North Bellingham: Scottish-style links course is a Northwest award winner

North Bellingham Golf Course has been honored with a four star rating by Golf Digest. Of the 101 18-hole championship public courses in Washington State, only 19 have earned this distinction.

Course designer Ted Locke wanted to build a real Scottish-style links course on the property and wanted to preserve the openness of the site, with its subtle undulations that he thought fit the topography of the land perfectly. Many of the greens allow for running approach shots, something you won’t find on too many courses today. The prevailing winds are an integral part of the course and have become part of the signature of the course. Free of visual obstructions, like trees and hills, makes for some fantastic panoramic views of Mt. Baker on clear days.

The course opened in July 1995 and has four sets of tees, playing to 6,816 yards from the tips. The par-72 has a slope of 126 from the back tees. The openness of the layout can be deceiving as water comes into play on 14 of the 18 holes and can sometimes be difficult to see from the tee or from long approach shots. The course is known for its friendly staff, well-conditioned greens and fairway, and dry playing condition, especially in winter. One review online found similarities with Crosswater in Bend.

Discounts are available for juniors and seniors with several advertised monthly specials.

To find out more about North Bellingham GC see: northbellinghamgolf.com or to make a tee time call (360) 398-8300. You can e-mail your inquiries to nbgcpro@frontier.com.

The course is located at 205 West Smith Rd in Bellingham.