Tour of Central Washington Golf Courses

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Updated: July 2, 2018

Central Washington is the perfect spot for a golf getaway, with its sunny summer and fall weather and variety of golf courses. Just over the Cascade Mountain Range, the scenic drive will put you into a completely different climate. Here’s a look at the golf courses you will find there.

Columbia Point Golf Course
Located in Richland, Columbia Point Golf Course is an upscale and daily fee facility adjacent to the Columbia River. The course is owned by the City of Richland and measures 6,571 yards from the back tees. It celebrated its 20th year in 2017.

Nothing too complicated greets the average golfer but the course does have water hazards and numerous bunkers that will need to be avoided. The most recognizable features are the mounds separating several of the rolling fairways and large undulating greens. If your short game is MIA, you might want to put in some practice time on the range before you hit the course. Columbia Point has a full-service restaurant/bar with a covered patio and panoramic views of the front nine.

Desert Canyon Golf Course
This 18-hole public facility delivers an experience unmatched in Central Washington. Spectacular desert terrain creates a course with desert style target golf. Located in Orondo, Washington, Desert Canyon features 7,217 yards from the longest tees for a par of 72 and a course rating of 73.9 and a slope rating of 134. It was designed by Jack Frei and opened in 1993.

The course has received numerous accolades including being named the #1 resort course in the State of Washington, and being ranked as the second best conditioned course in America by Golf Digest.

The course is also home to the famous #6 canyon hole, which has been ranked as the 7th best par-5 in America by Golf Digest.

Lake Chelan Golf Course
Ever since it was built in 1970, Lake Chelan Golf Course has always been a popular spot for golfers visiting the area. Located on the lake’s north side, Lake Chelan is a solid par-72 golf course that sits on a bluff with unparalleled views of the lake that will stay in your memory. The course has three sets of tees and plays to 6,445 yards from the blue tees with a slope of 124.

The reviews by visitor’s to Lake Chelan all talk about the fantastic views and the great condition of the course. If you are planning a trip to the Whenatchee/Chelan area you will want to put Lake Chelan Golf Course on your itinerary.

Mountain Ranch
Bear Mountain Ranch is truly a beautiful sight for golfer’s eyes and will surely leave visitors in awe of its lush grounds. There may not be a more aesthetically pleasing course in the Pacific Northwest.

Set among an incredible natural setting with golf course views that are equally as stunning as the course itself, Bear Mountain Ranch has been a wonderful addition to the Lake Chelan area since the golf course opened in 2005.

At over 7,230 yards from the back tees, Bear Mountain Ranch is a test for the low handicapper, but it also makes sure each and every golfer can find a proper teeing ground with four additional sets of tees. The course uses the natural terrain of carved plateaus and each hole features lake and mountain views. Located three hours from Seattle, Bear Mountain Ranch also features real estate opportunities for those looking to get away from the city.

Canyon Lakes Golf Course
Canyon Lakes has won a variety of awards, including voted as Best Golf Course by the People‘s Choice Awards (six years in a row) making it the most popular course in the Tri Cities area. Rated 4 1/2 Stars by Golf Digest, making it the highest rated course in the Tri-Cities and shares the highest ranking in Washington State. In addition to the lofty rating, Northwest Travel Magazine selected Canyon Lakes as one of 18 of the Best in the Pacific Northwest.”

Canyon Lakes is famous for large, fast, undulating greens with the 12th hole touted as the largest green in the Pacific Northwest at 12,000 square feet. The ninth hole was also awarded as one of the Northwest’s Dream 18 holes.
With five sets of tees measuring from 5,500 to 7,027 yards, Canyon Lakes will test the mettle of all types of golfers. Check their website (canyonlakesgolfcourse.com) for some super specials.

The Tri-Cities is a great place to golf with an annual precipitation of less than seven inches and summer temperatures in the 80s.

