Foster Golf Course celebrates turning 100 years old

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Updated: January 31, 2025

While there might be some courses in the Pacific Northwest that are closing down, there are others that are celebrating milestones. Welcome to Foster Golf Links in Tukwila, Wash., just south of Seattle, where the course is celebrating its 100 year during the 2025 golf season.

Foster Golf Links has a colorful history and is a popular spot with the local golfers and traveling golfers with its location so close to SeaTac Airport. This is a course that done as many as 80,000 rounds in a year and has proven to be popular year after year.

It might not be the longest course around but it is a challenging layout of nearly 5,000 yards. Don’t be deceived by the yardage on the scorecard or the fact that the course has just one par-5 and five par-3 holes. There are tall trees lining most holes and two of the par-3 holes require a shot over the Duwamish River.

Challenges, yes. Playability, yes. In fact, the course has added to its playability by renovating the seventh green in 2004. The green was nearly tripled in size and the approach was softened. A large pine was removed and more undulation was added. It was the first capital improvement to the course in over 20 years.

Foster Golf Course started back in 1925 when George Eddy created the original nine holes. Eddy added the second nine in 1927 giving Foster an 18-hole look that it has today.

Foster Clubhouse

Eddy and his son Bob ran the course until 1951 when Joe Aliment bought the course. The Aliment family eventually sold the course to the city of Tukwila in 1977 – meaning the city of Tukwila has been in the golf business for nearly 50 years.

When the city took over they knew changes had to happen. In 1981 a $1.5 million makeover took place which included a more than $400,000 footbridge over the Duwamish Slough. Foster Golf Links draws both beginners and advanced players. For the beginning golfers, the course is user friendly. For the low handicap players, the course is the perfect way to keep the driver straight and work on the iron game.

Two of the par-3 holes get your attention with tee shots over the Duwamish River. These are holes that make you focus and hit precise shots. Some of the par-4 holes might seem short, but there are challenges negotiating the tall trees and bunkers that guard the greens.

Off the course Billy Baroos Restaurant a place for golfers to enjoy great food and a popular beverage  before or after the round. The restaurant offers a spacious patio to watch golfers on the course or to enjoy the afternoon sun.