. MeadowWood.................................$41 7. Lake Spanaway................................$42 8. Chewelah.........................................$38 9. Swinomish........................................$38 10. Desert Aire.......................................$39

Under $100 1. Gold Mountain (Olympic).................$70 2. The Home Course.............................$66 3. Loomis Trail......................................$70 4. Druids Glen.......................................$70 5. Trophy Lake......................................$92 6. Canyon Lakes...................................$70 7. McCormick Woods...........................$69 8. Highlander........................................$75 9. Eaglemont...................................$73.60 10. Skamania Lodge...............................$85

Trophy Lake Golf & Casting

In 2017, Trophy Lake was one of the big newsmakers of our Washington golf rankings, breaking into the top10 for the first time. This year, Trophy has taken yet another step forward, climbing one more spot to ninth and finishing just 13 points — or, about three ballots — shy of Prospector for No. 8. It certainly hasn’t escaped our notice that the two courses making notable jumps in this year’s ranking — Trophy Lake and The Home Course — happen to be the two courses that joined the Cascade Golfer Cup rotation since 2017. While correlation seems more likely than causation, we’re glad that readers see the same thing in these courses that we do — fun, exciting designs that are a great fit for players of all abilities. Of all of the Oki Golf courses, we’ve always felt that Trophy represented one of the best overall values — on par, quality-wise, with Washington National and Newcastle, but $20 cheaper than the former and $70-$140 cheaper than the latter. Hit it after 5 p.m., and it’s one of the best bargains in the state — just $40-$46 for the public, and $25-$35 for Oki Card holders.

$65 and Under 1. White Horse.....................................$65 2. Apple Tree........................................$65 3. Port Ludlow......................................$55 4. Indian Canyon...................................$49 5. Creek at Qualchan............................$49 6. Links at Moses Pointe......................$60 7. Lake Chelan......................................$54 8. Avalon..............................................$62 9. Cedars at Dungeness.......................$52 10. Mount Si...........................................$52

Prospector at Suncadia

Photo by Rob Perry / robperry.com

By Price

Over $100 1. Wine Valley....................................$145 2. Gamble Sands................................$170 3. Chambers Bay..............................$199* 4. Salish Cliffs....................................$115 5. Palouse Ridge.................................$105 6. Desert Canyon................................$100 7. Rope Rider at Suncadia..................$119 8. Bear Mountain Ranch....................$100 9. Prospector at Suncadia..................$139 10. Washington National.....................$109 NOTE: Rate refers to maximum peakseason rate only (walking rate, if available) * - Washington resident rate

AUGUST 2019

hich courses have seen the biggest change in their fortunes over the last two years? Here’s a look at this year’s top-20 courses, and where they ranked in 2017:

2017 Rankings 1. Chambers Bay 2. Gamble Sands 3. Wine Valley 4. Gold Mountain (Olympic) 5. Salish Cliffs 6. The Home Course 7. Palouse Ridge 8. Prospector at Suncadia 9. Trophy Lake 10. White Horse 11. Port Ludlow 12. Desert Canyon 13. Apple Tree 14. Washington National 15. Bear Mountain Ranch 16. Indian Canyon 17. Rope Rider at Suncadia 18. Druids Glen 19. Loomis Trail 20. The Creek at Qualchan

AUGUST 2019

2017 Change 2 +1 1 -1 4 +1 3 -1 5 -7 +1 6 -1 8 -10 +1 9 -1 30 +19 11 -1 15 +2 12 -2 13 -2 16 -14 -3 19 +1 20 +1 32 +12

Photo by Rob Perry/robperry.com

Movers & Shakers

White Horse

Kingston

Only seven courses have appeared in every top-10 list we’ve published since 2013 — the aforementioned “Big Six” and White Horse. The latter’s run is perhaps the most impressive, given that White Horse has only once placed higher than ninth — with so many good courses (Port Ludlow, Desert Canyon, Apple Tree, Rope Rider, Bear Mountain Ranch, Washington National, etc.) snapping at its heels year after year, it’s not easy to consistently hang on to that top-10 spot. How does White Horse do it? By appealing to a broad range of voters. White Horse ranked fourth among female voters — one element that makes it a natural fit for the annual LPGA Legends Tour Suquamish Clearwater Cup — and seventh among experts, a credit to a Cynthia Dye McGarey design that requires golfers to think their way through each hole, and a John Harbottle redesign that softened the course’s toughest edges. One other major factor influencing White Horse’s ranking — especially compared to those courses just below it? A peak rate of $65 that is the lowest of any course in the top-10.

cascadegolfer.com

AUGUST 2019

THE OF

AUGUST 2019

Battle

Seattle

cascadegolfer.com

A comprehensive look at what the City of Seattle can, can’t — and, perhaps, should — do with its four municipal golf courses

