New owner pumps in new life into Blue Heron Golf Course

The Blue Heron Golf Course, which sits next to the Snoqualmie River in the Snoqualmie Valley, is the new name for Carnation Golf Course. While The Blue Heron’s bones are from the Carnation Golf Course, it is a much improved facility today.

Carnation Golf Course was designed by Bob Tachell and his partners Fred Ewing and Frank Yoshitake and opened to the public in May of 1967.

By 1980, Bob and his son Dan were the sole owners of the course, which was eventually transferred to Dan’s son Chad Tachell when he purchased the course in 2006.

The course having been in the Tachell family for 44 years, suffered financial problems stemming from the recent deep recession, competition from other courses and a couple unseasonably wet years. Rounds dropped below 20,000 per year and the facility went into disrepair and eventually was forced to close, joining several other area courses that closed their doors around the same time.

As the Tachell legacy was closing, a new chapter was opening for the iconic golf course in the Snoqualmie River Valley.

The course was purchased by Reza Yasseri, the CEO of the Redmond firm Cascade Engineering Services in 2011. Yasseri, an avid golfer himself, brought Dan Tachell back to help get the course back in playing condition after two years of dormancy. Dan’s experience and knowledge of the property has expedited the transformation, which was a major undertaking since it required a lot of reconstruction.

The course is now called The Blue Heron and improvements have been nothing less then spectacular. The clubhouse was elevated to prevent future flooding and has undergone a complete remodel. The two nines were switched back to the original design, drainage, irrigation and sprinklers were added to improve the condition of the fairways and greens. A fleet of brand new golf carts has been added and a new 4,000 square foot practice green was built near the clubhouse.

Though the golf course sits in a flood-plain in the Snoqualmie Valley and is over-run by the Snoqualmie River periodically, it has the ability to drain quickly and golfers are back on the course in a remarkably short time.

The Blue Heron Bar & Grill is the centerpiece of the new clubhouse and has become a dining destination for the Snoqualmie Valley. It is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and has a full-service bar. Guests will enjoy a panoramic view of the park-like setting; it’s a great place to relax with friends after a fun round of golf.

Golfers have been giving the new facility rave reviews for the transformation and the overall experience. The playability of the course, the expansive practice range, the relaxing grandeur of The Blue Heron Bar & Grill and the friendly staff all point to a bright future for The Blue Heron Golf Course.

The course plays a few yards short of 6,000 yards with a slope of 113 and index of 67.9, not long or extremely difficult by some golfing standards, but length is not necessarily a good indicator for a fun golfing experience.

Tournament directors take notice; this is a great place for tournaments – good golf, good service, good food and an overall great facility.

For more information please go to their website at theblueherongolf.com.