A close-up look at golf on the Olympic Peninsula

The Olympic Peninsula in Washington state encapsulates the best of coastal landscape, including an array of breathtaking scenery, panoramic views of the towering Olympic Mountains, glimpses of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and tranquil settings nestled within lush, old-growth forests.

Golfers will be exposed to a diverse array of golf courses ranging from historic, rural courses to modern, championship-level layouts.   The region’s unique micro-climates, such as the rain shadow affect that deflects rain and produces annual measurements that are a fraction of Seattle’s 37-38 inches, courses like the Cedars in Sequim (16” yearly), and Discovery Bay in Port Townsend (19” yearly) and, depending upon which direction the wind is blowing, Peninsula Golf Club is also protected. This offers golfers the opportunity of year-round play regardless of the season.

Here are the courses you will find on the Olympic Peninsula:

LakeLand Village

LakeLand Village, located between Hood Canal and Puget Sound’s Case Inlet, in the town of Allyn, Washington, is the only residential community that offers 27 holes of golf. The 18-hold course is called The Ranch Nine, the Generation l course is an executive course with some fun holes. With numerous ponds, gaping bunkers and majestic views of the Olympics and Mount Rainier, golfers will in for a treat when they play LakeLand Village courses.

Eagle’s Pride Golf Course

Eagle’s Pride at Joint Base Lewis-McChord is a treasure of the Pacific Northwest, nestled in the shadow of magnificent Mount Rainier. It’s one of the best courses in Western Washington and is open to the general public. The championship course features 27 holes of golf with exceptional greens: the green, blue and red courses. It has just about everything you would expect from a Northwest course – tall trees, sand, water and tight fairways. In addition, golfers can enjoy year-round practice at their lighted and heated range.

Port Ludlow Golf Course

Golf Magazine named Port Ludlow as one of the top five public courses in Washington.  The two 9-hole courses are named Tide and Timber. Both nines have elevation changes with tall trees on the fairway edges. The course is well bunkered especially around the greens. A tree trimming project on the back nine has opened up some shots as overhanging trees were trimmed, especially the tee shot on the par-4 13th hole. A short ferry ride from Edmonds and a 20-mile drive from the Kingston ferry dock to the course. Port Ludlow offers the perfect get-away for anyone looking to take a break from the city.  With a quaint inn, restaurant, spa and full service marina, the resort offers something for everyone.

The Home Course

A golf course in DuPont, Wash. existed for a few years before the PNGA came in, bought it and called it the Home Course. And what a place it is. The Mike Asmundson-designed course is user-friendly, but at the same time can be a monster if you choose to walk to the back tee boxes called Dynamite Tees and play the 7,400 yards. The Home Course hosts several PNGA championships. And hosted the 2023 USGA Women’s Four-Ball. It is definitely a must play on all golfer’s bucket list and worth the trip when heading toward the bottom of the Olympic Peninsula. The PNGA made some changes to the back side changing the 11th hole to a par-4 and the 12th hole to a par-3. Both come with new bunkers, including a couple that are deep-faced and look like they came right from Europe.

The Cedars at Dungeness

The Olympic Mountains deflect the rain clouds around the city of Sequim, making the Cedars at Dungeness one of the driest courses in Western Washington – an average of 16-17 inches of rain per year.  With an 18-hole layout measuring over 6,400 yards, Dungeness is protected by sprawling bunkers and narrow approaches to elevated greens.  The signature hole is the par-5 3rd with a series of bunkers in the shape of a Dungeness crab. Even the sand in this hazard is red.  The Jamestown S’Klallam tribe bought the course in 2007 and has invested heavily in the clubhouse and landscaping. It is a great escape for Seattle/Tacoma area golfers who want some quality dry golf.

Discovery Bay Golf Course

Discovery Bay Golf Club sits above Discovery Bay, just outside the historic Victorian Seaport of Port Townsend, Washington. The front nine opened in 1925 and the second nine was added in 1997. The two nines are vastly different; the original nine is located in the lowlands while the back nine is built on the top and along the side of a hillside. Both nines provide a series of challenging holes. The old-style clubhouse has a large deck that overlooks the front nine and is a great place to relax and enjoy a beverage after a round. There is also a practice driving range at the course.

Salish Cliffs

When Salish Cliffs opened in 2011and it was obvious that this amenity of the Little Creek Casino and Squaxin Island tribe was something special, The Gene Bates-designed course won several awards in its first year, including being named one of the top new courses for 2011. At 7,269 yards the course offers everything – from ponds to sand traps to wetlands to the elevation changes, Salish Cliffs is a place that is a golfing treat with some stunning Pacific NW views and challenging holes. And don’t forget about the casino, hotel and convention center, which sit right next door to the golf course.

Camas Prairie Golf Park

The course was formerly known as Port Townsend Golf Course. The 9-hole course is located in the historical seaport city of Port Townsend and features 2,731 yards of golf from the longest tees for a par of 35. The course will challenge you while providing a relaxing, picturesque backdrop. The hilly terrain makes for some nice carry on downhill tee shots but in summer the ground can firm up and accuracy is at a premium.

SkyRidge Golf Course

SkyRidge Golf Course is a family owned and operated golf course off the Old Olympic Highway in Sequim, WA. This link-style course is very walkable and popular with seniors. There’s a total of ten greens here–the 18th hole that has a separate green. The front nine plays to 3,296 yards, but if you want to play all 18, you’ll play from a separate set of tee boxes on the back nine totaling 6,529 yards.