By Tony Dear and Brian Beaky

West Seattle Golf Course • No. 16

cascadegolfer.com

t’s darkly ironic that while Seattleites have easy access to some of the most beautiful landscapes in the country, if not the world, there is precious little green space within the Emerald City itself. The Seattle Times reports that just 12.5 percent of the City is devoted to parks, whereas 21.7 percent of New York City is used for public recreation. Nearly 20 per cent of San Francisco, 19.4 percent of Las Vegas, and 15.2 percent of Phoenix are similarly zoned. Of Seattle’s 6,414 park acres, only 528 are reserved for public golfers, with just three and a half municipally-owned courses — or, 72 open-to-all holes, including three 18-hole championship courses and nine-holers at Jackson Park and Interbay — available to a population of 750,000 people. It’s not pushing the boat out terribly far to suggest that Seattle is not a big golf town, but the three 18-holers — Jefferson Park, Jackson Park, and West Seattle — have served the City since 1915, 1930, and 1940, respectively, and are held dear by those who have been playing them for decades. Regulars got quite a jolt, therefore, in April when reporter Erica C. Barnett revealed on thecisforcrank.com that the City had spent $104,000 on a 131-page study completed by Lund Consulting, Scanlan Consulting and Cocker Fennessy, that looked into the ongoing feasibility of Seattle’s publicly owned golf courses and whether or not the land upon which they sit might be better-suited to other purposes, most notably low-income housing. As expected, reactions to the Lund Report ran the gamut of opinion. First came shock and alarm from golfers. Margaret Anthony, a former Parks employee and a member of the West Seattle Women’s Club, organized a “Save Seattle Golf” meeting at Jefferson Park in late May, and was astonished when hundreds of fellow golfers turned out. A week later, the issue surged to the forefront when Scott Hanson published a story in The Seattle Times under the headline, “Booming Seattle questions future of City courses,” in which Mayor Jenny Durkan was decidedly non-committal, stating that, “It would be a breach of our duty to the people of Seattle not to be really looking at what is the best use of those golf courses, from everything to continuing as golf courses, to finding a way to use part of them as parks, to use part of them for affordable housing.” Multiple editorials followed — include from those in support of golf, like Chris Daniels at KING-TV and Aaron Levine at Q13 Fox, each of whom aired fierce defenses of the sport on their respective stations; those opposed, like Mike Eliason at The Urbanist, who lashed out at golf’s environmental impact, falling popularity and elitist mindset; and those like Times columnist Danny Westneat, who didn’t so much defend golf as park space in general. Lost in much of the back-and-forth discussion, though, were the facts. Golf’s opponents claim that the city’s courses are “bleeding money,” and that they are used by a small — and, largely older, white and male — segment of the city’s population, while tens of thousands AUGUST 2019

In the “Sun Belt”

THE OF

At The Golf Course

Voted #1

in Washington for Best Value by GolfAdvisor.com Featuring some of the best and most well maintained greens in the area! Located in the Sunbelt of Western Washington

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Camaloch Golf Course

(360) 387-3084

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AUGUST 2019

Battle

Seattle

of largely poor, lower- and middle-class families are squeezed out of the city due to a lack of housing. Turning one or more of those courses into a mix of affordable housing and public park space, they argue, would dramatically alleviate Seattle’s housing crisis, and stop the revenue drain on the Parks department — a winning idea with liberal and conservative thinkers alike. Are any of those claims true? What is the current financial status of Seattle’s municipal courses? What is the reality of Seattle’s housing situation? And, were the city to decide to move forward with a housing plan, could they even legally tear up golf courses to do it?

ccording to the Lund/Scanlan/Cocker Fennessy Report (which we will heretofore just call “the Report”), the city’s courses have been used by an average of 238,000 golfers each year since 2009 — indeed, the Report cites a 2017 study by EMC Research that found that “13 percent of Seattle residents used a Seattle public golf course two or more times per year.” The Report also notes that of the more than 206,000 rounds of golf played on Seattle municipal courses in 2018, more than 47,000 — over one quarter — were free or discounted rounds for juniors, seniors, disabled and military

Jackson Park Golf Course • No. 3 golfers. It also draws attention to the Fir State Golf Club — the nation’s second-oldest African American golf club — and Cascade Golf Club (originally founded in 1954 to increase opportunities for Chinese golfers, and now more ethnically diverse), both headquartered at Jefferson Park. In addition, Bogey Bear and First Tee programs create opportunities for thousands of young golfers each year, with the former specifically serving inner-city youth who may not otherwise have the means to play the game. “People should come out to a municipal golf course and see for themselves,” says Dan Wartelle, Executive Director of The First Tee of Greater Seattle, which has taught golf and life lessons to over 100,000 Seattle-area youth since 2004. “Roughly half the kids in Seattle’s First Tee program are non-Caucasian, 35 percent are girls, and over 70 percent of our players receive financial aid to participate.” Wartelle says plowing under municipal golf courses in Seattle would be a huge blow to programs like The First Tee. “Depriving youngsters of the chance to learn the game and essential life skills like honesty, integrity, re-

cascadegolfer.com

T Interbay Golf Course hosts numerous junior clinics throughout the year.

