Southwest Washington Golf Courses

There is no shortage of quality courses as you make your way up and down I-5

Southwest Washington is an area that stretches from the state capitol in Olympia to just east of Vancouver to include the Washington Coast. Sightseeing, fishing, hiking, camping . . . are all a part of this special area’s vast landscape. Golf options range from 9 and 18-hole public golf courses, to some of the best country clubs you will find in entire Pacific Northwest. 

Take a look at what the area has:

Golf Club at Hawk’s Prairie

The Golf Club at Hawk’s Prairie was a hit from day one, it offers two distinctly different courses – the Woodlands Course and the Links course.  As you might expect, the Woodlands presents tree-lined fairways and the Links, while more open, has its share of tree-lined fairways too. And if you want to play a doubleheader, they have special deals.

As part of the Oki Golf umbrella, there are many ways to save and play the Hawks Prairie courses. A variety of membership plans and options can be found on their website: www.okigolf.com.

The Oki Golf Players Card has been the mainstay of Oki Golf. The cards are good for any of the six public courses managed by Oki Golf. 

Indian Summer Golf & CC

Indian Summer Golf and Country Club is perhaps the best-known club in Olympia for hosing the PGA Tour’s developmental tour, now called Korn Ferry Tour.  It is one of the four country clubs in Southwest Washington. The Peter L. H. Thompson designed golf course is built to rigid, tournament-caliber specifications with magnificent, old-growth forest and an abundance of water features. The course continually makes the list of the top golf courses. They opened to allow public play a few years ago so don’t pass up a chance to play a superb course.

One of the favorite layouts among the Oki Golf properties for its challenging design and year round playability. This course is truly a must play for every golfer.

Riverside Golf Course

Riverside Golf Course in Chehalis has long been a popular stop for travelers on Interstate-5. Improvements have made the course even better, including faster greens, improved conditioning, new RV parking and a new restaurant called the Riverside Bistro with a rooftop bar. If it’s been a while since you played here, the nines were reversed a while back, allowing the 18th hole to finish at the clubhouse.

The course has been voted as the top-ranked course in South Sound by readers of the local Chehalis newspaper. New ownership took over the course in 2009 and changes have been made to the course and clubhouse, including new sand in the bunkers and an expanded pond from the first to the ninth holes at the golf course.

Lewis River Golf Course

Lewis River Golf Course has endured a lot in its 50+ years of existence.  And now it is under new ownership.

Located on nearly a mile of Lewis River frontage, Lewis River Golf Course features tree-lined fairways and some of the finest greens in the Northwest. Accuracy is required in order to score well here. With green affordable green fees, it offers an excellent blend of challenge and value.

Built in 1967 by Ralph Stading, who had a reputation for providing a high quality experience to golfers. It was managed by the Stading family until they sold it to Matthew Dumke, a Portland businessman in 2021.

The new owner dedicated a significant amount of money to improving the course, the infrastructure and clubhouse.

The course is a favorite of golfers in the greater Vancouver/Portland area. The clubhouse is a rustic architecture that was built in 2001 and is known for it’s storybook setting for weddings overlooking the river.

Salish Cliffs Golf Club

Salish Cliffs opened for play in 2011 as part of the Squaxin Island Indian Tribe’s Little Creek Casino and was an award winner instantly. The Gene Bates-designed layout features rolling terrain, plenty of water and sand, and they were named one of the top new courses to open in 2011 by Golfweek, being ranked eighth. The course also is ranked fourth in the state of Washington by Golfweek on the Best You Can Play list.

A practice range with multiple targets only adds to the fun before or after a round.

Salish Cliffs offers and upscale full hookup RV parking area next to the casino. There are 44 spaces with full hookups.

The casino is an easy walk from the RV park where gaming, food and drinks are a nice perk for overnighters.

Tri-Mountain Golf Course

The course that gets the most exposure from being near Interstate-5 is Tri-Mountain in Ridgefield, just north of Vancouver. You can see virtually the entire course as well as Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Adams and Mt. Hood – hence the name, Tri-Mountain. The course turned 30 years old in 2024.

The course is undergoing an ownership change as the Cowlitz Indian Tribe is buying Tri-Mountain from Clark County.