Wine Valley Golf Club
Walla Walla is no stranger to new vintages. The once-sleepy hamlet in the southeastern corner of the state has become one of the premier wine destinations in the United States. But if you were looking to pair fine public-access golf with wine touring and tasting, the pickings were slim. The uncorking of Wine Valley Golf Club a few years ago changed all that – for the area and for the Pacific Northwest. Ranked as one of the top courses in Washington by Golfweek, Wine Valley has been added to the must-play list for golf enthusiasts. It is also 84th on the list of top Modern Courses.

Wine Valley Golf Club, designed by Oregon native Dan Hixson, blends immense scale, inspiring scenery and strategic challenges into a championship golf experience. The course has hosted the Northwest Open and the PNGA Men’s Amateur.

Highlander Golf Club
At 800 feet above the Columbia River it is a breathtaking piece of property that boasts a masterpiece designed by John Steidel and built by Jim Haley (Haley created and shaped Bandon Dunes). This one is called Highlander and it lives up to the name with magnificent panoramic views of the river and surrounding hills.

The most talked about hole is the par-3 ninth, a 185-yard bear that requires a tee shot across a steep gulch. The green slopes dramatically making a two-putt no easy feat. In 2011 many deciduous trees were added to the front nine, a spectacular water feature was added between holes two and three. And after you make the turn you can enjoy the gorgeous back nine that has sweeping views of the river.

In the spring of 2013, the back nine was the focus of many upgrades including the development of Highlander Estates with some scenic home sites with stunning territorial views and fairway fronted building lots creating a community with a decided recreational lifestyle focus. Two brand new holes were built (17 & 18) and major changes to four others (10,14,15, &16) plus the addition of evergreen trees and more water making this par-70 course the buzz of the region.

Horn Rapids Golf Course
Horn Rapids Golf Club, located outside of Richland and is a true desert-style golf course. The sloping, slick greens provide plenty of character and will challenge your short game.

The course plays 6,954 yards from the back tees and boasts a 73.6 rating with a slope of 130. If you have an RV there is Horn Rapids RV Resort, a five-star RV resort, just across the highway with 225 parking pads.

The Links at Moses Pointe
The Links at Moses Pointe is located just four miles north of interstate 90 in Moses Lake, Wash., and has been a favorite destination for golfers since opening in 1999.

Having hosted the 2005 and 2008 Washington State Amateur Championship as well as the 2011 Pacific Northwest Public Links, Moses Pointe has proven to be a test to the games best players.

In addition to great golf, you’ll find one of the regions favorite restaurants – Mulligans at the Pointe! Amazing burgers and specialty sandwiches await, along with a terrific selection of beverages and a featured entree every weekend.

With great golf, 300 plus days of sunshine, and a growing residential golf community, Moses Pointe is sure to become your next home away from home, or who knows, maybe your next home? For a hole-by-hole visual tour of the course, visit www.mosespointe.com.

Apple Tree Resort
Apple Tree in Yakima is one of the Northwest’s premier golf experiences and given a 4-Star rating by Golf Digest. The signature par-3 17th hole with its apple-shaped island green is one of the state’s most recognizable holes. The hole is a masterpiece of golf architecture that measures over 10,000 square feet with nine different tee boxes to choose from. The 17th hole is only one of many great holes at Apple Tree Resort. The course winds through 100-year old apple orchards with some stunning water hazards and challenging elevation changes. The course and greens are always in perfect condition. The view from the 18th tee belongs on a postcard with the vast network of ponds and the clubhouse perched on high on the hilltop.

Stay & Play packages are available on-site at the Braebukkrn Lodge Condominiums as well as the Best Western Plus Ahtanum Inn and the Holiday Inn. You will want to check out their concert venue and more information about the resort at appletreeresort.com.