4 CAN PLAY FOR THE PRICE OF 3!

Scenic 18 Hole Public Golf Course In Fall City, Washington, East of Seattle

Golf Digest Best Places to Play in 2004 and 2008!

FALLS

S G O L F

C O U R S E

4 CAN PLAY FOR THE PRICE OF 3! 42

AUGUST 2019

Online Tee Times and Web Specials Available at snoqualmiefallsgolf.com 425-441-8049 or 425-222-5244 Only good for 4 players with same day tee time. Not valid with any other offers or discounts. Good Monday - Thursday. Expires 9/30/19 Not valid on holidays.

sponsibility and perseverance would be disastrous,” he says. “We should be adding park space, not taking it away. The City must be living in a bizarro world if it thinks removing open green space is good for Seattle.” The Report further notes that while the courses have technically been running a net loss, it’s not for a lack of profit — in fact, profits from Seattle’s golf courses are being used to fund other Parks programs throughout the city. According to the Report, since 2006, the City has “sought to achieve a 103.5-105 percent revenue cost recovery from the municipal golf courses.” Furthermore, City courses are required to divert five percent of their profits each year to the Parks Fund, to help pay for less profitable programs. In layman’s terms, that means that City golf courses were not only required to cover their own costs in the City’s annual budget, but to bring in an additional 3.5-5 percent in revenue each year. (This, the Report added, was not true of other City recreation programs — aquatics must only recoup 50 percent of its costs, swimming pools 77 percent, and community centers 15 percent.) And, in fact, the golf courses have turned a profit every year — since 2006, the Report states, the Golf Program has contributed $3.7 million to the Parks Fund, well above its operating and capital expenses. It’s only when debt service payments, and the additional five percent to the Parks Fund are subtracted, that net income dips into the red. The Report also cites the recent investment in driving range facilities at Jefferson Park and Jackson Park as making significant contributions to the golf courses’ bottom line, and notes $35.6 million in currently unfunded maintenance and improvements, with various ways to address those needs, including bonds that would result in further debt service. And, it’s here where critics chime in — if the City is going to take on debt, why do it to support golf courses instead of affordable housing? “According to the Census Bureau, Seattle was the fastest-growing city in the nation, the population increasing by almost 19 percent over the past 10 years,” said Kelsey Nyland, communications assistant to Mayor Jenny Durkan, in response to our request for a comment from the Mayor. “Affordable housing development, coupled with rising rents in the private market, has not kept pace with the need. As the number of affordable units continue to decrease, the cost of housing continues to skyrocket; over the past six years, rents have increased 57 percent.” A recent study found that 47 percent of households that rent in the Seattle metro area are “housing-cost burdened,” which means they spend more than 30 percent of their income on rent. In 2017, the Seattle Housing Authority opened its lottery for the Housing Choice Voucher program, which helps low-income families, individuals, secascadegolfer.com

Battle THE NUMBERS

THEBY OF

Seattle 238,189

The average total rounds played at Seattle public courses each year (2009-17)

449,531

Total golfers using driving range facilities at Jackson Park, Jefferson Park and Interbay in 2017 alone

13%

The percentage of Seattle residents who report using Seattle golf facilities two or more times per year

$4.3 Million

Net operating income for Seattle golf courses since 2013

$2.6 Million

Total contribution from golf to City of Seattle’s general parks fund in that same time

26-49 Years

The single largest age demographic of golfers at Seattle public courses

18%

The percentage of non-Caucasian golfers in the U.S., up 10 percent in the last decade*

24%

The percentage of female golfers nationally, including 33 percent of new golfers*

Who Plays Golf?* According to the National Golf Foundation, there are currently 32.1 million golfers nationally, representing all age groups, genders and ethnicities:

By Age

70+

% 18-29

60-69

6-17 — 6% 18-29 — 7% 30-39 — 12% 40-49 — 9%

50-59 — 9% 60-69 — 8% 70+ — 7%

How Do We Compare?** Salt Lake City

Spokane

Population

200,662 6

Municipal Golf Facilities

224,562 4

1 golf course per 33,000 residents

1 golf course per 56,000 residents

Denver

Portland

Population

Municipal Golf Facilities

732,144

Population

Municipal Golf Facilities

667,589 5

1 golf course per 91,000 residents

1 golf course per 133,000 residents

San Francisco

Las Vegas

Population

Municipal Golf Facilities

664,304 4

1 golf course per 149,000 residents

1 golf course per 166,000 residents

SEATTLE

Tacoma

% 50-59

% 30-39

% 40-49

Population

By Gender

Municipal Golf Facilities

897,536 6

6-17

The Lund Study, commissioned by the City of Seattle, was full of interesting facts about who plays golf, how often they play, and more — both nationally, and in Seattle specifically:

