Washington State Golf Course Reports

[dave willie]

I played Wine Valley in the WSGA Senior Team the last three days. It was in super shape, playing hard and fast. It was great fun, but what a bear of a course! Mistakes will cost you on that track.

[R4haehl]

Saturday 5/26 - 36 holes

- AM round -Played Salish Cliffs for the first time and had an absolute blast. Really fun design, awesome conditions. I am definitely going to try and play there again this year. Maybe do the Stay and Play package.

- PM round - Played Trophy Lake for the first time as well. Solid course, but after playing Salish a few hours earlier it was a step down. Familiar Oki course conditions. I'll play it again some time but if I am in Port Orchard/Bremerton area I will go to Gold Mountain Olympic.

 

Monday 5/28

- The Home Course - I love this course. The course was in great shape and greens were rolling very pure. As always, highly recommend and I will be back this summer.

[leejohnkieh]

Played Aldarra yesterday and was it a humbling experience lol. Maybe it was just me having a bad day. The course is definitely a tough track, thick rough, bentgrass greens, super tough pin positions, lots of elevation changes, and some tight driving holes. Still taking Tacoma over this place. Next stop, Sahalee.

[R4haehl]

Played Aldarra yesterday and was it a humbling experience lol. Maybe it was just me having a bad day. The course is definitely a tough track, thick rough, bentgrass greens, super tough pin positions, lots of elevation changes, and some tight driving holes. Still taking Tacoma over this place. Next stop, Sahalee.

Aldarra is a blast and conditions are incredible. One of my buddies joined last year so I have been out there a number of times over the last year and most recently last Tuesday. The first time I played there last year it kicked my a**, but have scored well there since. Their greens are so quick and they can put the pins in some nasty positions. I have a blast out there every time.

 

Still working on getting on Sahalee myself. Will you play all 27 holes? - have fun and report back!

[leejohnkieh]

Played Aldarra yesterday and was it a humbling experience lol. Maybe it was just me having a bad day. The course is definitely a tough track, thick rough, bentgrass greens, super tough pin positions, lots of elevation changes, and some tight driving holes. Still taking Tacoma over this place. Next stop, Sahalee.

Aldarra is a blast and conditions are incredible. One of my buddies joined last year so I have been out there a number of times over the last year and most recently last Tuesday. The first time I played there last year it kicked my a**, but have scored well there since. Their greens are so quick and they can put the pins in some nasty positions. I have a blast out there every time.

 

Still working on getting on Sahalee myself. Will you play all 27 holes? - have fun and report back!

 

Tacoma's green are still faster right now lol but Aldarra's bentgrass rolls so differently from the poa at Tacoma. My friend said you have to play it a couple times before you score well.

 

I will play as much Sahalee as I can lol. Probably will get out there sometime next month after all these tournaments this month.

[BirdieRoll]

Just checking in to see if there's any rumor about a second course at Gamble Sands...

[FourUnder]

Just checking in to see if there's any rumor about a second course at Gamble Sands...

 

Yes. Was at Gamble last month and talked to some people about it. Sounded like 2021 but nothing I heard was confirmed.

[CMCSGolf]

When I was at Gamble last year they were talking about it then. Supposedly it's going to be to the east of the current course further up the hill. There is not shortage of land, that's for sure. To truly make it a destination for a guys weekend, I think they need a second course for variety. With the new hotel, it seems like a logical next step.

[leejohnkieh]

Good luck to me today. Playing a practice round at Riverbend at 3pm. Hope I don't die from the heat.

[Stevo85]

Just went out and played Cedars at Dungeness and Port Ludlow over the weekend. First time for both courses.

 

Absolutely loved Port Ludlow. Beautiful track in great condition with a great vibe, although admittedly I'm a big fan of Muir Graves designs. Top 10 public courses in WA for me.

 

Cedars was in really bad shape. The greens/fringes were really hurting, looks like something abnormal was going on. Anyone have any details or backstory? Would like to know if I should always avoid or give it another chance in the future. The track itself was okay. Some interesting holes but a lot of back and forth. Next time I go North Peninsula, I'm sticking with White Horse and Port Ludlow.

[Cash24]

Playing Gamble Sands in about a month, how is it?

[R4haehl]

Went down to Salish Cliffs this morning. Such a fun course w/ great conditions all around and the greens were PURE. We were off early, so there were a few places still wet/soft from sprinklers, morning dew, etc... Didn't affect play at all.

[jamie]

Playing Gamble Sands in about a month, how is it?

I’m playing 36 in a week so I’ll post back here.

[Stevo85]

Got the last minute green light Sat night to play Sun morning. Nile Shrine was the only thing available. Conditions were pretty good, greens were in good shape and ran true albeit a bit slow. Fairways were fine, not many dry patches. For what it is, Nile is a fun little track and a good value for a last minute tee time. Shot a 76 (the course is par 67), left a lot of opportunities on the table. Need to use iron off the tee as there is lots of OB especially on the front 9.

[R4haehl]

Played White Horse Saturday 10/6 @ 7:30a. Course was in great condition overall and greens seemed to be fully healed after aerating about 10-14 days earlier. $35 walking rate is hard to beat but the 6:10a ferry is brutal!!

 

Onward to fall/winter golf in the PNW and finding the courses that stay dry enough to play and enjoy.