Don’t forget to hit balls into the watery driving range where you actually don’t get penalized for hitting balls into a lake.

The course is a links-style layout where you can see everything that is in front of you. The Bill Robinson-designed course offers plenty of sand and water to keep you focused. The course prides itself in being in pristine condition year round. The banquet room can handle up to 200 people for tournaments and special occasions.

Eagle’s Pride-Whispering Firs

Eagle’s Pride Golf Course at Fort Lewis has 27 holes that sit on 431 acres of secluded property. The course is surrounded by woodland, without houses bordering the fairways, it will allow for a peaceful experience on the course. Complementing the course, golfers have a year-round practice facility that features 10 covered hitting areas with light and heat.

The range has grass landing area which offers real ball performance feedback. It is open to the public and was voted among the top 10 military courses in the U.S.

The course has a sister course call Whispering Firs that is located at McChord Air Force Base. The course is 18 holes and 6,646 yards from the back tee with a rating of 71.8 and slope of 122. Play is allowed for active and retired military and their family. Guests are also allowed, but keep in mind, the base is a closed facility and you must go through the guard gate to enter.

Tahoma Valley Golf Course

Tahoma Valley Golf Club (formerly Nisqually Golf Club) in Yelm has long been known for being a dry course. There are spectacular views of nearby Mount Rainier for every hole. The rural setting allows golfers to enjoy their round peacefully. The nines were reversed a few years ago.

The Home Course          

The Home Course has made headlines, not only for being one of the top courses in the Pacific Northwest but for also playing host to the qualifying rounds at the United States Amateur in 2010. The course held two qualifying rounds before the golfers headed to Chambers Bay for the match play part of the tournament. In 2014, the course hosted the final USGA Women’s Public Links and in 2023, the USGA Women’s Four-Ball.

The Home Course is a treat with superb conditions, some great views of the Puget Sound and all the challenges you could hope for in a round of golf. If you are a long ball hitter and want to really test your game, step back to the back tees called the Dynamite Tees and see what golf is like from 7,300-yards.

Skamania Lodge

Skamania Lodge, along the Columbia River on the Washington side, has made some changes to their golf offering.

The resort said that golf play was down and they were looking for ways to keep golf a viable option for resort guests and visitors, so they came up with plans that has a little of something for everyone. The old 18-hole Skamania Lodge course has been removed and in its place is a variety of new golf adventures for folks who are staying at the lodge or traveling golfers.

The resort to opened a new 9-hole executive length golf course called the Gorge Course, a new 18-hole putting course called The Little Eagle, and two disk golf courses on the grounds where the old 18-hole course stood.

Tumwater Valley Golf Course

Tumwater Valley Golf Course has several unique features that golfers will enjoy – like unique par-3 second and 17th holes. The second and 17th are unusual in that they both have two greens. One green plays much shorter than the other, giving both the low and high handicap players different choices from the tee box.

There are also two different sets of tees to choose from. Tumwater’s length is another challenge. The course stretches to nearly 7,200 yards from the tips, and when the wind blows, it plays a whole lot longer.  They also have a 10-acre driving range ideal for perfecting your swing

Camas Meadows Golf Club

Located just minutes from Portland, Oregon’s PDX airport, Camas Meadows is placed adjacent to Lacamas Lake in Camas, Washington.      

The18-hole course was established in 2000, and was designed by Andy Raugust (formerly with Jack Nicklaus Golf Services). It is a par-72 course with yardage ranging from 4,859 to 6,518.

The fairways are surrounded by towering evergreens and lush natural wetlands and is open to the general public.

The natural habitat initially captures your attention the constant investment in the course has been the goal for several years.   

Through the Washington Youth Golf Academy at Camas Meadows, the course reaches over 14,000 youths across three school districts at no cost to the schools.  In addition, the course has been recognized by the PNW PGA for it’s adult development programs.

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. In a park-like setting, this well maintained 9-hole course is a must play when traveling along Highway 101. Walk or ride, your choice, complete with driving range, practice green and pro-shop.

A popular choice for local tournaments and an easy drive from Shelton, Belfair & Olympia. It’s a great place to get away from the city and traffic congestion.