Municipal Golf Facilities

766,893 4

By Race 100

1 golf course per 191,000 residents

Population

Municipal Golf Facilities

222,128 1

1 golf course per 222,000 residents

76% Male

% Female

60 40 20 0

Male — 76% Female — 24% cascadegolfer.com

% Caucasian

% Minority

100

Caucasian — 82% Minority — 18%

= 1,000 residents * Data courtesy Lund Report ** Data courtesy Google web search, June 24, 2019

AUGUST 2019

THE OF

Battle

Seattle

The tram at Jackson Park, circa 1956

Jefferson Park Golf Course • Hole No. 11

Photo courtesy Wikimedia Commons

19 15 — Seattle’s first municipal golf course opens at Jefferson Park. In its first year, more than 26,000 rounds are played. By 1924, that number would grow to 125,000. 1930 — In response to the overwhelming demand at Jefferson Park, Parks Superintendent J.A. Jackson orders the construction of two additional golf courses. Jackson Park, in north Seattle, is the first to open, in 1930. West Seattle would follow 10 years later. 1940 — H. Chandler Egan’s West Seattle Golf Course opens for business. 1941- 46 — Jefferson Park comes under U.S. Army control, bringing in anti-aircraft batteries, searchlights and other defensive measures. 1947 — The Fir State Golf Club is established at Jefferson Park, to improve access for African-American golfers. Still in existence today, the Fir State Golf Club is the second-oldest African-American golf organization with a home course. 1951 — Byron Nelson plays an exhibition at West Seattle. A group of Chinese businessmen form the Seattle Chinese Golf Club at Jefferson Park, eventually renaming it the Cascade Golf Club. Also still in existence, the club is focused on recruiting and developing minority golfers. 1953 — USGA National Public Links at West Seattle. 1956 — A cable-car tram is opened at Jackson Park to ferry golfers from the green at No. 11 (now the No. 1 green) to the tee box at No. 12 (now No. 2), a slope then called “Cardiac Hill.” The tram operated until 1991; evidence of its existence can still be seen today. 1959 — Jefferson Park’s Bill Wright becomes the first African-American golfer to win a USGA championship. 1962 — As at nearly all Seattle golf courses, rubber tee mats on concrete pads provide the teeing

AUGUST 2019

area on most holes at Jackson Park. Hosting more than 100,000 rounds a year, grass tees are not feasible to maintain. The mats remained in place until the mid-1990s; indeed, golfers who look closely can still spot the original square, concrete teeing pads near many tee boxes today. 1970s — Teenagers Fred Couples and Rick Fehr, both future PGA TOUR professionals, go head-to-head at West Seattle in the Washington State Junior Match Play championship. 1992 — A 16-year-old Tiger Woods visits Jefferson Park to participate in a clinic run by the Fir State Golf Club. 1996 — The Bogey Bear Junior Golf Foundation is established at Jefferson Park, providing free lessons, free equipment, free greens fees and character lessons to inner-city youth. 1997 — Interbay Golf Club, featuring a ninehole executive course and driving range, opens just north of downtown, and just east of Seattle’s Magnolia neighborhood. 2001 — The First Tee of Greater Seattle is formed, providing lessons and using golf to teach respect, sportsmanship, integrity, perseverance and five additional core values to children throughout the Seattle area. In 2003, the group moves its headquarters to Jefferson Park. 2005 — The City of Seattle hires Premier Golf to manage its four municipal courses. 2009 — The City publishes a “Master Plan” for golf, including many capital improvement projects to be paid for by course revenues. 2015 — The “Master Plan” begins to bear fruit as Jackson Park opens a brand-new, double-decker driving range. Included as part of the plan is a reworking of several holes near the driving range, and a change in the order the holes are played. A few months later — almost 100 years to the day after the course first opened — Jefferson Park unveils a new clubhouse, restaurant and driving range of its own.

niors and people with disabilities pay their monthly rent in privately owned apartments or houses. More than 21,500 applications were received, for just 3,500 available spots. It’s clear from this data — and, frankly, from simply driving around Seattle and noting the steadily increasing homeless population, and the high costs of homes and apartments within city limits — that affordable housing is a legitimate and important issue for the City to resolve. In his Times editorial, however, Westneat notes that it’s one the City is, in fact, already addressing. “We need more housing (which we’re rapidly building),” he notes. “But the cause has become so strident it’s making Seattle lose its mind — to the point we’re now actually considering paving over prime parkland, in the mistaken belief that we’re running out of land for housing. We are not.” According to an April 2019 Citywide Permit Report, 30,000 housing units have been built in Seattle since 2016, with 19,000 more currently under construction. “That means the city’s goal of building 50,000 units in ten years, launched in 2016, has effectively been achieved — years early,” Westneat writes, adding that despite this boom, there is still room for an additional 200,000 units — enough to accommodate thousands of families, and help control housing costs, all without taking away any existing park space. But, let’s say the City looked at all of this data, and decided to move forward with a plan to turn municipal golf courses into housing. How quickly could that happen? And, what would it cost? The answer to the first question is: not anytime soon. The second? Well, let’s just say the City had better get a lot of bang for its buck from those houses. Both questions relate back to an initiative — Initiative 42 — passed in 1997, which states that park space “shall be preserved for such use; and no such land or facility shall be sold, transferred, or changed from park use to another usage.” If you read that law and think that it says that the City can’t turn park space into housing — you’re right. There is one exception, however — the City can convert park space to another usage, so long as it is replaced by “land of equivalent or better size, value, location and usefulness in the vicinity.” In other words, the only way the city can convert its municipal golf courses into housing is to buy up an equivalent amount of land — 528 acres, to be exact — “in the vicinity” of each course, and convert that to park space instead. The estimated cost of that much land within city limits — assuming it could even be found? Approximately $3.39 billion to $12.78 billion. As Westneat noted in a cascadegolfer.com