[bird206]

Played Maplewood last Saturday 10/13 and the greens have healed back from their end of August Aerations. Fairways were in good condition and dry. Pricing is still in their Summer rates and will move to Fall rates next month.

[jamie]

Played Maplewood last Saturday 10/13 and the greens have healed back from their end of August Aerations. Fairways were in good condition and dry. Pricing is still in their Summer rates and will move to Fall rates next month.

Maplewood is in great great shape!! Crazy that a course in the valley can be in such great shape!

[bird206]

Played Maplewood last Saturday 10/13 and the greens have healed back from their end of August Aerations. Fairways were in good condition and dry. Pricing is still in their Summer rates and will move to Fall rates next month.

Maplewood is in great great shape!! Crazy that a course in the valley can be in such great shape!

I think they've consistently sanded and aerated the fairways which makes winter play a bit better that the other area munis.

[bird206]

Played Jackson park today 10/20 and the greens have healed up from aeration. Greens weren't perfect but playable and consistent. Fairways were in typical conditions for the course at this time of the year and some tee boxes were bare. They did a good job clearing some of the over grown bushes and tree branches. Overall, not bad for city of seattle municipal course. I would play again before the fairways get too soggy.

[bird206]

Played West Seattle yesterday 10/21. Greens have just about healed up from last month's aeration. Fairways were still hard and bare spots existed on some. Usual type of conditions for this course during this time of the year. Will try and play there again before fairways get too soggy.

[SuperPapaBear]

I played Eaglemont yesterday. The course was in fantastic shape and would highly recommend playing it before the weather turns. The fog socked us in for the first three holes but after that it was smooth sailing.

[bird206]

Played Auburn golf course yesterday and course conditions were good. Fairways and tee boxes were lush and green. Greens were healed up from last month's aeration and were rolling consistently smooth. I will try to keep playing there until course gets too soggy from seasonal rain.

[Jakerepp]

How were the fairways? I played there on 10/13 and was disappointed with their condition.

 

EDIT: Dangit, this was supposed to be a response about Eaglemont to SuperPapaBear. It looked like they had just recently punched there so everything was a mess.

[bird206]

Washington National was playing in good Fall conditions today. Greens have healed from aeration earlier this month and were rolling consistent. They posted the greens were running at 9 on the stimp. Tee boxes were fine but fairways didn't give much to additional roll. I think if rains continue heavily soon, the fairways will start getting soggy and more plugged balls before other course around the area that I've played. I may play there again before year end depending on weather conditions. They have an October special of $45 dollars with cart and $25 for a replay. Not bad.

[SuperPapaBear]

How were the fairways? I played there on 10/13 and was disappointed with their condition.

 

EDIT: Dangit, this was supposed to be a response about Eaglemont to SuperPapaBear. It looked like they had just recently punched there so everything was a mess.

 

Overall I thought the fairways were in good shape. I also played there on 10/7 and would agree that it looked they are starting some winter maintenance.

[bird206]

Played Jefferson yesterday and greens have recovered from aeration. Fairways were not soggy but a little bit bare with clayish mud although still playable.

 

Course had been usually the driest of the 3 Seattle munis during winter. We'll see if it holds true for this winter.

 

 

[R4haehl]

We played Willows Run Coyote Creek Sunday morning 11/4. Course played as expected... Damp, soggy in places and only going to get worse since we have reached that point in the year. It rained pretty hard the night before so it didn't appear that they were able to mow anything but was a beautiful day to play as we were in the sun all round, despite some wind. The greens had not yet fully healed from aerating, and I am not sure when they punched.

[bird206]

We played Willows Run Coyote Creek Sunday morning 11/4. Course played as expected... Damp, soggy in places and only going to get worse since we have reached that point in the year. It rained pretty hard the night before so it didn't appear that they were able to mow anything but was a beautiful day to play as we were in the sun all round, despite some wind. The greens had not yet fully healed from aerating, and I am not sure when they punched.

 

Thanks for the review. Playing Willows Run Eagles Talon this weekend and hoping the dry spell the next couple of days will dry the course out a little bit. They aerated the courses the second week of October so probably one more week before the greens get back to ideal conditions.

[kaschreiber]

Played Jefferson yesterday and greens have recovered from aeration. Fairways were not soggy but a little bit bare with clayish mud although still playable.

 

Course had been usually the driest of the 3 Seattle munis during winter. We'll see if it holds true for this winter.

 

It's a bit of a hike depending on where you're coming from and not a Seattle muni, but I'd suggest checking out Mt Si up in Snoqualmie. I can't believe how dry it stays in the winter and what a reasonable rate it is. That's become our go to come rainy season

[bird206]

Played Willows Run Eagles Talon yesterday and greens have just a slight tad of bumps leftover from last month's aeration. I don't think it was a major distraction because surface still felt mostly smooth to me.

 

Fairways weren't bad but are starting to show the usual softness for this time is the year. No plugged balls yet. The rough was a little long though and provided some challenge to get out of.

 

Some bunkers had standing water in them. I never landed in one so I can't report on the conditions of the sand. Probably very wet and compact.

 

Tee boxes were in ok shape except the usual par3s which have many divots.

 

I'll continue to play here through the winter since they cover thir greens and not have to worry about frost delays. Unfortunately, I'm assuming the fairways will eventually get super soggy.