Destination: Sunland on the Olympic Peninsula

Sunland Golf Club is one of the most unknown gems in the state. For most of its existence it has been a private club, but a few years ago it announced it was open to public play and wants to remind the golfing community that they are welcome to come and enjoy this special course.

 Sunland Golf Club is located in Sequim (pronounced “skwim”) and is the premier golf and social club on the Olympic Peninsula. For those who are unfamiliar with Sequim, it is a small city located on the Olympic Peninsula along the Straight of Juan de’ Fuca, in the shadow of the Olympic Mountains, which give the city a micro climate with an annual average rainfall of 16.2 inches – less than half that of Seattle/Tacoma, (34”-38”), making Sunland one of the driest courses in Western Washington.

 All 18 holes at Sunland were designed by one of the most prolific and revered golf course architects of the Pacific Northwest, Arthur Vernon Macan. He has designed several top golf courses in the area, including Broadmoor, Inglewood, Overlake, Manito, and Waverly, just to name a few. Unfortunately, he did not get to see his vision become a reality due to a fatal heart attack that occurred while on Sunland property in 1964. The first nine opened in 1971 and the second nine in 1976.

 The near level terrain at Sunland makes it walker friendly. There are five sets of tees with the longest stretching to 6,295 and the forward tees set to 4,695. There is a water hazard on holes #9, #14 and #15 and 6 dogleg holes where positioning off the tee is critical to get an open look at the green. The signature hole is probably the downhill par 3 #15. They also have an all-grass driving range.

 The course’s fairways are lined by tall mature trees that can easily come into play.  The round starts right out with the longest hole on the course that is a straight 510-yard par 5 from the back tees. 

 This is followed by the longest par 3 at 186 yards and it doesn’t get any easier as the third hole is the #1 handicap 437-yard par 4.

 The front nine finishes with the #3 handicap 387-yard par 4 – this is the hole you see when entering the course. The back nine starts with the #4, #5 and #2 handicap holes before easing up the rest of the way in.

 There are several generous fairways on the course, however, some holes squeeze down the landing areas making it a long day for inaccurate drivers of the ball. Their website aptly describes the course as “sporty and challenging. “

 Sunland Golf Club is surrounded by a mostly,  retirement community with golf as the center piece. Golfers from across America have found the mild maritime climate of Sequim, with it’s year-round golf, to be the perfect place to settle down.

 The course is managed by Columbia Hospitality. All members can enjoy the benefits of Columbia Hospitality Golf. With everything from discounts at area hotels, spas, and restaurants to discounted green fees at some of the best golf courses in the Pacific Northwest. For more on Sunland, visit their website at: https://sunlandgolf.com/.