Leavenworth Golf Course

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18-Hole Golf Course located just one mile from the Bavarian Village of Leavenworth AUGUST 2019

THE OF

Whidbey Golf & C.C. • Oak Harbor

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Seattle

follow-up column on June 19 addressing Initiative 42, even converting just a portion of one golf course — in his example, 50 acres of Jackson Park — “would cost [the city] $300 million to more than $1 billion, “according to the parks department’s own estimates.”

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AUGUST 2019

hile the City has only engaged so far in speculation, Levine is suspicious. “Although no decisions have been made yet, and though the mayor insists she is looking at all the options, I don’t believe anyone spends more than $100K on a study without having an agenda or ulterior motive,” he says. The anti-golf sentiment is strong in progressive cities like Seattle. Here, that time-tested and commonly-held view of golf and golfers as restrictive, exclusionary, and privileged holds firm. And, though the players on Seattle’s municipal courses likely share similar liberal-minded opinions as the majority of city residents, the fact that they indulge in this undemocratic sport sets them apart in the eyes of many. It’s hardly surprising, then, that those that despise golf saw the publishing of the “Strategic Business Plan for the Future of City of Seattle Owned Municipal Golf Courses” as an opportunity to list their grievances. Golf courses take up a lot of space, use up natural

resources, and go unused by large swaths of the population. Golf skeptics have plenty of ammunition with which to influence City Hall. The facts, though, remain staunchly on the side of golf. A significant number of city residents — including large numbers of women, minorities and seniors — use Seattle’s municipal courses, which provide low-cost and discounted access to the game for tens of thousands of golfers who might otherwise be barred from participation for financial reasons. Furthermore, Seattle’s public courses — especially Jefferson Park — have a long and storied tradition of ethnic diversity, while providing vital resources for the youth of the city to learn character and life skills each year. The courses more than cover their own expenses, and even help fund other Parks department programs as well. While Seattle certainly needs more housing, plowing under Seattle’s parks and municipal golf courses isn’t necessary to meet that need — nor, under current laws, is it even possible, without the City incurring significant expenses that would create a much bigger problem than already exists. Anthony, who has led the charge for Save Seattle Golf, thinks Seattle can have it both ways. “We are a huge city,” she adds. “There is no reason why Seattle can’t support four golf courses.”

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DISCOVERY PARK

BOLD VISION

Photo by Mason Kelley

For Seattle’s Golf Future

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Aerial view of Discovery Park

The Daybreak Star Indian Cultural Center in the far north of the park would be unaffected. Modern turf designed to be disease- and traffic-tolerant would reduce maintenance requirements and water consumption, aligning the course with the City’s environmental objectives. Ultimately, Discovery Park could be a cultural resource, environmental habitat and public recreation facility all in one — while, potentially, adding significant revenues to the City coffers. We can save exact figures for another time, but even a rudimentary cost analysis suggests a golf course makes a lot of sense. Sensibly-maintained, lay-of-the-land courses like those en vogue these days cost a good deal less to build and maintain than courses where considerable earth-moving was necessary. Sand Hills in Nebraska, Bandon Dunes in Oregon, and Streamsong Black in Florida are three of the best golf courses built in the last 30 years, yet none of them cost more than $3 million to construct. There’s no doubt an experienced architect like Tom Doak, Bill Coore, Gil Hanse, Robert Trent Jones, Jr., or Kidd and Schaan themselves could build a wonderful course at Discovery Park quite inexpensively. The city already owns the land, so there’s no cost there — a conservative all-in estimate to build, then, including a modest clubhouse and pro shop, would be $10-$12 million, which the City could pay off in a few years. Something similar happened not too far from Seattle just a few years ago, of course. The land at Chambers Bay in University Place, 45 miles south of Discovery Park, was itself a controversial project that required all the political skill, power, and ingenuity that then-Pierce County Executive, John Ladenburg, could muster. Ladenburg thinks Discovery Park is a fantastic site for a golf course, and is convinced something very special could be built there. “Chambers Bay held the U.S. Open eight years after opening, and brought $134 million to the area. And, it’s a wonderful community facility as well as a golf course, with play areas and walking trails,” he says. “It’s highly unlikely Seattle would ever go for it — it’s not really the sort of place where this sort of thing happens. But, imagine what it could be.” There will certainly be plenty who immediately dismiss this notion. But, the more you think about it, the more appealing the idea becomes. Andy Staples, a highly-respected, Scottsdale-based course architect, has made a name for himself in recent years building what he calls “Community Links.” He lists these facility’s characteristics: • Expand facility benefits to increase use by non-golfers. • Maximize the efficient use of water, energy and fuel. • Emphasize new-golfer development programs for the community’s youth, which instill values of healthy living, sportsmanship, integrity and patience (i.e., First Tee). • Explore possible alternate revenue streams besides greens fees and golf-related activities. “The key is to program the entire story around an asset for the whole community,” Staples says. “If they do, there is a very real opportunity not only to create multiple revenue streams, but also have a significant impact on the community’s kids, families, seniors and women. Plus, they could change how non-golfers perceive the game.” A world-class course and major championship venue that’s popular with golfers from around the world … as well as a community asset that benefits Magnolia, Ballard, Fremont and other nearby suburbs. Now, that’s a game-changer. — Tony Dear AUGUST 2019

