Lake Wilderness Golf Course

Lake Wilderness GC is located in Maple Valley, WA. It is a short 18-hole municipal course, managed by Premier Golf. The staff is very friendly. The course has a multitude of trees, forcing you to be straight off the tee, or get creative with your second shots. At 5,400 yards from the back tees you won't hit driver too often. Some local knowledge is helpful as there are a few blind shots and getting from green to tee can be a bit tricky the first time. The course is in decent shape and the greens are fair.

On a scale of 1-5... (1-not good; 5-nothing better)
Course conditions: 3
Clubhouse: 2
Range/practice area: 1 (putting green only)
Cost: $25 for 18 holes on a Friday afternoon
Overall: 2

Jade Greens

Jade Greens is a small (par 34) 9-hole course east of Auburn. We played yesterday following a fair amount of rain. The course was soggy but playable. Being short, you can leave driver in the bag, I may have hit it 4 times. Jade is a great place for beginners to learn. The pace of play is somewhat slow and if you aren't in jeans you are overdressed. It is a course that requires specific shots if you want to score well. Lots of water and trees to cause much grief. The practice facility has an above average driving range and two putting/chipping greens. The food in the restaurant is above average and a reasonable price. Don't come looking for anything fancy, a burger and a beer and you are set. Jeff Rominger is the teaching pro, great guy. Bethany's game has really improved since she started taking lessons from Jeff. If your child wants to play, get the annual junior pass, a great deal.

On a scale of 1-5... (1-not good; 5-nothing better)
Course conditions: 2+
Clubhouse: 2
Range/practice area: 3 (needs a decent practice bunker)
Cost: $16 for 9-holes on a holiday.
Overall: 3 you get what you pay for, and for the price, a good value.

The Coeur d'Alene Resort Golf Course

Okay, I know Coeur d'Alene is in Idaho, not Washington, but it is such a famous course, it deserves comment. (It's my blog and I'll comment if I want to...)


The Coeur d'Alene Resort Golf Course is in wonderful shape. The service is fantastic. A boat ride from the hotel to the course, a very friendly staff and an easy course, what could be better? How about not making a 6 on the par-3 floating green (#14)! I played most of the other holes much better. Check out their website, the pictures are great! This course is worth playing once, especially if someone else is paying! Now that I've checked it off my list of courses to play, I won't hurry back.

On a scale of 1-5... (1-not good; 5-nothing better)
Course conditions: 4+
Clubhouse: 4
Range/practice area: 5 (floating balls that you hit into the lake and a pre-round seated massage!)
Cost: $200 for resorts guests, $250 if not staying at the resort.
Overall: 3, I just can't get past the price for a course with a slope of ~115 from the blue tees.

Apple Tree Resort

On our family vacation , we left a day early so we could stop in Yakima and play Apple Tree Resort. Apple Tree is an above average course. They call it a resort, but you won't find a hotel on the property. According to their website, you can rent houses on the course. We only stayed in town one night, the folks at the Best Western were very nice.

The greens were consistant and quick. The course is fair, but not easy if you happen to be spraying the ball around.

This was the first of three golf outings where I got Bethany up early (6am) to play. We've determined that this strategy is not wise. She played a few holes, but was mostly sleep walking.

I'd like to go back and play this one again, there is definitely some local knowledge required to score well. (Over and above keeping the ball in the fairway.) There are a couple holes that they forced to fit the course that could/should be redone (#2 and #16 come to mind). Final comment, on an early morning round in the summer, be prepared to deal with sprinklers all over the course.

On a scale of 1-5... (1-not good; 5-nothing better)
Course conditions: 4
Clubhouse: 3, nice pro shop, didn't see the restaurant.
Range/practice area: range closed Mondays for maintenance, nice putting green.
Cost: ~$50 adult/18-holes
Overall: 4

Sumner Meadows

After work yesterday we went and played Sumner Meadows, front-9. Their super-twilight rate of $12 and kids play free is quite a deal. Unfortunately, you get what you pay for. With the rain we've had the past few days, the fairways were soggy but playable. The greens were terrible, clearly in the worst shape of any we've encountered this year. For $12, should you expect more? Their clubhouse is being renovated due to damage from flooding this past winter. The staff was very friendly and the practice facility is above average.

On a scale of 1-5... (1-not good; 5-nothing better)
Course conditions: 1
Clubhouse: pass
Range/practice area: 3+
Cost: $12 adult/after 5pm, kids free
Overall: 2

Tumwater Valley Golf Club

Sunday afternoon we played the front nine at Tumwater Valley. Bethany played the best I've seen her play. It is a nice track, not too far off I-5. It has a river running through the course that comes into play on many holes. The clubhouse was recently remodeled and is very nice. The practice facility is the best I've seen at a muni. Junior green fees $1 w/ paying adult.

On a scale of 1-5... (1-not good; 5-nothing better)
Course conditions: 2
Clubhouse: 3
Range/practice area: 4
Cost: $32 adult/18-holes
Overall: 3

The Links at Olson Mansion

The Links at Olson Mansion is a short links-style course just off Hwy 18 in Maple Valley. A short course with few opportunities to hit driver. My favorite part of the facility is their kids birthday party program which can include golf, mini-golf, driving range, swimming and fishing. Price was quite reasonable, especially since a junior plays free with a paying adult (mid-week only). This is a 9-hole course which wasn't busy at all on a sunny Monday after work. If you aren't hitting the ball straight, it will drive you nuts. This course isn't a vacation destination, but is worth trying out at least once.

On a scale of 1-5... (1-not good; 5-nothing better)
Course conditions: 2
Clubhouse: 2
Range/practice area: 3
Cost: $18 adult/9-holes
Overall: 2+

Orcas Island

We spent Memorial Day weekend on Orcas Island, thus we had to play the Orcas Island Golf Club. While the island is a great place to relax and enjoy nature, I wouldn't put this 9-hole course on your must play list. Granted my game that day was about as bad as it has been in a few years...

On a scale of 1-5... (1-not good; 5-nothing better)
Course conditions: 2
Clubhouse: 1
Range/practice area: 2 (at least it has one...)
Cost: $22 adult/9-holes
Overall: 2

Getting caught up in 2009

Since we started this blog in May 2009, we need to add a few rounds to our list to get caught up.
In mid-May we played the back nine at Riverbend (Kent, WA). There is water on 4 holes. That day there was a brutal wind (~20 mph) that neither of us expected or cared for. The course is in good shape and we hope to get onto the newly renovated front 9 later this summer.

Earlier this year Bethany made her first birdie on #6 at TPC Snoqualmie Ridge (Snoqualmie, WA). TPCSR is a fabulous course, a Jack Nicklaus design, cut into the Cascade mountains east of Seattle.

We also played Auburn Golf Course (Auburn, WA). This was her first complete 18-hole round. She had a par on the long par-3 #4.