Pacific Northwest’s newest courses

Here is an update on the courses that opened last year and that will open in 2012 the Pacific Northwest.

Washington
• LAST YEAR: Salish Cliffs in Shelton opened for public play. The course was designed by Gene Bates. The course is owned by the Squaxin Island Indian Tribe, which also owns the Little Creek Casino. Course was ranked as one of the top new courses in the country to open.
• LAST YEAR: Rope Rider at Suncadia Resort opened and gave Suncadia Resort its third golf course. The resort already has the public Prospector course and the private Tumble Creek course. The Rope Rider course was designed by Peter Jacobsen and Jim Hardy and was named as one of the top new courses in the country.

Oregon
• THIS YEAR: Bandon Dunes will welcome its fifth course, a par-3 course called Bandon Preserve, designed by Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore. The course will open May, 1, 2012 and features ocean views and on every hole with the routing running toward the Pacific Ocean and back. The course was build on land adjacent to the No.1 tee at Bandon Trails.
• THIS YEAR: The Glaze Meadow course at Black Butte Ranch will take on an entirely new look this year after undergoing an extensive re-model by golf course architect John Fought. New tees, greens, hazards and more have been brought into play. The renovated course will play to over 7,000 yards. It all starts from the first hole, with a new look for the old par-5 hole, which is now a par-4, with a gentle dogleg to the right. The course will fully open in June.