Photo courtesy Wikimedia Commons

he final paragraph of the Lund/Scanlan/Cocker Fennessy report makes this assertion: “The City’s municipal courses are an historic legacy that require on-going investment to preserve and maintain them for the next 100 years. The City needs to align its policy priorities to balance the objectives of public access, outdoor recreational opportunities, racial equity and social justice, environmental and habitat protection, open space, and financial management.” There follow 35 “Recommendations,” of which the first reads: “Commit to golf as a recreational program offered by the City on par with other recreational offerings.” We don’t know whether “on par” was an intentional pun or not, but we were heartened by the report appearing to give golf its blessing — and, we have a possibly audacious suggestion for how the City could significantly enhance its commitment to the sport. This idea will likely shock some, who will laugh it off before even giving it a second thought. But, hear us out. It’s not without precedent and could, we believe, become a huge earner for the City. That is — what if we built a golf course at Discovery Park? A nine-hole course existed at Fort Lawton in the 1940s, and in 1974, a group of local golfers calling itself the West Point Golf Alliance made a serious attempt to put an 18-hole golf course on 120 acres of the southern end of Discovery Park. That effort made it all the way to the City ballot, before voters decided open park space was too important, and the golf course would be too expensive. But, as the chart on page 43 illustrates, Seattle currently has fewer golf courses per capita than nearly every other major city in the Western United States. What if you were to take just 125-150 of Discovery Park’s 534 acres and build a world-class, accessible-to-all golf course capable of hosting big-time tournaments and turning a healthy profit? What if the PGA or LPGA Tour were to visit Discovery Park every year, or the Presidents Cup, U.S. Open or even Ryder Cup were to come to town? What Torrey Pines is to San Diego, what Harding Park is to San Francisco — indeed, what Chambers Bay is to Tacoma and University Place — Discovery Park could be to Seattle. “It’s a big idea, a really strong idea,” says Nick Schaan, a partner in David McLay Kidd’s firm DMK Golf Design, who has recently been remodeling Sand Point Country Club. Schaan has spent a lot of time in that part of town these last few months and has walked the park on several occasions. “Every time I go, I think about what an amazing course you could build there,” he says. “The views across the Sound are obviously amazing, and it’s just a few miles from downtown. Plus, there’s some good soil and sand down by the South Beach Trail.” Let’s be clear, Cascade Golfer does not wish to turn all open park space into golf holes. We recognize how vital it is to a healthy, functioning, civilized city to have accessible, nocost places where people can walk dogs, fly a kite, recreate and spend quiet time. In this scenario, the entire acreage of the park would remain public — we propose, simply, that roughly one-fourth of that space would also include world-class golf holes, which fourballs would each pay $75-$200 to play (with lower city-, county- and state-resident rates). Non-golfers would still have access to those acres, too, via walking trails that would wind through the course, just as they do at Chambers Bay and the Old Course at St. Andrews.

SAVE SOME GREEN TOP-10 VALUES BY BRIAN BEAKY • CG EDITOR

ach time we solicit votes for our top-10 rankings, we can fairly guess which courses will comprise the top-25 or so — certainly not the exact order, but we know what courses will be in the mix. It’s below that range, though, where things start to get interesting. Since we allow readers to nominate courses of their choosing, and give no specific criteria besides requiring that a course be both public and located in the state of Washington, the spectrum of courses that are included in individual voters’ top-10s range from major-championship venues like Chambers Bay, to local munis, outof-the-way favorites and, frankly, some courses we’ve never even heard of. In this month’s Save Some Green, we’ve highlighted two sometimes overlooked courses identified by readers as among their favorites — two that might not make Washington’s top-10, but always show up on lists of the state’s top values. Indeed, they’re so close geographically, that you can play them both for under $100 in total expenses for your day, and be back at home in time for dinner. Neither may be a top-10 course, but that’s definitely a top-10 day in our book.

