Seattle Country Club Suggestions

[ew44]

.

[wkuo3]

Pure golf
http://www.aldarragolfclub.com/
other
http://www.sahalee.com/
http://www.plateauclub.com/#

Seriously, unless you are looking for social connection or live within the gated community, why would you want to join a country club with all the variety you could have ?
If you just want golf, you can still play private clubs by join some membership to do the pay per play for most of the private courses around here. If you want social function, I would suggest to find a dwelling very close to the golf course as our traffic pattern is getting worse every year, a 30 minutes ride could take twice of that in traffic jams.
I know you said membership fee is not a concern, however, in recent years so many retired golfers quite the private membership because of the rising dues and special assessment.
With golf courses like Chambers Bay, The Home Course, and a page full of golf courses you could play around here who needs to pay dues to play the same layout ? So if you want the social function, best to get to know the amenity and get to now some of the members of a potential candidate to find the one "you" like to be.

[ew44]

[quote name='wkuo3' timestamp='1425710597' post='11095225']
Pure golf
[url="http://www.aldarragolfclub.com/"]http://www.aldarragolfclub.com/[/url]
other
[url="http://www.sahalee.com/"]http://www.sahalee.com/[/url]
[url="http://www.plateauclub.com/#"]http://www.plateauclub.com/#[/url]

Seriously, unless you are looking for social connection or live within the gated community, why would you want to join a country club with all the variety you could have ?
If you just want golf, you can still play private clubs by join some membership to do the pay per play for most of the private courses around here. If you want social function, I would suggest to find a dwelling very close to the golf course as our traffic pattern is getting worse every year, a 30 minutes ride could take twice of that in traffic jams.
I know you said membership fee is not a concern, however, in recent years so many retired golfers quite the private membership because of the rising dues and special assessment.
With golf courses like Chambers Bay, The Home Course, and a page full of golf courses you could play around here who needs to pay dues to play the same layout ? So if you want the social function, best to get to know the amenity and get to now some of the members of a potential candidate to find the one "you" like to be.
[/quote]

Thanks, you make some good points. I'll add that I would rather spend time with the same group of guys each weekend rather than travel around (especially given that I'll be new to the area). C.C. tournaments and invitationals are always fun, I feel like I wouldn't get the same satisfaction out of traveling around each weekend even though the courses are top notch and likely cheaper per round.

[bpark1210]

From what I hear aldarra is the purist Golf CC. No family plans for tennis and swim there, just pure golf. The only issue is it is a ways out east of Seattle. With tolling on the 520 bridge I'd take it off your list unless you plan to live in the 'Eastside'.

The elites in the DT Seattle area are going to be Seattle Golf Club and Broadmoor Golf Club. Seattle is prob the hardest to get into as it is an equity membership w/ members that get voted in. You would be in the ranks of some of Seattle's finest businessmen from the Nordstrom's to B. Gates etc. I've heard from friends who've worked there and played pro-am's there that the condition are unreal. Think of Augusta Nat'l type of grooming and maintenance.

Broadmoar is also ultra exclusive and full of affluent members. It's more of a gated community type of club and w/ a short but challenging track.

Mill Creek CC was a fun club I used to play at w/ a buddy who got a asst pro gig there. There were quite a few young professionals there. But sorry to dissapoint I heard that they were on the brink of bankruptcy due to paying out equity members. Time will tell what happens there. Nice tight tree lined track, good maintenance.

Tacoma is the oldest club in the state but is a hell of a drive from Seattle. I've only heard good things.

Had a couple friends at Ranier CC and it's economically priced but okay in terms of challenge. Lot's of members there.

Other than that, I'm w/ wkuo3 that there is a bunch of variety int he PNW to play muni courses that have great conditions and fair prices. Once you start making trips into the Olympic Penninsula (either by driving or ferry - One of the coolest things about living in Seattle) you get to experience a wide variety of diff golf courses.

There are a lot of public courses that offer year round memberships as well. Gold Mountain (excellent conditions year round), White Horse (Dye design and public!), Trophy Lake Golf and Casting, Suncadia etc.

Hope that helps.


Ben

*edit for spelling Gold Mtn. not Golf Mtn.

[ew44]

.

[ryu123]

I've only played Sahalee (north / south ) and Aldarra among the Seattle privates. I prefer Aldarra, because it offered more than just fast greens.

It had elevation changes and a more interesting mix of holes. Have no idea how far Fall City is from downtown, but would go back again. I've been invited back to Sahalee, but just not interested.

