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Best Golf Courses in Washington State

Best Golf Courses in Washington

Looking to play the best golf courses in Washington State? GolfReviewsGuide.com picks out the top courses to play in Washington.

The state of Washington is located in the northwest corner of the United States. The coastal regions of this state and Oregon’s coastal region are often referred to as the Pacific Northwest.

It’s an area that experiences a lot of rainfall, however, there are very arid conditions when you get into the interior region of Washington state.

With such diversity in climate, golfers that visit Washington can expect a range of terrain surrounding the best courses. Here’s our take on the five best golf courses in Washington State.

Our top picks for the best golf courses in Washington State are:

1. Gamble Sands

Gamble Sands

A top pick among golfers lucky enough to play it in Washington is the Sands Course at Gamble Sands.

Located near the scenic Columbia River, the Spokane International Airport (GEG) is among the major airports that one might choose if planning a trip to Gamble Sands.

The course designer was David McLay Kidd, a renowned golf course architect. In an area that is arid, he developed fast fairways and used sand that was natural to the area. What resulted is a par-72 golf course with 7,227 total yards on the 18-hole effort.

Located between the small city of Spokane and the metropolis of Seattle, Gamble Sands Golf Course is in a quiet and rural area.

Golf fans looking for an amazing course in the countryside will enjoy their time at Gamble Sands, which is located near the town of Brewster, Washington.

2. Wine Valley Golf Club

Wine Valley Golf Club

A favorite golf course among those lucky enough to play it in Washington state, the Wine Valley Golf Club was designed by a former professional in Dan Hixson.

The course is known for its proximity to the Blue Mountains, a range in the Pacific Northwest that is mainly in Oregon.

Wine Valley Golf Club, in Walla Walla, Washington, is located close to the Oregon border and, in fact, Portland International Airport (PDX) is the nearest major airport.

The 18-hole par-72 venue opened in 2009 and features 7,600 yards. In a sport where the best courses often date back 50 years or even more, Wine Valley Golf Club has earned a strong reputation in a short time.

3. Chambers Bay Golf Club

Chambers Bay Golf Course

With breathtaking views of Puget Sound and the nearby Olympic Mountains, if you are near University Place in the state of Washington (Tacoma area), then a great course is at Chambers Bay Golf Club.

The course, which is links styled, first opened for play in the early summer of 2007. Since then, it has hosted the US Amateur event in 2010 and then the more prestigious US Open in 2015. This tournament crowned American Jordan Spieth as the champion.

Not surprisingly, the impressive course has earned some accolades: for instance, it was noted as Golf Digest’s 24th best American course in 2017/18.

The walking-only course at Chambers Bay Golf Club was designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr., an American golf architect.

Course particulars for this par-72 course include 7,585 yards for the 18 holes. That makes it a long challenge that will put a golfer’s driving ability to the test, however, the weaker drivers can play from closer tees.

If you are visiting the area, then the nearest major airport is the Seattle Tacoma Airport (SEA). Also, there is the Victoria International Airport (YYJ) on Vancouver Island in Canada with a ferry service to Seattle.

4. Salish Cliffs Golf Club

Salish Cliffs Golf Club

The Salish Cliffs Golf Club, a par-72 venue, is located south of Shelton, Washington, and to the northwest of the Washington capital of Olympia.

The course, which features 7,269 yards, is noted as a vacation destination in the Pacific Northwest. It is the main sporting venue serving those staying at the nearby Little Creek Casino Resort.

The course designer was Gene Bates, a noted architect who has provided services for the construction of several golf courses worldwide.

Since Salish Cliffs Golf Course opened in September 2011, the Bates-designed course has earned numerous accolades that seem to be only increasing with time.

As a casino-and-resort kind of course, you should expect more than just golf when you visit this tourist destination in the Pacific Northwest.

5. Port Ludlow Golf Course

Port Ludlow Golf

Opened in 1975, the Port Ludlow Golf Course was designed by Robert Muir Graves, now deceased. This was first conceptualized as an 18-hole venue made up of two 9-hole courses.

The success of the course, which is located in the vicinity of the Olympic National Park in northwest Washington state, enabled developers to add a further nine holes in 1992.

What has resulted is an amazing facility that can be reached by ferry from Seattle. Furthermore, Vancouver Island residents in the Victoria area can ferry to Port Angeles en route to this course, which is near Port Ludlow, Washington.

The par-72 18-hole course has a length of 6,861 yards, combining from the Tide Nine and the Timber Nine. As a destination resort, vacationers to Port Ludlow should expect more than just golf at the resort.