(360) 893-3171• highcedars.com “It’s worth the drive best value in the NW” The Seattle Times

Public facility with country club amenities 18-hole championship course 9-hole executive course High Cedars Golf Academy 2019 Junior Golf Camps begin July 8th Ladies Golf Lessons & Wine Tasting

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AUGUST 2019

Mount Si Golf Course • North Bend

Mount Si Golf Course NORTH BEND

Each time we publish our top-10 rankings, the good folks at Mount Si know that it’s going to be tough to compete with the state’s biggest destination darlings for a spot in the upper echelon. For as good as Mount Si may be, people just don’t fantasize about it like they might a trip to Gamble Sands, Prospector or Wine Valley. Instead, they turn the page to see where Mount Si is listed in two other rankings we also publish at the same time — the best courses by region, and the best courses by price point. And, it’s here where Mount Si never fails to rise to the top. Just as they did in 2017, readers ranked Mount Si Golf Course — resting at the foot of the steep rock face from which it takes its name, just a stone’s throw from Snoqualmie Falls — among the top-10 courses both in the Central Puget Sound region (Seattle/Tacoma/Eastside) as well as among courses priced in the $45-$65 range, ranking Mount Si 9th and 10th, respectively. Indeed, were Mount Si’s peak summer rates just $7 cheaper, as they were in 2017, it would be the state’s No. 3-ranked course under $45 — and, given that nearly all of its rates fall under that benchmark, perhaps that’s not too bad a way to think of it. The fact is that just about every golfer who plays Mount Si will feel as if they received their money’s worth, no matter where on the greens fee spectrum you fell (the cheapest fees, at super twilight times, are just $20 and change). The front nine features a few good holes — notably, the risk-reward second,

where a bold drive over the trees left of the fairway can cut a three-shot hole to two, and the par-4 sixth, which comes about as close to Mount Si itself as you can get without a backpack and hiking boots — but, it’s on the back where the course really earns its rankings. The par-4 10th offers some risk-reward opportunity for players willing to try blasting their drives over a deep collection area, while the par-5 12th is one of the region’s most deceptively difficult holes, a 581-yarder with a severe right-to-left bend that will require three well-struck shots to find the surface. Most players make their hay before the turn, then simply try to hold on the rest of the way. In addition to the quality of the course, the views and the reasonable rates, readers consistently rank Mount Si’s restaurant among the area’s best. Indeed, you may be surprised to play at a time or day when the course isn’t too crowded, only to find the restaurant packed with locals after your round, there for the omelettes, quesadillas and breakfast sandwiches for which Mount Si is famous. Enjoy our state’s top-10 courses this year. But, save some time for its top-10 values as well. Mount Si is definitely one.

YARDAGE (PAR) 5,475-6,261 (72) RATES $20-$52* TEL (425) 391-4926 WEB mtsigolf.com * See website for current rates cascadegolfer.com

Snoqualmie Falls G.C. • Snoqualmie

Snoqualmie Falls Golf Course SNOQUALMIE

Unlike its private neighborhood brethren, The Golf Club at Snoqualmie Ridge, Snoqualmie Falls Golf Course makes no pretension of country-club hauteur. And, that’s just why we like it. Rated one of Golf Digest’s “Best Places to Play” in 2004, Snoqualmie Falls has managed to avoid the rush to “bigger” and “better” that has consumed many courses in the Puget Sound region, instead remaining true to its roots as an independently-owned, family-run track featuring well-maintained holes at a bargain price. At 5,649 yards from the men’s tees, and with a relatively flat landscape and open fairways, Snoqualmie Falls won’t tax your legs. Which is good, because there are plenty of opportunities for even middle-range hitters to throw their whole body into a shot for the chance to putt for eagle. Play it safe and easy around a relatively tame front nine, featuring just two holes longer than 400 yards (both par-5s), and you’ll be in the mood to go for the green at the 500-yard 9th, the first of four legitimate eagle opportunities in the final 10 holes. On the back, avoid the herons and bald eagles that frequent the water hazards at 12, 13 and 15. And, unless you have the ability to softly land a driver from 250-plus, avoid the temptation to go for the green on the 270-yard 14th, where a large bunker waits to gobble up anything that falls a yard shy of the surface. Work your way around the next three holes and you’ll be set up to let ‘er rip on the 515-yard 18th, whose arrow-straight layout all but dares the player to give it everything they have left in the tank. Tee off after 3 p.m. any day of the week, and for just $31, the number of holes you play is limited only by the time the sun finally slips below the horizon. Even on a weekend, you’ll pay no more than $45, with a $32 rate available for juniors and seniors alike. After your round, put the money you saved on greens fees towards a drink or two in the grill and soak in the scenery, both of the natural — including Mount Si and the Cascades — and wild varieties. With the seemingly never-ending corporatization of golf, Snoqualmie Falls is one of our area’s last true family affairs — and if you’re there, you’re family.

YARDAGE (PAR) 4,823-5,649 (71) RATES $31-$45* TEL (425) 222-5244 WEB snoqualmiefallsgolf.com

• $25 18 hole green fee w/cart Good Monday - Thursday • 20% off Green Fees good Friday - Sunday Must bring in coupon to receive offer.