[chrndwg]

I'm currently a junior member at Sahalee and I love the course and the other members there. I think one of the best features of Sahalee is the 27 holes - while it may not seem like much, having the additional 9 holes for variety helps a lot (basically plays as 3 courses so you're rarely playing the same setup back to back days). The conditions are fantastic and they're putting a lot of work into the course to make sure it continues to improve.

I was a member at Mill Creek prior and I enjoyed that course as well. Same designer, just a little less land to work with, so it plays short (tips out at like 6600 I think), and has a couple of holes that I personally think played a bit unfair (I'm all for hard - just not unfair hard).

Those two aside, I've also played at Tacoma and TPC Snoqualmie. Tacoma was one of the best courses I've played, and I always say if I lived on the south side it would definitely be top of the list to join, but it's just too far. TPC Snoqualimie is a good Nicklaus design - just pretty far out there, and they have a shorter season because of the extra rain / snow in the mountains.

I haven't played Aldarra, but I've heard nothing but good things.

Hope that helps guide you a bit - of course I'd personally recommend Sahalee, but there are a few really good options in the area, so no matter your decision you should be able to find something that fits the bill.

[cliff1675]

If you have a family and want everyone to benefit, then Sand Point is your club. Great swimming and tennis programs. Awesome junior golf program. Course is short but challenging. Location is very convenient to downtown.

[3sip]

Sorry don't mean to hijack thread.

I'm going to be in west Seattle first week of April. Any suggestions on where to play? Going to take little brother out who shoots in the 90s. Would like to play a nice course under $100. That's memorable.
Thanks

[GoHuskies15]

I am a member at Aldarra and love it out there. There are a lot of good players and folks are on average pretty friendly and open to including new folks in their groups. With that said, this is Seattle, and people are generally reclusive in nature. My advice would be to talk to the folks at Aldarra about what it's like to be a member. The best part about it, is that it's all about golf. There is nothing else and there are basically no dates where you won't full access to just show up and tee off. The other best part is that I absolutely love the course. It's a top 3 course in the State in terms of layout and the conditions are very good year round, which is hard to find in Washington. Good luck.

[chrndwg]

[quote name='3sip' timestamp='1426635156' post='11162849']
Sorry don't mean to hijack thread.

I'm going to be in west Seattle first week of April. Any suggestions on where to play? Going to take little brother out who shoots in the 90s. Would like to play a nice course under $100. That's memorable.
Thanks
[/quote]

Not sure if this is too late, but if you're in Seattle and want to play a good course that's a good rate then West Seattle is the best muni around imo. Pretty good rates and I think the layout rivals some of the private courses around the area (conditions are nothing to write home about, but pretty solid as far as munis are concerned).

[jshel]

To the people who wonder why someone would want to join a club when there are good public offerings, here's my take:

I have been a member at several clubs when I have lived in different places. While there are exceptions to this, private clubs very often have better playing conditions and better pace of play.

Having been new to a town more than once, I have appreciated becoming part of a club where people have a similar interest in golf as I do. I also like the ability to play nine holes after work at the spur of the moment and I like club events.

While it isn't the most economical thing one can do, it is something I very much enjoy.

To the OP, good luck on the search.

[eugekehan]

I'm currently a junior member at Sahalee and I love the course and the other members there. I think one of the best features of Sahalee is the 27 holes - while it may not seem like much, having the additional 9 holes for variety helps a lot (basically plays as 3 courses so you're rarely playing the same setup back to back days). The conditions are fantastic and they're putting a lot of work into the course to make sure it continues to improve.

 

I was a member at Mill Creek prior and I enjoyed that course as well. Same designer, just a little less land to work with, so it plays short (tips out at like 6600 I think), and has a couple of holes that I personally think played a bit unfair (I'm all for hard - just not unfair hard).

 

Those two aside, I've also played at Tacoma and TPC Snoqualmie. Tacoma was one of the best courses I've played, and I always say if I lived on the south side it would definitely be top of the list to join, but it's just too far. TPC Snoqualimie is a good Nicklaus design - just pretty far out there, and they have a shorter season because of the extra rain / snow in the mountains.

 

I haven't played Aldarra, but I've heard nothing but good things.

 

Hope that helps guide you a bit - of course I'd personally recommend Sahalee, but there are a few really good options in the area, so no matter your decision you should be able to find something that fits the bill.

 

What was the junior exec application process like at Sahalee and how hard is it to be a member if you don't know a member there? Do they require you to have members there promote/advocate for you + letters of recommendation?

[GeorgeR]

I would like to hear some opinions on Meridian Valley Country Club; I live in the Midway area and it would be the easiest commute at just under 10 miles.