Yesterday we spent my birthday at The Home Course in DuPont, WA. The Home Course was the assisting course for teh 2010 US Amateur.
The Home Course has great potential. The practice area is worthy of a top notch facility, but they haven't built a clubhouse, yet. The golf shop is in a trailer next the to snack shack trailer next to the restroom trailer...Hopefully they'll be able to raise th capital needed to build the infrastructure to match the great golf course.
The day started off clear and cold. Then came the wind and rain...
I was surprised that they let us drive carts on the fairways. The course has had as much water as it could take and casual water was becoming commonplace.
The course was in great shape for mid-November. The main defenses for the couse are wind and the greens. If they speed the greens up, 3-4 putts could be the norm. It appears the greens are bent grass, we'll see if they survive in this climate, most have not. Some local knowledge is required to play the course well.
Pace of play was a little slow on the front nine. Enough people quit when the weather turned; we didn't see anybody on the back side.
The course was marked reasonably well. The bunkers are a bit strange. Some look like they are from Scotland with vertical faces while others look like my back lawn with patches of grass in random places on the faces of the bunkers.
The prices are very fair for a championship quality course. If you have a GHIN card, make sure you show it to get your discount.
On a scale of 1-5... (1-not good; 5-nothing better)
Course conditions: 4
Clubhouse: 1
Range/practice area: 4
Cost: $36/$17 Adult/Junior Holiday w/ GHIN card
Overall: 3+ almost as good a value as Gold Mountain, needs a clubhouse.
Friday, November 12, 2010
Monday, October 11, 2010
Gold Mountain - Cascade Course
Yesterday we chose to drive to Bremerton, WA to play the Cascade Course at Gold Mountain. The Olympic Course at Gold Mountain gets all the press. It has hosted the US Pub Links, numerous NCAA events and will host the 2011 US Junior Amateur. We wanted to play the Cascade Course as it is hosting the SPSL Tournament later this week.
Gold Mountain is a first class facility. A great driving range, multiple putting greens, chippings areas, practice bunkers, etc. The golf shop staff was very helpful and courteous.
I had heard that the Cascade Course was an easy walk. Their website says "It's very walkable with minimal elevation changes." Liars!!! I have walked more difficult courses, but this was by no means easy (no comments on my fitness level...) The course was fair, the greens were in acceptable shape (they had been punched 2-3 weeks ago.) There were a couple holes where local knowledge would have been helpful. On a rainy Sunday afternoon, there wasn't any beverage cart service, but that is understandable.
Pace of play was up to us, we played 18 in just over 4-hours.
I didn't care for the type of sand in the bunkers (so don't hit it there:)) and I thought the course could have been marked with better yardage information. It has center fairway markers at 25-yard increments, but how often was I in the middle of the fairway, not too often...
Did I mention to price? How about $22 for weekend twilight. Junior twilight was only $12, By far the best course I've ever played for $22.
On a scale of 1-5... (1-not good; 5-nothing better)
Course conditions: 3+
Clubhouse: 4
Range/practice area: 4+
Cost: $22/$12 Adult/Junior twilight
Overall: 4 the best golf value I've seen so far, worth the drive from anywhere in Western Washington.
Gold Mountain is a first class facility. A great driving range, multiple putting greens, chippings areas, practice bunkers, etc. The golf shop staff was very helpful and courteous.
I had heard that the Cascade Course was an easy walk. Their website says "It's very walkable with minimal elevation changes." Liars!!! I have walked more difficult courses, but this was by no means easy (no comments on my fitness level...) The course was fair, the greens were in acceptable shape (they had been punched 2-3 weeks ago.) There were a couple holes where local knowledge would have been helpful. On a rainy Sunday afternoon, there wasn't any beverage cart service, but that is understandable.
Pace of play was up to us, we played 18 in just over 4-hours.
I didn't care for the type of sand in the bunkers (so don't hit it there:)) and I thought the course could have been marked with better yardage information. It has center fairway markers at 25-yard increments, but how often was I in the middle of the fairway, not too often...
Did I mention to price? How about $22 for weekend twilight. Junior twilight was only $12, By far the best course I've ever played for $22.
On a scale of 1-5... (1-not good; 5-nothing better)
Course conditions: 3+
Clubhouse: 4
Range/practice area: 4+
Cost: $22/$12 Adult/Junior twilight
Overall: 4 the best golf value I've seen so far, worth the drive from anywhere in Western Washington.
