Washington National is a test with plenty of challenges

Washington National Golf Club is a championship course located in Auburn, Washington.

Here’s how the golf course architect John Fought describes Washington National Golf Club: With four notably long par fours, including the 475-yard (from the back tees) finishing hole, the University Course is a difficult test for even the strongest of players.

The 18th hole, as beautiful as it is tough, caps a challenging and picturesque finishing five-hole stretch. Its brilliant design is enhanced by impeccable playing conditions, contrasting transitional area and sheer grandeur.

The course, which opened September 2000, was the site of the 2002 Women’s NCAA Division I Championship and is home to the University of Washington golf teams. Everything about the course is purple and gold themed. From the collegiate branded carts to the signature 18th hole that showcases the purple “W” insignia

Some of Fought’s Northwest designs include Central Oregon’s Crosswater, Pumpkin Ridge (Ghost Creek and Witch Hollow), Glaze Meadow at Black Butte Ranch, Trophy Lake in Port Orchard and The Reserve in Portland.

“We wanted to create a golf course that would be on par with some of the better courses in the country,” said Fought.

The course can play long or short depending upon which tees you choose. It is a par-72 and has 5 sets of tees, ranging from 7,304 with rating of 145 to 5,117 yards, with a rating of 122. It is a walkable layout with a blend of ponds, tree-lined fairways, doglegs and a few blind shots. It is forgiving off the tees on pretty much all holes, but you need to put your ball in the middle of the fairway on most holes to be rewarded with good approach options.

Oki Golf has made an innovative move to implement dynamic pricing. It is a value pricing model in which costs fluctuate in real-time based on supply and demand. The best prices will be online or by downloading their app. You can also call the pro shop for the best rate available.  Oki Golf also offers Unlimited Winter Golf Cards for several of their courses where you can play from Nov. 1 – Feb. 28, 2023 with $0 green fees.  The Washington National Winter Card goes for $619 including a cart. Check okigolf.com for more information about their cards.