Touring Central Washington

There might not be a better area for a golf getaway than Central Washington, with its sunny 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 some of the golf courses you might want to put on your itinerary–some you may be familiar with, some you may not.

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 full-service restaurant & lounge, a 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.

Desert Aire Golf Course

Desert Aire Golf Course, located in Mattawa, Wash., was rated 3 stars by Golf Digest and is one of the highest rated public courses in central Washington. Recent remodel of the RV parking added more sites for overnight camping. It now has 14 RV sites with full hookups.

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 the ball rollout that only desert golf can provide.

The pro shop provides club-fitting, club repair, as well as beverages, snacks, and sandwiches.

PGA Professional, Don Tracy, offers golf instruction for adults, as well as his very popular Golf Camp for Kids each summer.

Sage Hills RV Resort

New ownership at Sage Hills Golf & RV Resort has wasted no time since taking over the facility in late 2022.  Levi Vinn has set his goals on making improvements to the entire resort. Damaged spots on some greens were replaced with sod, water was put back in the water features and the pro shop and restaurant both have a new look.  The new restaurant, called The Grill at Sage Hills, is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner with a new chef and menu.

The course plays from 6,591 to 5,128 yards and has 4 sets of tees with a rating of 70.2 and slope of 120 from the back tees. This has become a popular site for tournaments, reunions, travel clubs and company events from across the state. This course is a must-play if you are heading to Eastern Wash.

The resort has over 40 level and grassy RV sites with full hookups and free Wi-Fi, a full-service restaurant and lounge, a fenced swimming pool, and a laundry facility.

A new Stay ’n Play special is in place: staying for one night or several nights, guests, will get unlimited golf and be able to take the power cart to their camper overnight throughout their stay.

Levi has a strong desire to help junior golfers and Sage Hills is now the home course for the local high school and all juniors, 15 and younger, play for free, any time, seven days a week. 

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 visitors to Lake Chelan all talk about the fantastic views and the great condition of the course.  If you are planning a trip to the Wenatchee/Chelan area you will want to put Lake Chelan Golf Course on your itinerary.

Apple Tree Resort

Apple Tree in Yakima is one of the Northwest’s iconic golf courses 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 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.

For more information about the resort at visit appletreeresort.com.

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 25th year in 2022.

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 with panoramic views of the front nine.

The Links at Moses Pointe

The Links at Moses Pointe is located just four miles off 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.

Sun Country Golf and RV Resort

Located in Cle Elm, just 90 minutes east of Seattle and a few minutes off Interstate-90, Sun Country features an alpine course carved out of the trees. The yardage might be short for some, but the course plays long when the winds blow off the nearby slopes of the Cascade Mountains. The RV park features full hookups and is close to outdoor activities like hiking, fishing, rafting and more.

And there is a new 9 Iron Bar and Grill launched in 2022, and serves golfers, tourists and locals with contemporary food and drink in a beautiful mountain setting.

Vic Meyers at Sun Lakes

The nine-hole Vic Meyers course and Sun Lakes Park Resort is one of the most popular destinations for Pacific Northwest families 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 your trip to Sun Lakes. The resort offers cabins, tent sites and hundreds of RV sites with full hookups.

If you are visiting Sun Lakes, you will want to also visit the Dry Falls just a half-mile north on the highway or you can walk or ride a bike on dirt trail to the bottom of the falls where there is a lake for fishing, or you might want to try the hike to the Lake Lenore Caves (1.5 miles, round trip). 

A quick trip across the border to visit Wildhorse Resort

At the base of the Blue Mountains in the town of Pendleton, Oregon you’ll find two spectacular golf courses. The Wildhorse Resort Golf Course and the Golf Course at Birch Creek feature 18 holes of championship golf, beautiful lakes, long fairways and deep bunkers, all making the perfect mix for challenging play.

Designed by legendary golf architect, John Steidel, the Wildhorse Resort Golf Course can play long or short with four sets of tees ranging from 5,718 yards at the front to 7,128 yards from the championship tees. The course also plays host to the Oregon Senior Open every year. There is a driving range, practice green, and a newly expanded full service Pro Shop and swing simulator. You can enjoy delicious breakfast, lunch, or dinner from the new Clubhouse Bar and Grill.

Nestled near the site of a historic encampment of the Cayuse Indians lies a 248-acre golf oasis. Formally known as Pendleton Country Club, the Golf Course at Birch Creek is now owned by the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation and operated by Wildhorse Resort & Casino.

Located just seven miles south of town, the par 72 golf course settles gently into rolling wheat fields and is divided by the meandering Birch Creek where golfers can see native fish or roaming deer as you make your drive.

Wildhorse Resort and Casino is the perfect getaway with its 10-story Tower Hotel with spacious rooms and suites with stunning views of eastern Oregon’s high desert plateaus. Or you can stay in the top-rated RV park with full RV hook ups, tent and teepee sites, an outdoor pool. The resort provides quick shuttle transportation to and from the casino.

Construction is complete on the Wildhorse Family FunPlexl that includes bowling, and more activities for the whole family! Whether you want action packed, relaxed, or somewhere in-between, you can find it all at Wildhorse Resort & Casino.