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* See website for current rates cascadegolfer.com

AUGUST 2019

P R ESENTED BY

BEST OF THE REST By Brian Beaky CG Editor

he best part, for us, of our bi-annual top10 rankings is seeing how readers’ tastes change from year to year. In 2017, Kayak Point was ranked fourth in the North region. Two years later, I can’t imagine our readers would have ranked it in the top-10 even if it hadn’t closed its doors. Conversely, Port Ludlow — in the middle of a management changeover in 2017 and coming off an irrigation crisis the previous summer — just barely cracked the top-30 overall. This year, readers vaulted it all the way to No. 11 overall, No. 1 among women and No. 1 at the $60 and under price point. Note that both of these examples highlight courses outside the actual top-10. While there is a high degree of variability in the rankings each year from, say, No. 11 on, the actual top-10 hasn’t changed too much since we started our rankings in 2013. Seven courses have appeared in all four top-10s, and thus we often find ourselves extolling the virtues of the same, well-known tracks. The fact is, though, that there are far more than 10 courses we’d like to write about — one reason why, in 2017, we began publishing lists by region and price point, as a way to include more courses. Here, we are going to go one step further and highlight a few courses that stand out to us for their excellence in one specific area. They may not be top-10 overall, but they’re winners, for sure.

Best Greens Fee Deal:

All-Day Play at Avalon Look, there’s no shortage of great deals out there — and, Burlington’s Links at Avalon certainly isn’t the only course offering all-day rates. Three factors, though, set Avalon apart from the rest. First, the cost — while many courses charge somewhere in the ballpark of 150 percent of their greens fee for all-day play, Avalon will let you play as many holes as you want for just $10 over the greens fee you paid at check-in. Not the peak greens fee, mind you, The Links at Avalon • South No. 2 but whatever rate you paid when booking your round. Pay $46 for an early-morning 18, and you can play all day for just $10 more. Second, is the fact that unlike most courses offering repeat play, Avalon rotates golfers through three distinct nines, allowing you to play as many as 54 holes without playing the same hole more than twice, while spreading out traffic to speed up play. Last, is the quality of the courses themselves — the tight, tree-lined North; open, linsky South; and shorter, scenic West. Each rewards different skills, giving golfers of all abilities the chance to perform well. In 2013, we played 88 holes in a single day at Avalon, and enjoyed every minute of it. If you break our record, let us know.

Best Conditioned Local Muni:

Lake Spanaway Yes, the word “local” is doing a lot of work in this headline — with due credit to our terrific Seattle-area city and county courses, there’s simply no comparing the quality and value of the Spokane munis like Indian Canyon, Creek at Qualchan, Hangman Valley and MeadowWood to anything we have on this side of the mountains. But, around here at least, it’s Lake Spanaway that stands out to us. Sure, Jefferson Park has history, West Seattle has Lake Spanaway G.C. • Spanaway incredible views and Legion Memorial has an enjoyable layout, but for pure course conditions, it’s hard to top Lake Spanaway. Seven hundred pounds of sand beneath the fairways help it drain better than nearly any other Western Washington track, while course staff work double-time throughout the summer to keep Lake Spanaway looking just as green and vibrant as designer A.V. Macan (Broadmoor, Fircrest, Inglewood) first imagined it 50 years ago. Long enough (over 7,000 yards from the tips) for big hitters, but easy enough (with little water and few hazards) for beginners, it’s the kind of course that does a high volume of rounds due to its broad appeal and outstanding conditions. No, Lake Spanaway won’t ever make the top-10 — but we guarantee golfers will still be flocking to it for years to come.

Best Course You’ve Never Heard Of:

Skamania Lodge Unless you live south of Olympia — way, way south — we’re willing to bet that you’ve never played Skamania Lodge; heck, most of you probably have no idea where it is. Located in Stevenson, Wash., about an hour east of Vancouver along the Columbia River, Skamania Lodge is a par-70 course tucked among 175 wooded acres, with stunning views of the Columbia River Gorge and a challenging layout that is as fun to play as it is to look at. Elevation changes abound, and level lies can be difficult to find, making club selection and shot placement every bit as important as raw skill. Add in plenty of water, a seemingly endless maze of trees and wind that blows in off the canyon, and you’ll understand how a 5,800-yard, par-70 course winds up with a 132 slope. The fact is, though, that the short length of each hole keeps most golfers in play, while those hunting birdies will find plenty to test their game. Take the beauty of Prospector and the fun of Rope Rider — then tuck them away on Washington’s southern border, an hour from civilization, with little to no traffic and greens fees as low as $60 in the summer. You may not have heard of Skamania Lodge before, but I’m guessing we’ve got your attention. 50

AUGUST 2019

Skamania Lodge G.C. • Stevenson

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Cascade Golfer Fall 2019

Articles inside

A Bold Vision For Seattle's Golf Future

The Battle of Seattle