Leavenworth Golf Course
There’s more to the town of Leavenworth than just Bavarian fun like Oktoberfest, Mayfest and the annual Christmas tree Lighting ceremonies. Leavenworth Golf Course is a short drive from down town and is surrounded by mountains. The Wenatchee River flows beside the course where you might see some fun loving partiers drifting by during the summer months. If you had to choose one word to describe Leavenworth Golf Course it would be peaceful or quiet or scenic.

This is a fun course that might not play long but with the tall trees lining the fairways it sure seems like it does play longer than its 5,711 yards. Not only are there the tall trees but the greens are small targets putting pressure on your short game. And don’t be surprised if you run into wildlife during your round. In fact, in 1996 officials shot a young black bear with a tranquilizer gun and captured that bear, its mother and another one and moved them.

Suncadia Resort
Suncadia is a planned resort community in Cle Elum about an hour’s drive from Seattle. There are three courses: Prospector and Rope Rider the public courses and the private Tumble Creek. The courses meanders through tall pines, with lakes and creeks dotting the landscape with spectacular views of the Cascade Mountains.

Othello Golf Course
Othello Golf Course is a nine-hole course with two sets of tee boxes giving you the feel of a 6,200-yard course. There is a nice full-service restaurant on property with a huge deck overlooking the course and space for a few overnight RVs with electric and water provided.

Kahler Glen Golf & Ski Resort
Kahler Glen Golf Resort is a year round recreation jewel with cross-county skiing, snowshoeing or ice-skating in winter, golf, tennis & pickle ball, and a great place for other activities like hiking, zip-lining, horseback riding and wine tasting. If you are a golfer, then the Leavenworth resort (located at Lake Wenatchee) has 18 terrific holes to challenge you. If you are a skier, then there are miles of cross-country trails and nearby Stevens Pass for some downhill action.

Kahler Glen is a place that prides itself on offering something for everyone – in both the winter and summer. The resort was created in the late 1980s by a couple of logging families, trying to get the best use out of their logging lands in Central Washington. The original nine holes opened in 1989 and the second came along in 1995. The course might not be long (measuring 5,893 yards from the tips with a par of 70 and a slope of 122) but you better hit it straight. Tall trees surround most holes, 7 holes have water hazards, giving you the perfect feel for Pacific Northwest golf. Before your round try the unique Aqua driving range, complete with floating greens.

There are luxury condos next to the course that are all stocked with kitchen amenities and separate dining areas, a perfect home base for a family or a romantic getaway.

Gamble Sands
There is plenty to like at Gamble Sands, the award-winning course in Brewster, Wash. From the championship course to the new Inn at Gamble Sands to the Cascade Putting Course, there is plenty to do. The course sits above the Columbia River and the David McLay-Kidd layout is ranked among the best in the country and the Pacific Northwest. This course is absolutely stunning and must be on everyone’s bucket-list. This course offers a golfing experience like no other.

West Richland Golf Course
The course is a daily fee 18-hole regulation links-style course that is playable and fair – and especially popular with beginners because of the relatively tame layout. The price is always right at West Richland, too. The course is also host to one of the largest Pro-Am’s in the Pacific Northwest every year that attracts the professionals from around the NW to play for a big purse.

Sun Willows Golf Course
Sun Willows Golf Course, in Pasco, is a Robert Muir Graves designed public 18-hole, par-72 course. It opened in 1963 and was redesigned in 1980 by local golf course architect John Steidel. A favorite of Tri-City golfers, it is a traditional and challenging Northwest style course with mature trees that line rolling fairways and large undulating greens. You can play the course from 6,715 yards at the tips or as short as 5,695 yards from the forward tees. There are 32 bunkers and five lakes that will keep you focused.

Desert Aire Golf Course
Desert Aire Golf Course, located in Mattawa, Wash., is rated 3 stars by Golf Digest and is one of the highest rated public courses in central Washington. This award-winning course should be at the top of your list of courses to play this year. It offers a full-service pro shop including club-fitting, club repair, as well as beverages, snacks and sandwiches.