Lake Cushman Golf Course

Lake Cushman Golf Course sits on the edge of the Olympic National Park, high above the Hood Canal community of Hoodsport.  The course and surroundings are truly a walk in the park, or a ride if you choose, where wildlife sighting is common. This well-maintained nine-hole course has separate tees to make a par 72. It is popular among locals as well as with campers and vacationers. The natural forested setting produces a calming atmosphere for relaxing rounds of golf. The course is challenging yet playable for all levels of golfers. There is also a driving range and practice putting green at the course. Hot dogs and snacks are available at the pro shop.

Sunland Golf Club

Sunland is a members-owned club located in a mostly retirement community in Sequim. It winds through huge fir, cedar and spruce trees and is well protected by bunkers and ponds. The course, is now open to public play, with some restrictions.  It sits in the shadow of the Olympic Mountains and gets about 17 inches of rain a year (half that of Seattle), making it one of the driest courses in western Washington. Most of the course is level and easily walkable. Sunland plays to just over 6,000 yards with a par of 72 and is always in great condition. It plays tight, demanding accuracy from the tees.

Oaksridge Golf Course

Oaksridge Golf Course sits just off Highway 12 in Elma and is visible from the freeway.  The 18-hole track measures 5,643 yards and is a local favorite after opening in 1926.  The course is relatively level so it makes a perfect walking course. The Chehalis Tribe purchased the course in 2019 and continues to make upgrades.

Grays Harbor Country Club

Located in Aberdeen is a nine-hole layout and is one of the oldest clubs in the Northwest having opened for play in 1912. With tall trees and small greens this is one of the most solid tests of old-school golf that you will find in Aberdeen. The 9-hole course has some holes that have two different tee boxes to give the holes a different look and feel the second time around.

Highland Golf Course

Located in Cosmopolis originally opened as a nine-hole venue in 1930. It became an 18-hole course in 1990 and plays to 6,112 yards with a par of 70. There are not many flat lies, which makes it even more challenging and the greens are small adding to the difficulty. The course has a lot of character.

Alderbrook Golf Club

Alderbrook Golf Club is a member-owned course in a golf centric community and is open to public play. It is a classic Northwest forested setting high above Hood Canal in Union, Washington. Though the course is lined with homes, they are set back do not interfere with play. The most talked about hole is the 8th (Often called the ‘S’ hole), a double dog leg par 5 that stretches to 536 yards and was once picked by Golf Digest as one of the Northwest’s toughest holes.

Ocean Shores Golf Course

Ocean Shores Golf Course got a national exposure in the 1960s with the Pat Boone Celebrity Classic and later, in the ‘70s when the LPGA Tour made an annual stop for four years. It was also the first win for local legion JoAnne Carner (the Hall-of-Famer eventually won 43 LPGA tour events). It is a challenging layout, yet a fun-to-play course. Par for the course is 71. While the course has a modest 6,252 yardage it plays longer when the heavy ocean air, and strong winds begin to blow.

Lake Limerick Golf Club

Lake Limerick Golf Course was selected as the People’s Choice Best Golf Course in Mason County. The nine-hole course is open to the public and meanders through tree lined setback homes. Limerick is a, challenging course with two legitimate par 5’s, with one of those being the lake view #8 signature hole, two tough par 3’s and challenging par 4’s. The golf course offers multiple tee boxes providing different perspectives on the front and back nine.

Peninsula Golf Club 

Located in Port Angeles, Peninsula Golf Club opened the first nine in 1926 and is celebrating their centennial this year. The 18-hole course is not long by today’s standard, playing to 6,332 yards with a par of 72, but don’t be fooled by the short yardage, golfers have to be able to navigate tree-lined fairways, and be able to play on sloping fairways that sometimes lean toward OB.  Approach shots to smallish contoured greens will also test your skill. 

The most outstanding feature at Peninsula Golf Club is the incredible views: Cascade Mountains on one side and the Strait of Juan de Fuca on the other side. Back in 1945 Byron Nelson and “Jug” McSpaden (#1 and #2 players on the tour) played the course and shot 66 and 67 respectively. The course and the clubhouse restaurant and lounge is open to all golfers.

Tumwater Valley

Tumwater Valley is known for many things, like its great condition, proximity to Interstate-5, reputation for hosting big tournaments – and a couple of par-3 holes that have two greens, offering a bit of variety to its par-3 holes, giving them a shorter look or another with a longer look. The course always is in top shape throughout the year. And its 10-acre practice area is like nothing in the area – with a grass tee hitting area and a terrific short game facility. The popular restaurant has a large patio area that can fill up with people on a warm sunny day, it is a great place to relax.

Golf Club at Hawk’s Prairie              

Hawk’s Prairie is located a few miles north of Lacy, the Woodlands Course is a challenging test through the trees while the Links Course offers a more open layout. The courses have become favorites for Puget Sound since they opened for play.  A solid practice facility sits near the Links course. It’s the perfect place to spend the day and play 36 holes on two different types of golf courses. Both courses offer the chance to use every club on your bag and both gives you two distinct rounds of golf.

In 2001 Oki Developments, Inc. purchased the Meriwood and Vicwood courses, rebranded the facility as The Golf Club at Hawks Prairie.