Monday, October 4, 2010
High Cedars Golf Club
Yesterday we drove to Orting, WA to visit High Cedars Golf Club. Bethany has a match there this week and she hadn't seen the course before. No problem getting a tee time at 1pm on a cloudy Sunday. I almost walked out when I was told the rate was $43 per person, walking, no junior rate on weekends; however, for the sake of Bethany's experience in the upcoming match, I paid.
We went out after a nice lunch and Bethany commented on how flat the course is. This course is an easy walk. My biggest gripe is with the fairways. There is no fairway/rough designation, the fairways are all rough. It appears the course superintendent doesn't pride himself in a well groomed course. Since they haven't mowed the fairways, the leaves from the numerous trees are all over, causing many a lost ball after a reasonable tee shot.
The group ahead of us took the morning Seahawk loss personally and drowned their sorrows in mass quantities of beer or other spirits. I don't typically carry my 9mm in my golf bag, but I wish I had it yesterday.
On a positive note, the greens were in good condition, except for the numerous divot marks.
Overall, High Cedars is a destination course, in the future I won't drive to Orting unless I wanted a lesson from Tad Davis, PGA Professional (great guy!) For half the money you can play Sumner Meadows or for the same money play Auburn, Riverbend, or Druids Glenn! I went home disappointed in the course, even after shooting better than my handicap.
On a scale of 1-5... (1-not good; 5-nothing better)
Course conditions: 1+
Clubhouse: 3
Range/practice area: 4 (it very good, especially lessons with Tad)
Cost: $43 per person, no junior rate on weekends
Overall: 1+ (too expensive and poorly maintained)
We went out after a nice lunch and Bethany commented on how flat the course is. This course is an easy walk. My biggest gripe is with the fairways. There is no fairway/rough designation, the fairways are all rough. It appears the course superintendent doesn't pride himself in a well groomed course. Since they haven't mowed the fairways, the leaves from the numerous trees are all over, causing many a lost ball after a reasonable tee shot.
The group ahead of us took the morning Seahawk loss personally and drowned their sorrows in mass quantities of beer or other spirits. I don't typically carry my 9mm in my golf bag, but I wish I had it yesterday.
On a positive note, the greens were in good condition, except for the numerous divot marks.
Overall, High Cedars is a destination course, in the future I won't drive to Orting unless I wanted a lesson from Tad Davis, PGA Professional (great guy!) For half the money you can play Sumner Meadows or for the same money play Auburn, Riverbend, or Druids Glenn! I went home disappointed in the course, even after shooting better than my handicap.
On a scale of 1-5... (1-not good; 5-nothing better)
Course conditions: 1+
Clubhouse: 3
Range/practice area: 4 (it very good, especially lessons with Tad)
Cost: $43 per person, no junior rate on weekends
Overall: 1+ (too expensive and poorly maintained)
Mount Si Golf Course & Driving Range
Sunday August 29 we watched the Champions Tour at TPC Snoqualmie Ridge then wandered down the hill to the Mount Si Golf Course. I played there 15+ years ago and it is greatly improved. The facility now has a par-3 course and nice practice facility. The course was in good shape but the pace of play was a bit slow. We chose to walk off after 12-holes as we couldn't tell how far forward the backup went. The course is fair, but there are a couple of holes where some local knowledge is required. It isn't the most difficult course in the region, but it is fun.
On a scale of 1-5... (1-not good; 5-nothing better)
Course conditions: 2+ (pace of play kept it from being a 3)
Clubhouse: 1 (restroom in poor shape, better than a Honey Bucket...)
Range/practice area: 3
Cost: posted on website ($22/pp twilight)
Overall: 2+
On a scale of 1-5... (1-not good; 5-nothing better)
Course conditions: 2+ (pace of play kept it from being a 3)
Clubhouse: 1 (restroom in poor shape, better than a Honey Bucket...)
Range/practice area: 3
Cost: posted on website ($22/pp twilight)
Overall: 2+
Friday, April 30, 2010
Enumclaw Golf Course
Monday evening we played the back nine at Enumclaw. (An unofficial extension of the Young Life Golf Marathon) It has a river running through the course that comes into play on many holes. We had the course to ourselves and the wildlife and river made for a fantastic setting. We had fun and will go back and play the entire course soon.
On a scale of 1-5... (1-not good; 5-nothing better)
Course conditions: 2
Clubhouse: 2
Range/practice area: 1
Cost: not sure
Overall: 3
On a scale of 1-5... (1-not good; 5-nothing better)
Course conditions: 2
Clubhouse: 2
Range/practice area: 1
Cost: not sure
Overall: 3
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