Ocean Shores Golf Course

Ocean Shores for years has been a must-stop for tourists traveling to the coast. Some of the best lodging and accommodations on Washington’s Coast can be found in this resort town.

There is unique shopping and recreational attractions – like go-karts, mopeds, horseback riding and the opportunity to drive your car on the beach. The golf course is user friendly and remains one of the strong attractions for the peninsula town. The front and back nine are quite different: One is a links-style layout, the other plays through trees.

Highland Golf Course

Highland Golf Course in Cosmopolis is the oldest golf course in Grays Harbor County.

What started out as a nine-hole golf course in 1931 became 18 holes with the addition of the new front nine, built in the early 1990s.

The 18-hole course features 6,112 yards of golf from the longest tees for a par of 70 with some tall trees and other challenges throughout the 18 holes of play.

Three Rivers, Mint Valley

In the Kelso area, there are a great pair to try with both Three Rivers and Mint Valley. Both are 18 holes and good public tracks just a short drive off Interstate-5. Three Rivers was built on a base of material deposited in the Cowlitz River by the 1980 eruption of Mt. St. Helens and removed by dredging. This porous combination of ash, dust, sand and silt drains well in wet weather.

Mint Valley has a covered range and a 6-hole par 3 pitch and putt course for anyone from beginners to families to try. Mint Valley also has a teaching studio allowing golf instructors work with golfers from beginners to lower handicap golfers. It is also one of the homes of the Valley Golf Academy.

Capitol City Golf Club

In Washington’s wet climate golf courses are often remembered for being wet or dry.  Built on a past gravel pit in 1962, Capitol City Golf Club has excellent drainage and has enjoyed the reputation of being one of the driest courses in western Washington. But it’s more than just a dry course, it has tree-lined fairways and is well bunkered with well-maintained greens. It plays to 6,578 yards from the back tees.

Elk Ridge Golf Course

You won’t find a more beautiful and rewarding golf experience in the Southwest Washington area.  Elk Ridge Golf Course at Carson Hot Springs boasts scenic views from almost every hole along with large, undulating greens and narrow fairways with tall grasses in true links fashion. A challenging course that demands accuracy, it features a first class practice facility that is included with your greens fees.  Only a 45-minute drive from the Portland/Vancouver Metro area. 

Lake Limerick Golf Club

Lake Limerick is a semi-private course open to public play just outside of Shelton and features a challenging course surrounded by 1,100 homes and recreational lots. The course is tight with tall trees lining most fairways and lots of elevation changes that makes you think your way around the course. The two-tee system from the front nine to the back nine give a completely different challenge to most holes, especially on the dogleg holes where tee shot placement can be critical to avoid trees that block approach to greens. It plays to 5,771 yards, but don’t be fooled by it short yardage, Lake Limerick makes up for the shorter distance with tight tree-lined fairways and its smallish size greens that will challenge your approach shots and short game. The course was recently listed as #19 of the Top Public Short Courses in the U.S. by Golf Pass.

Scott Lake Course

Scott Lake is a 9-hole regulation course located at the Scott Lake Golf & Country Club facility in Olympia. From the longest tees it presents 2,550 yards of golf for a par of 35. The course rating is 32.2 with a slope rating of 97. Scott Lake is a daily fee golf course with a ‘Open to Public’ guest policy.

Country Clubs to check out

    • Olympia Country and Golf Club is located along Budd Inlet with sweeping views of south Puget Sound and plays just over 6,000 yards but features a tight and hilly layout. Plenty of interesting shots and some terrific views are to be found at Olympia.

    • Grays Harbor Country Club in Central Park is a nine-hole layout and is one of the oldest clubs in the Northwest having opened for play in 1912.  Brian Davis is the head professional, and has worked hard to improve conditions and increase the membership. His work has paid off at Grays Harbor Country Club. The layout features two sets of tees to give you the feel of an 18-hole round when you go around twice.

    • Longview Country Club isn’t long, playing to 6,215 yards and par 70, it opened three new holes 1996. The club was founded in 1925 and opened nine holes for play in 1927. A second nine was added in 1958, completing the 18-hole course. The course plays to a rating of 71.0 with a slope of 129 from the back tees.