Reviews from past visitors comment on how perfect the greens are and how happy they were with the prices, the pace of play and the friendly service in the pro shop. The course is well kept and is one of the favorites for visitors from west of the mountains with its generous fairways and that rollout that only desert golf can provide. PGA Professional, Don Tracy, offers golf instruction for adults, as well as his very popular Golf Camp for Kids each summer. Located in Mattawa, Wash. Desert Aire has some terrific options for RV golfers with RV parking right next to the course and pro shop. Desert Aire is offering a Stay and Play deal for $100 Monday through Thursday for two rounds and a night’s lodging with the RV.

Buckskin Golf Course
Buckskin Golf Club in Pasco is a nine-holer, designed and operated by Jeff Marcum. It’s a one-man show as you will find him doing just about anything at the course including mowing greens and working behind the counter.

Alta Lake, Rock Island
Owner Don Barth got his golf ownership start with Alta Lake Golf Course and then took over the operations at Rock Island. Alta Lake, located in Pateros, now has 18 holes and a hotel allows golfers to stay on site. Every room in the lodge has a view of the golf course and there is a swimming pool and area for picnics or to just stretch out in the Eastern Washington sunshine,
Rock Island located near Wenatchee became an 18-hole course a few years ago with the opening on a new nine, designed by Barth. Nothing wrong here either, especially with the 13th hole, a dogleg that runs along a large water hazard.

Vic Meyers at Sun Lakes
The nine-hole Vic Meyers course and Sun Lakes Park Resort make for a popular destination for many Pacific Northwest travelers and golfers. Located 40 minutes north of Moses Lake, the resort has been a hit for families because of the variety of activities available here. The golf course is called Vic Meyer, named after a former Lt. Governor of Washington who was responsible for getting it build. Sun Lakes Park Resort has always been a hot spot, no pun intended, for golfers and non-golfers alike. Outdoor activities include putt-putt golf, Water Wars, swimming, bike riding, hiking, paddle boating, fishing and, of course, golf. There are a variety of ways to enjoy the trip to Sun Lakes. The resort offers cabins, tent sites and hundreds of RV sites with full hookups. And don’t forgot the water wars when you are there – where you can launch water balloons at each other.

Sage Hills RV Resort
Sage Hills is located about 15 miles south of Moses Lake in the heart of the Columbia Basin. The fairways are lush and green and the greens are as good as any you will find. This has become a popular site for tournaments, many from west of the mountains. Sage Hills Golf and RV Resort has over 40 level and grassy RV sites with full hookups and free WiFi, a full-service restaurant and lounge (The 19th Bar & Grill–509-349-9925), a fenced swimming pool, a laundry facility and day room for groups and tournaments.

If you are heading to Eastern/Central Washington, you will want to make this a must-play on your schedule. There is always some special Stay & Play offers available for RVers on their website at www.SageHillsGolfResort.net or call 509-349-2088.

Suntides Golf Course
Probably one of the best kept secrets in Eastern Washington is Suntides Golf Course. This 18-hole par-70 course is nestled in a small valley just outside of Yakima near the Naches River and Highway 12. While not long at 5,914 yards, it offers plenty of hazards, lots of trees and well-placed bunkers, giving it some teeth. The level terrain makes it a hit for walkers. There is a restaurant & lounge, large practice putting green and a driving range on property. Suntides RV Park is adjacent to the course and has a recently established bike/walking trail near by. The park has manicured grass, mature shade trees, paved roads and sites that provide easy access for big rigs.

Sun Country RV Resort
Driving down I-90 freeway near Cle Elum you can see the sign for Sun Country Golf. The 18-hole course sits just a quick drive off of Interstate-90. The course is not long at 5,507 yards but has some interesting holes shoehorned into the mountainous setting; it plays to a par of 71. The signature hole is 164-yard par 3 15th hole with a severe elevation drop. RV rates are $37 and $45 full hookups.