Western Washington Best Draining Courses

[FlyFish]

Now that the rainy season is upon us, I'd like to compile a list of all of the Western Washington courses that drain well. I haven't lived in the area long enough to have validated these all by myself, but did get some ideas from research and an earlier thread in this forum.

 

This is what I have so far. Any additions would be appreciated. If there any courses on this list that shouldn't be on this list, please let me know.

• American Legion Memorial
  
• Capitol City
  
• Cedars at Dungeness
  
• Chambers Bay
  
• Eaglemont
  
• Gold Mountain (especially Olympic)
  
• Home Course
  
• Lake Spanaway
  
• Lipoma Firs
  
• Maplewood
  
• Newcastle (Coal Creek & China Creek)
  
• North Bellingham
  
• Redmond Ridge
  
• Tacoma Country Club
  
• Three Rivers Golf Course
  
• Washington National (marginal)
  
• White Horse
  

Does anybody know how well Loomis Trail, Semiahmoo, Port Ludlow and Trophy Lake drain?

[murellus]

Salish Cliffs is a disaster when raining. Or the day after a day of rain.

[tcgc]

Tacoma Country Club drains really well

[FlyFish]

[quote name='murellus' timestamp='1381891594' post='8008473']
Salish Cliffs is a disaster when raining. Or the day after a day of rain.
[/quote]

Is that still the case? I remember reading a story that they re-did their drainage. Shame, because I was thinking about heading out there this weekend.

[greens hit]

Feel free to take Jackson and Classic (sorry Ryan Moore) off your list.

I've played most on that list. My top five are WA Natl, Home Course, Legion, Chambers, and Olympic at GM.

[11under]

The Cascade Course at Gold Mountain drains pretty well for the most part.

[murellus]

[quote name='FlyFish' timestamp='1381902910' post='8008983']
[quote name='murellus' timestamp='1381891594' post='8008473']
Salish Cliffs is a disaster when raining. Or the day after a day of rain.
[/quote]

Is that still the case? I remember reading a story that they re-did their drainage. Shame, because I was thinking about heading out there this weekend.
[/quote]

I played there about a month ago, and with light rain the fairways were already saturated with many areas having standing water, the greens were noticeably soggy but not necessarily unplayable. The rain picked up a bit after 3 holes and it became much worse with standing water everywhere.

[RainShadow]

Dungeness and Legion Memorial are the driest I've played here during the 7+ years I've been here. Chambers and home course do pretty well also, but the crappy greens and high fees at Chambers negate any benefit of being dry.

[dave willie]

I'd say that McCormick Woods and Loomis Trail are marginal winter courses and have quite a few soft spots.

I haven't played all the courses that you mentioned in the winter, but I definitely agree that Capital City, Gold Mountain Olympic, Home Course and Chambers are great draining courses. Washington National is playable in the winter but I wouldn't put it the "dry" category -- it can get pretty soft. Lake Spanaway is generally a good winter course but their greens have some significant problems right now. I hope they correct it soon because it's a great course for the money, possibly the best deal around.

[TheMackDaddy]

McCormick woods SUCKS in the winter. The fairways become swamps and the greens roll at a 4.
Chambers Bay is the Best I have found, and then Gold Mountain is fantastic as well, besides two hole that I can think of out of the 36.

[myspinonit]

Are Avalon and Kayak no goes? Thinking ahead that we could be down that way early Spring.

[mukster]

They put down a TON of sand onto North Bellingham several years ago. It drains pretty darn well through the winter. Biggest problem I have had there in the winter is that while the fairways are great, the bunkers will look like swimming pools.

[nowitski41]

+1 Legion Memorial

[TheGeekGolfer]

You said 'Western Washington' (even though most of these are in Seattle, Tacoma area), so I'm going to throw in what is probably the best draining course in the state...[url="http://www.threeriversgolfcourse.com/index.php"]Three Rivers Golf Course[/url] in Kelso, WA. It is my understanding that it was built after Mt. St. Helen's erupted, with a base of sand and silt that was deposited from the eruption.

It's not the most exciting layout, but it plays well throughout the year.

From their website...
[quote][b][size=3][color=#666666]Built on a base of silt and sand, the course drains well in wet weather and golfers commute here from up and down the I-5 corridor when other courses are too soggy to play.[/color][/size][/b][/quote]

[FlyFish]

[quote name='mukster' timestamp='1383273850' post='8086816']
They put down a TON of sand onto North Bellingham several years ago. It drains pretty darn well through the winter. Biggest problem I have had there in the winter is that while the fairways are great, the bunkers will look like swimming pools.
[/quote]

This reflects my experience as well. North Bellingham is one of my favorite courses in Whatcom County. I like courses that don't have houses and I can unleash the driver with impunity.

[dan360]

Yes. Three Rivers is by far the best draining on the west side.


[quote name='TheGeekGolfer' timestamp='1383343848' post='8089992']
You said 'Western Washington' (even though most of these are in Seattle, Tacoma area), so I'm going to throw in what is probably the best draining course in the state...[url="http://www.threeriversgolfcourse.com/index.php"]Three Rivers Golf Course[/url] in Kelso, WA. It is my understanding that it was built after Mt. St. Helen's erupted, with a base of sand and silt that was deposited from the eruption.

It's not the most exciting layout, but it plays well throughout the year.

From their website...
[quote][b][size=3][color=#666666]Built on a base of silt and sand, the course drains well in wet weather and golfers commute here from up and down the I-5 corridor when other courses are too soggy to play.[/color][/size][/b][/quote]
[/quote]

[evanm]

Maplewood is surprisingly good for it's location in the valley. Good deals and holes that allow you to tee off with a variety of clubs make it a pretty good off season course.

[DJFRY5]

Three Rivers is probably the best draining of any. The course isn't very good though IMO, which makes it less appealing despite being dry.

[DJFRY5]

Also, Royal Oaks CC (Private course in Vancouver) drains extremely well. If you can get on it's definitely worth playing.

[mojocracker]

Thanks for this post. Nice to here Legion is high on everyone's list for good drainage. Not sure about Kayak but Avalon is an absolute no-go in the fall/winter as the fairways drain terribly. It is suck-your-shoes-off wet in those fairways at Avalon.

[bradski]

the two obvious best are the home course and chambers. simply due to the fact that they are built on gravel.

Glendale country club in Bellevue has awesome french drains throughout much of the course and I was impressed when I played there.

[dave willie]

I'll add that Oakbrook in Lakewood is also a great draining course, I played it right around December 1st and it was pretty firm throughout, with superfast greens for this time of year. RMG has done a great job with the course. Taking out a bunch of trees has signicantly improved the course conditions. I also played Lake Spanaway recently and it was quite playable, although the greens were slow.