Tacoma area course recommendations

[eclectic taste]

Coming to Tacoma next weekend (Friday 9/18). Playing Chambers Monday & Tuesday, Gold Mountain Sunday (both courses). For Saturday would you guys recommend The Home Course or Salish Cliffs, or something else?  We'd like to play 2 rounds, but would have to start around 10 am, a couple of the guys are flying in Saturday morning.  We're staying in Federal Way, so we have to factor in driving to/from SeaTac.

[Phireside]

Between those two, I'd go for Salish.

[ryu123]

I like Salish Cliffs but considering driving from Federal Way / Sea-Tac I’d play the Home Course.  

 

But if you’re playing 2 rounds on Saturday, why not play both?   (Also check out the Home Course stay & play packages for Dupont hotels.)

[eclectic taste]

13 hours ago, ryu123 said:

I like Salish Cliffs but considering driving from Federal Way / Sea-Tac I’d play the Home Course.  

 

But if you’re playing 2 rounds on Saturday, why not play both?   (Also check out the Home Course stay & play packages for Dupont hotels.)

 

I don't think we'll have time to drive from course to course, given our 10:30 start time, sunset coming at around 7, and knowing my guys won't want to pack up and drive to another course.

[Left Rough]

that is such a good rotation of courses, love Gold Mountain

[MongoSmash]

Play Chambers again! It’s one of my favorites

[Mustu]

I prefer the Home course.  I like walking when I play golf and Salish Cliffs doesn't allow walking.  But, Salish does feel more upscale.

[eclectic taste]

Thanks, guys. I think we'll stick to the original plan, The Home Course Saturday (x2), Gold Mountain Sunday (both courses), Chambers Monday (x2), & Chambers Tuesday (x1), fly home Tuesday evening.  A lot of golf in a short time. Looking forward to it.

[PorkChopExpress]

Tacoma country club is pretty nice if you can get on. 
Otherwise The Home course like you said

Salish is a drive 

[54CW]

On 9/11/2020 at 3:43 PM, MongoSmash said:

Play Chambers again! It’s one of my favorites

@eclectic taste

 

I second this.

 

Would you consider playing Washington National? Another fun course ~30 mins from SeaTac. Although I'm not sure of the current state with fires & smoke. 

[eclectic taste]

Trip report. We arrived Friday afternoon (Sept 18), greeted with tons of rain. Concerned with forecast for the rest of the weekend, and potential conditions at the courses.

 

Day 1, Saturday - The Home Course. Very nice course, excellent condition considering the amount of rain they received the day before. Only managed 1 1/2 rounds due to late start time (10:30). Staff was really friendly and helpful, apologized for not having open clubhouse due to COVID.  My rank: 7/10

 

Day 2 - Gold Mountain, Cascade and Olympic courses. Fabulous courses. Up in the mountains, surrounded by tall pines, very scenic and beautiful layout. Very similar to courses in Lake Tahoe area.  We played Cascade then Olympic, and I think that was the proper order. Front 9 is relatively easy, a good warmup to the back 9, and then Olympic, which is very challenging. We all agreed Olympic was worth playing again and again. Greens were very quick, much faster than the Home Course's, which were slowed due to the heavy rain the day before. Rank: 8/10 (Cascade) and 9/10 (Olympic).

 

Days 3 (2 rounds), & 4 (1 round) - Chambers Bay. What can I say, a fantastic course, great condition. The greens had been punched the week before, but were still in really good shape, but a little slower than normal, according to the player's assistant and a couple people we talked to who had played there many times before.  The layout is spectacular, the elevation changes makes for a tough walk, but seeing the entire course from pretty much every hole was cool. Definitely need to work on your bunker game, those massive sand areas are no joke.  Personally, I wouldn't call it a true links course, but a great facsimile. I've played in Scotland & Bandon, and CB is not quite the same as those.  The lack of any wind might be clouding my judgement, we had absolutely perfect weather, barely any wind. I understand this is a debatable opinion, not looking to start a fight.  Also, need to point out that the staff was exceptionally friendly and helpful, gave our entire group discounts for state residency, and first responder discount as well (1 guy's son lives in Seattle, and 2 guys are in medical field).  Rank: 10/10.

 

Overall, I'd say you guys nailed it on course recommendations, all the locals we talked to recommended these courses as well as a few others like Trophy Club and Salish Cliffs.

[MongoSmash]

Good pics of Chambers. What’s crazy is they still don’t do it justice. I know how big those slopes and bunkers are. ?

[eclectic taste]

13 hours ago, MongoSmash said:

Good pics of Chambers. What’s crazy is they still don’t do it justice. I know how big those slopes and bunkers are. ?

 

I know, right? I've been rewatching the 2015 US Open and even on video you don't get the sensation of elevation change on those hills.  Also, it's incredible to watch the pros hit shots we could only dream about.